The Fruit of the Spirit (9/10/12)

Shalom,

 

     Please begin by reading Gal 5:16-26.

 

     We're told in this passage that to enjoy true freedom we need to be led by the Holy Spirit.  As Christians we need to fully surrender ourselves to Yahweh's control so we can avoid the list of sins found in verses 19-21.  The choice is totally ours to make.  The amount of spiritual fruit or sinful acts we manifest is based on our ongoing, daily walk of faith with our Lord and Master.  This isn't about some special manifestation from Jesus to give us the fruit.  We receive access to the fruit when we get saved, and then it's up to us to act accordingly.  Only through seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance and obediently following his lead can we be strong in these godly characteristics.

     Prov 23:7 says, "As a man thinks within himself, so is he."  That's why the Spirit inspired Paul to be so strong in this letter to the Galatian Church.  Both our Lord and Paul ached for them to live and walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  The Amplified Bible expands verse 25, "let us walk by the Spirit," into "let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit."  If we think walking in holiness and faith is too hard, we'll fall short based on our doubt.  If we believe that we can walk with Jesus, we'll walk as strongly as we can.  And never forget that our Lord is much more interested in our effort than our ability.  He wants a good heart attitude more than he wants our human strength.

     It's one thing to overcome the flesh and not do evil, but it's something altogether different to do good and right things.  The legalist, like the Judaizers criticized in this letter, can't display their avoidance of evil except through outward things.  How we look, act, dress, or perform certain rituals isn't always about how close we're walking to Jesus internally.  We should see Yahweh's good manifested in people's lives, but make sure it's about the heart.  To obediently do the good and right things our Lord is leading us to do takes effort.  We must think about good and right things.  We must seek spiritual wisdom and understanding so we can do these things with a right heart.

     The Greek word for fruit means that which is produced by the inherent energy of a living organism.  It describes the fruit of trees, plants, and good deeds.  Fruit is the evidence of something coming from within.  If the Holy Spirit is abiding within our hearts, something outward should show that to the world.  Any true child of faith is going to bear spiritual fruit.  Our faith will be displayed by the outward improvement of our character and the manifestation of these good qualities.  A true Christian will bear Christian fruit.  That's the natural outcome of any fruit bearing plant.  With Yahweh's seed inside of us a good crop will grow.

     There's no secret to allowing this to happen.  We just need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's active participation in our daily lives.  He'll make us more like Jesus in thought, character, attitude, word, and deed if we'll surrender to his leading.  The true believer's actions flow from a genuine inner change, not just adherence to the Law.  Col 2:20-23 clearly warns us about trying to be holy through law-keeping.  Verse 23 finishes, "Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."

 

     If we walk in the Spirit, we'll overcome the desires of the sinful flesh.  We can stop our habitual evil deeds and bear good fruit for our Master.  And this is the battle we'll fight as long as we dwell on this earth.  We can contrast the deeds of the flesh and the Spirit by first noticing that the acts of our sinful nature are plural while the Fruit of the Spirit is singular.  The sins are individual acts of defiance against our Almighty God's righteous and holy standards.  We all have a couple of sins that habitually pull at us, but it's practically impossible to be involved in the whole list at one time.  On the other hand, the Fruit of the Spirit is always produced completely in every true believer.  It's not nine individual fruits, but all nine come as the Fruit of the Spirit.  Everything we need is always at hand because the Holy Spirit is there to give us whatever we need.  It's not about manifesting them all at the same time, but about their ongoing availability.

     An elder from the Cherokee Nation was teaching his grandson about life.  "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.  "It's a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves.  One is evil and ugly.  He is anger, envy, war, greed, arrogance, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness, and ego.  The other is beautiful and good.  He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, gratitude, and vision.  The same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."

      The grandson did not respond right away as he reflected deeply on what his grandfather had said.  After a while he asked, "Oh my, grandfather, which wolf will win?"  The old Cherokee answered, "The wolf you feed."

 

     What is love?  It's agape, the essential nature of our God.  It's the sacrificial love Yahweh displayed for us in the sacrifice of Jesus.  It's much more than being nice to people and doing good things for them.  It's treating them the way they need to be treated without considering how they'll respond and how we'll feel about doing it.  Are you willing to give your best for others?  Can you treat others with the same kind of unconditional love our Father does?

     What is joy?  The word means cheerfulness and calm delight.  This isn't about how happy you are, but about how stable you are because you know the future is in Yahweh's hands.  We can be joyful in the midst of hard situations because our Lord sustains us even when the world is causing us hurt.  How does watching the evening news affect you?  Is your spirit and mind still calm or are you depressed and afraid because of what's going on all around you?

     What is peace?  The word speaks of quietness and rest, contentment based on your relationship with Jesus.  It's more than the lack of conflict in your life.  It can be what's sustaining you in the midst of terrible conflict.  How well do you sleep?  Are you overly worried and fretful on a regular basis?  Remember, according to Phil 4:7 peace "guards our hearts and minds in Jesus."  The peace Jesus gives us is a protection against internal turmoil.  Just think how much better your stomach feels when you're at peace.

     What is patience?  It literally means long-tempered.  It's about forbearance and fortitude.  How much can you stand before blowing your top and allowing your emotions to explode?  Are you trusting Jesus and standing on the Rock of your faith so that worldly disruptions don't make you crazy?  I've experienced a strong earthquake.  When you're in the midst of one you quickly realize that all you can do is trust your Lord.  Do you have the patience to trust him when things are out of your control?

     What is kindness?  It means moral excellence and usefulness.  If we can see Jesus in your actions, you're doing well and manifesting good fruit.  Are you a good servant of your Lord and Master Jesus?  How do you treat other people, and are you of good use to them?  Again, it's about much more than being nice, but about being of good use to your Master and the people he has you ministering to.

     What is goodness?  It means virtuous, good in character, or a worker of good.  What do others see in you?  What moral quality do you show forth and represent as a Christian?  If what you're doing for others is for their benefit, without you necessarily gaining anything, you're doing well.  We're to be like Jesus and Acts 10:38 tells us "he went around doing good."  It's not about dong what others think is good, but about what our Lord tells us is good.

     What is faithfulness?  It means you're persuaded that Jesus is Truth, convicted that Yahweh is real.  This is about what you believe, and if you really believe you act on that belief.  Intellectual assent isn't belief.  Belief causes action.  Do you show forth a consistency in your beliefs that others can see?  Do your beliefs cause you to act, to put feet to your faith?  Ask yourself this old diagnostic question: Would you be convicted if put on trial for being a Christian?

     What is gentleness?  It means humility and meekness.  Meekness isn't connected with weakness.  Meekness is tamed strength.  Jesus could have ended the scourging and crucifixion anytime he wanted, but he was meek and held back his strength to do what was necessary for our redemption.  He didn't fight to get his way.  He surrendered to the humiliation for a much greater cause.  A question to ask when checking out how you're doing is: Who gets the credit?

     What is self-control?  It means moderation, voluntary control.  Can you control your temper, your appetites, your defense mechanism?  With the Holy Spirit inside of us we have everything we need to overcome our bent to sin.  How strong are you in your Lord?  What exactly is it that you can't resist?  Nothing if you'll trust in your Lord's provision.  How much do you allow the Holy Spirit to determine how you'll respond?

 

     Yahweh isn't dependent on our moods.  He just provides what's needed, when it's needed, in the exact way we need it.  If we don't get in the way, he'll bless and touch us so that the ups and downs of this world don't seem so bad.  On those days when life isn't any fun, the Spirit is working to produce good fruit.  All we have to do is receive what he's offering.  We need to help him by paying attention to what he's speaking to us.  We need to respond to his direction and receive the sustaining fruit necessary at the moment.

     We also need to be working to manifest as much of this spiritual fruit as possible every day of our lives.  We need to stop seeing the worst in others, or in ourselves, and look past the rough exteriors to what Yahweh can do in and through us.  A life surrendered to him and committed to Kingdom service is marvelous to see.  The indwelling Spirit will cause us to live righteously and do godly things.  That's his work.  Ours is to listen and obey.  We have all the necessary strength of character built into us when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

     Work at becoming a stronger Christian.  Strive to allow the Fruit of the Spirit to overflow into the lives of everyone you meet.  Speak healing instead of judgment.  Speak peace instead of adding to the turmoil.  Share your love and enjoy the difference it'll make in your life and in the lives of those you touch.  Let the Holy Spirit move in you and your good fruit will be obvious to others.  Be an example of how Jesus can change us and make us more like him.

     Which wolf are you feeding?  Live by the Holy Spirit and you won't gratify the desires of your sin nature.  Sustain yourself with the good nourishment provided by the Holy Spirit and be victorious in the ongoing battle between your natures.

 

     Blessings & Peace,  Mike