Galatians 5:22-23 Three Types of Fruit
River of Life Assembly
Date: JULY 8, 2018
Title: What’s Your Fruit?
Subject: Fruit of the Spirit, Faithfulness
Text: Galatians 5:16-23, Matthew 7:16-20
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 (READ)
· Goads (Long pointed stick) keep us pushed in the right direction.
· Nails – to fasten and secure in our minds the truth of scripture. This all comes from God (our Shepherd).
· God’s word is more valuable than all the world’s books and a lifetime of study.
Turn to Paul’s wise words to Timothy – 2 TIM 4: 1-2. Paul charged Timothy (and really all of us Timothy to follow) to Preach the Bible; Be Ready Always for Christ’s work; Reprove (Correct ignorance), Rebuke (Reprimand) and finally to Exhort (Urge and Encourage).
Do this with patience and by Teaching; today I will exhort you to consider Paul’s teaching on the Fruit of the Spirit – Turn with me to Galatians Ch. 5
READ Galatians 5:16-25
Works of the flesh (Controlled by our sinful human nature)
15 potential problem areas of our lives. Look all of us struggle with something on the list.
Contrasted by – The Fruit of the Spirit (the lifestyle of the Spirit led Believer who follows both the teaching of Christ and is guided and influenced within by the Holy Spirit) Paul list nine characteristics of Holy Spirit Fruit.
Jesus gives us great insight when he shared a teaching on Trees and Fruit
READ MT 7:15-20 Consider his points --Remember Jesus’ words Mt 7:16 You will know them by their fruit.
(SLIDE 5) Let's each - internally - be Spirit led as we move through today and each day... but also, let's practice making decisions, moment by moment, aligned with the Word practicing walking in the Fruit of the SPIRIT. It is through the Spirit’s power we are able overcome sin in our lives especially true for the acts of the 15 sinful natures Paul list’s in Chapter 5 of Galatians.
1. The Fruit found within us: LOVE, JOY, PEACE
1) Love – Joyfully serving another for their good, not to get something in return.
a) Opposite: HATE - resulting in the harm of others.
b) Counterfeit: LUST - Affection shown to others for selfish reasons; how they make you feel.
2) JOY - Delighting in the blessings of God and the salvation he gives us in Christ even in difficult times.
a) Opposite: Despair and a lack of hope.
b) Counterfeit: Excitement and endless pursuit of happiness.
3) PEACE - Confident assurance that God loves us and will prevail.
a) Opposite: Worry and anxiety.
b) Counterfeit: Apathy and Rebellion.
2. Fruit we offer to others: PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS.
1) PATIENCE – Longsuffering; The ability to endure and rest in His care not becoming angry at God when his timing doesn’t match our own.
a) Opposite: Bitterness and resentment toward God; angry with others.
b) Counterfeit: Self-righteous; it pretends concern for others.
2) KINDNESS – Gentleness; empathy, compassion, and help for others.
a) Opposite: Hurting others and harsh.
b) Counterfeit: Offering help to control others or promote self.
3) GOODNESS - Doing right, helping others and honoring God.
a) Opposite: Injustice and evil.
b) Counterfeit: Pretending to care; Offering honest words in an insensitive way without love.
3. Fruit we offer to God: FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL.
1) FAITHFULNESS – a firm loyalty, sense of duty, reliability to Christ and living up to our commitment to him; ability to trust God at His word.
a) Opposite: Distrust, swings from committed to absent, slacker
b) Counterfeit: Being loyal out of self-righteous pride.
2) GENTLENESS – Meekness; acting like one that you follow e.g. Christlikeness; merciful; sensitive to the needs of others.
a) Opposite: Harshness; Pride; Thinking you are superior leading to crushes others to make yourself look better.
b) Counterfeit: words of self-deprecation are said so that others affirm us by lifting us higher.
3) SELF-CONTROL – Mastering our passions, emotions, and desires. Temperance – a living in moderation.
a) Opposite: Impulsive living in the moment.
b) Counterfeit: Doing it on your own without God’s help -- Pride.
As you walk out your life be Spirit led see life as being led by Him and the fruit will grow in you and bless others.
Conclusion:
The Spirit says to us today – it’s easy to tell when someone is led by him – Their lives will be marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
a. The Fruit found within us.
b. Fruit we offer to others.
c. Fruit we offer to God.
Remember Jesus’ words Mt 7:16 You will know them by their fruit.
Paul’s final comment is that there is neither an exception or law restricting us from living by these Christian character qualities known at the fruit of the Spirit.