Fruit of the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Passages to ponder
Passages to ponder
It’s good to know where we came from so to appreciate that much more where we are or where we are going. This series has focused on where we are and where we are going, so here are a few reminders of our journey thus far.
Kingdom beatitudes (Mt5:3-12)
We are supremely blessed when we understand the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Don’t have a defiled heart (Mk7:21-23)
It is not what comes from the outside, but what comes from the inside that defiles the heart and actions of man.
Possessing the qualities of love (1Cor13:1-13)
Love is given, love is needed, love is qualitative in the dwellers of the kingdom of heaven. Love in using what God has given us for His purpose and glory.
Works of the flesh - watch out! (Gal5:19-21)
This is a dangerous one we looked at for the works of the flesh can take someone out of the kingdom or keep someone from entering the kingdom in the first place.
(Transition) So, today in countering the works of the flesh we will look at the fruit of the Spirit. So, as we have with the other units in this series we will look at the context, the meaning and the application, so, let’s get started.
The Context
The Context
To get the context is to look at things in context. So, to do so we need to back up a little.
The flesh and the Spirit are in opposition to each other (Gal5:16-17)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
If we follow the flesh we are not walking in the Spirit. We cannot do both, they are heading in different directions.
Christians are to serve the spirit (Gal 5:17; Rom8:1-2; Gal5:24; Rom6;3-6, 11-12; Gal5:25; Tit3:5)
Serve the spirit for there is no condemnation to those who do
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Add to that
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The spirit led christian already has put to death the flesh (Gal5:24 “24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” and walk in the newness of life (see Rom6:3-6) and maybe consider
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
You have been made alive, born again of water and Spirit (Jn3:5) when you were baptized (Rom6:3-6) it is only fitting that we walk in the Spirit
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit (see Tit3:5)
(Transition) - we need to have the spirit to walk in the Spirit and we need the Spirit to have the fruit of the Spirit. So, may we look at the Spirit producing fruit?
The meaning
The meaning
Oh you may know the verses, maybe even quote them. We are going to look at them this morning to see if they are growing in us, if there is evidence of them in our walk as Christians.
Describing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal5:22-23)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Insert Fruit of the Spirit picture here)
Love- defined as active goodwill towards others, best exemplified by God and Jesus (ibid) (1The4:9; 1Jn3:16, 4:10)
1the4:9 “9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;”
1jn3:16 “16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
For God is the originator of love that makes is so that we can love
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(Insert Fruit of the Spirit picture here)
Joy - gladness,delight, especially in response to God’s grace (TWCD) (Php4:4; Jn15:11)
Php4:4 “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” - - - oh can you so rejoice!
maybe consider
11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Whose joy? The Lords joy that makes your joy full!
(Insert fruit of the Spirit picture here)
Peace - Harmony, concord with God, man and self, made possible by the prince of peace (Copeland) (Rom5:1-2; Eph2:14-17; Php4:6-7)
Rom5:1-2 “1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” - - - - you can also see in Eph2:14-17 That He is our peace!
And add to that
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And that peace surpasses all comprehension or understanding!
These virtues are rooted, grounded, originate in God from God to the believers who have received the Spirit of God through grace by faith.
(Transition) the fruit incorporates:
(Insert Fruit of the Spirit picture here)
Longsuffering - patience, self-restraint in the face of provocation (bible knowledge) (Lk23:34; Act7:60)
lk23:34 “34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.”
Or what Steven cried out while being stoned to death.
60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
Kindness - Sweetness of temper that places others at ease, born of mercy (Bible knowledge) (Eph4:31-32)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Goodness - benevolence, kindness in action (Bible knowledge) (Gal6:10)
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
These are characteristics, qualities of the fruit of the Spirit that reach out to others, that serve others.
The Spirit also integrates some other qualities too within the believer.
Faithfulness- the virtue of reliability, dependable, trustworthy (Lk16:10-12)
Look how many times faithful is used here.
10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
(insert fruit of the spirit picture here)
Gentleness - Kind treatment of others, born of humility (Bible Knowledge) (Gal6:1; 2Tim2:24-25)
gal6:1 “1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
2tim2:24-25 “24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”
Self-control - ability to hold oneself in; mastering desires and passions, assisted by the Spirit Himself (Bible Knowledge) (Rom8:11-14)
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Bible Knowledge Commentary, which has been a great help in preparation for this lesson this morning states “These are virtues that guide our general conduct.”
(Transition) Now this brings us to the application section of the Spirits fruit in the heart and the life of the believer who has been saved by grace through faith that is obedient faith, surrendering faith.
The Application Section
The Application Section
One of the proofs of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit. That fruit is identifiable as noted a few minutes ago, now a few things regarding application that we should consider.
(insert fruit of the Spirit picture here again)
The fruit is “singular”
It is “fruit” not “fruits”
This fruit and its qualities constitute unity. And it is identifiable in the believer who walks under the control of the Spirit.
Believers bible commentary says “The Holy Spirit produces one kind of fruit, that is CHRISTLIKENESS. All the virtues now listed describe the life of the child of God.”
(Transition) - the one who truly walks in the spirit will produce all nine virtues, not a partial set.
The fruit is born of the spirit (Gal5:16, 18,25)
16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.
it comes from walking in the Spirit, in letting the Spirit direct your life.
18 If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law.
And if the Spirit leads you, you are no longer under or subject to the Law. A system of works that cannot save you.
(Transition) without the aid of the Spirit, we cannot bear fruit!
(Insert Fruit of the Spirit picture again)
The fruit is given, but must be received, and then applied (Jn3:5; Act2:38-39; Tit3:5; Rom8:5, 12-13; Eph3:16, 20-21)
Receiving the Spirit comes through rebirth
Jn3:5 “5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Rebirth happens when we are baptized
Act2:38-39 “38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.””
Baptism is the regeneration by the Holy Spirit
TIt3:5 “5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,”
(Transition) so being born again, being regenerated, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit that bears fruit comes with some things that help us to grow.
Walk in the Spirit by setting your mind on the things of the Spirit, live according to the Spirit Rom8:5 “5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Praying for the strength of the Spirit
It is by the Spirits power we can put to death the deeds of the body, check out
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
that power, that strength can be accessed through prayer; Eph3:16 “16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
And the results:
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
So, may we know we are aided and empowered by the spirit when we follow the Word and through prayer.
Now summing this up.
(Insert drawing a conclusion picture previously used)
You can choose:
A life infused with joy and peace by the Holy Spirit - or - a life inflicted with hatred, jealousies, outbursts of wrath due to fleshly lusts.
A life developing longsuffering, kindness and goodness with the help of the Holy Spirit -or- devastated by contentions, envy, and selfish ambitions due to fleshly lusts.
oh hold on, more yet, a life exuding faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, with the aid of the Spirit - or - a life exhausted by jealousies, contentions and immorality due to fleshly lusts.
(Insert invitation slide- it’s your choice)
Is Jesus your choice. If you are considering it, here is the how: believe, confess, repent, surrender, then allow the Spirit to regenerate you and fill you, and the Spirit will produce fruit)
(Song) (Prayer) (Exit)