SATURDAY 2nd
Galatians 5 – Fruit of the Spirit (vv23-24)
I did not intend to go to these verses for this week, but it seems to be the way it has happened.
We finished yesterday with the importance of the characteristic of love to be found within the Church. Jesus himself said in John’s gospel; ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12) The measure for our love toward one another is the measure of the love that Jesus has toward us! That is a high standard! For his love is an everlasting, sacrificial, perfect love. In an earlier chapter John 13:35 ‘Jesus said ‘By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.’
In the verses before us today we have what we commonly call the fruit of the Spirit – that is, the evidence of a life that is transformed by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and which has been and is continuing to be sanctified by the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians defines this person as being one who been set free from a yoke of slavery (the desires of the flesh) Galatians 5:1 and who is walking by the Spirit. (V16)
When we open-up the fruit of the Spirit (I like to picture it like an orange with segments) we find that the first segment is love, second is joy, third is peace, fourth is patience, fifth is kindness, sixth is goodness, seventh is faithfulness, eighth is gentleness, ninth is self-control.
There are if you remember nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, here we see nine segments in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, but which is the most important the gifts or the fruit? My answer would simply be they are both important in the life of the believer and in the Church, but the gifts should only operate out of lives who are displaying the fruit. May God help each of us to be good examples of individuals living and walking according to the Spirit and not of the flesh.
In 2 Peter 1:5-11 we have Peter’s list of qualities he sees has essential in the life of the believer. ‘For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so near-sighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’
Today I will highlight some other ‘Fruit’ Scriptures and trust as you read the verses you will be blessed and encouraged.
Psalm 1:3 ‘He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.’
Proverbs 11:30 ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.’
In the KJV – ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.’
Matthew 3:8 ‘Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.’
John 15:1-11’I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.’
Romans 7:4 ‘Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.’
Ephesians 5:9 ‘For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.’
Philippians 1:9-11 ‘And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.’
Colossians 1:10 ‘So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.’
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord;
Sweet Holy Spirit,
Sweet Heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us,
Filling us with Your love,
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise,
Without a doubt we’ll know
That we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit,
Sweet Heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us,
Filling us with Your love,
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise,
Without a doubt we’ll know
That we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
Doris Ackers CCLI 788682