THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: DESCRIPTION
The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans
Text: Deut. 10:12-13; Micah 6:8
Intro:
1. Moses told the Israelites (READ Deut.
2. The wise man Solomon later said (QUOTE Ecc. 12:13).
3. Then the prophet Micah taught (READ Mic.
6:8).
Lesson:
1. We are reasonably sure that
there
isn't a true father in the world
a. who doesn't have real love and
compassion
for his children;
b. who does not have some goals he has
set before them
1. in an
effort
to motivate them to greater heights of achievement
2. in
their earning of their daily bread.
2. He wants them to attain a higher standard of living
a. that their life will be more
meaningful
and more productive,
b. and consequently, more happy
c. as far as the material things of this
life are concerned.
3. If we, as earthly parents are this deeply interested
a. in our children’s earthly and
materialistic
happiness,
b. how much more do you think our
heavenly Father
c. thinks
about
our spiritual happiness and growth?
4. We read in the Scriptures that we are all the children of God
a. by faith in Christ Jesus (Quote Gal.
b. After we
put
on Christ, our Lord and Savior in baptism,
1. He adds
us to His church (Acts 2:47);
2. and in
the church we are expected to do His will.
5. We are not really acting like God's children
a. if we do not manifest the nature of
His
dear Son,
b. who died and gave Himself for us (2
Cor.
6. We read in Rom. 8:9 (READ).
a. But how
does
one show that he has the Spirit of God?
b. The Bible
answers: by the Fruit we bear.
7. The necessity of fruit-bearing
a. is clearly shown in the New Testament
(John 15:2; 4-5).
b. Jesus
expects
His followers to bear much fruit:
"Herein is
my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;
so shall
ye
be my disciples" (John 15:8).
8. After stating the graces that a Christian must add to his
character
- his faith,
a. Peter says, "For if these things be
in you, and abound, they make you
that ye shall
neither
be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus
Christ"
(2 Pet. 1:8).
b. Paul, in
speaking
of fruit-bearing
c. and the blessings that come to the
productive Christian, said,
"But now being made free from sin and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom.
9. How can we know when we are possessors of that Holy Spirit
a. that God has given to those who love
Him;
b. and those who are willing to abide by
His Word (Acts
10. How can we know that we have that Spirit?
a. Well, we
read
in the Book of Galatians
b. that the fruit of the Spirit is made
manifest,
1. that
is,
it is made known in our lives
2. if we
are really those who are possessors
3. of the
Spirit of Christ (READ Gal.
11. As we all know, fruit comes from a tree,
a. and no one expects to receive apples
from
a hickory nut tree,
b. or oranges from a pecan tree;
c. this goes against God's natural law.
12. If we say that we are God's offspring,
a. then we should be those who are like
His
Son in nature,
b. that is, those who are fruit
producing
trees -
1.
producers
of that fruit of the Spirit
2. we just
read about in the Book of Galatians.
13. As we think about what God expects from His children,
a. this lesson will describe the "fruit
of the Spirit"
b. and give some ideas on how to use
this
fruit as God expects.
I. LOVE
1. The first quality characterizing the fruit of
the
Spirit is love.
a. It is to
be
expected that love would head the list
b. of these marvelous virtues.
2. Love emanates from the Father,
a. and gratitude causes us to respond in
like fashion.
"We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
b. But do we
really love as we ought to,
1. or is our
love
like a faucet
2. which we may
turn
on and off at our own leisure?
3. Is our love
warm
and friendly and consistent?
3. Love, here, is a translation of the Greek word AGAPE.
a. Agape is
not
merely an emotion,
b. but it is a principle by which one
lives.
c. It always
seeks
the highest good of others.
4. To love is to show forth the greatest characteristic of the
Christian faith.
5. The apostle Paul in writing to the church at
a. reminds them that to love
b. is the greatest of all spiritual
gifts
given by God.
6. The extent of this love is described by John in these words:
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither
in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
7. Jesus gave a new expression to love.
a. He said, "A new commandment I give
unto you, that ye love one
another; as I
have
loved you, that ye also love one another; by this
shall all men
know
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one
another (John
13:34).
b. This is
the
greatest expression of love, for
"greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends" (John
II. JOY
1. The next virtue known as the fruit of the
Spirit
is joy!
a. Those who
live
in obedience to the Gospel
b. will deeply, sincerely, and
prayerfully delight in the Lord.
2. Joy is a marvelous quality of the Christian life!
a. Joy is the
deep happiness born of a father-child relationship.
b. Paul
exhorted
his children in the faith to
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).
3. This fruit refers to that resultant relationship between God
and
man
a. which is based
upon
grace
b. and appropriated through the
obedience of the Gospel (Rom 1:5; Eph 2:8-9).
4. Joy is not simply an emotion,
a. but it is a quality which
characterizes
the Christian life.
b. King David
wrote that in God’s presence is fullness of joy (Ps.
1. The
Holy
Spirit said through Paul
2. that
our
joy and peace increases as our faith increases (Rom.
5. Joy is exhibited when people obey the Gospel.
a. When the
Samaritans obeyed the Gospel, it was said,
"And there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:8).
b. When the
Eunuch obeyed the Gospel,
"He went on his way rejoicing" (Acts
1. On the
day
of Pentecost, those who GLADLY
2.
received
the Word of God were baptized (Acts
6. LOVED ONES, is there any joy in our lives?
a. Do we seek
enjoyment in our service to God?
b. Do we
enjoy
things that bring happiness and comfort to others?
c. Do we
enjoy
being in God's service and with His people?
7. These are all questions that only you can answer,
a. but we are sure that you realize the
gravity of the answer.
b. If you
answer
in the negative,
c. We believe you are in great danger.
8. Remember, JOY can stand for Jesus first; Others second; and
You
last.
a. Putting
this principle into practice
b. may sometimes get you into hot water
with your physical family.
c. Due to the oneness of marriage, this
may
mean even putting your wife last.
III. PEACE
1. Peace is the next piece of the Spirit's
fruit.
a. Peace is
the
absence of discord;
b. peace is found when one force works
with another force
1. in
sweet
and unbroken fellowship.
2. Paul
said,
"And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
2. You see, our lives are surrounded by subtle foes seeking to
gain entrance.
a. At the
door
are temptations, errors, deceptions, fears, and alarms.
b. But within
the heart of the faithful Christian,
c. peace is pictured as a sleepless
sentinel
and guard.
1. When
there
is peace within,
2. there
is perfect harmony between the soul and the Lord.
3. How then can we achieve peace with our fellow man?
a. Is it
possible
for us to live peaceably with men today?
b. God's
answer
is YES.
4. Not only is it possible, but it is also a command.
a. The Hebrew
writer said, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb.
b. And again,
"Be at peace among yourselves" (1 Thess.
5. To achieve peace we must have a genuine, deep-seated desire
for
peace
a. and a fervent motivation for it.
b. We must
endeavor "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph.
4:3).
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another" (Rom.
IV. LONGSUFFERING
1. The apostle further admonishes us that if
we
be led of the Spirit
a. we should be longsuffering, not quick
tempered
and impatient,
b. not too easily upset or too easily
provoked.
1. But we
should be patient and enduring
2. in
trials
and tribulations and afflictions,
3. that we
might prove ourselves to the Master.
2. When we have the love of God in our life,
a. the joy of the Lord in our walk,
b. and the peace of God in our heart,
c. then we will have great patience with
man.
3. Longsuffering enables us to endure hardships
a. and much injury without provocation.
b. Peter wrote of God's longsuffering
when
he said
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to usward,
not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).
4. As God's children, we too must be longsuffering.
a. Paul
wrote, "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love. Endeavoring to keep..." (Eph.
4:2-3).
b. Let's
follow
Paul's advice and put on this fruit of longsuffering (Col. 3:12).
V. GENTLENESS
1. The Holy Spirit next reminds us to be
gentle.
a. Gentleness
is the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper
b. which puts
others
at ease, and shrinks from giving pain.
2. We therefore must not be overbearing and arrogant
a. in our dealing with our fellow-man.
b. Paul says
that
the servant of the Lord must be gentle to all men (2 Tim.
3. No wonder the writer of old times said, "A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger" (Prov. 15:1).
VI. GOODNESS
1. God also wants all of His children to be
good,
a. and always seek and pursue goodness.
b. However,
without
a Divine standard
c. there can be no good or goodness.
2. It is sad but true that many walk in error
a. while attempting to live a good life,
b. but at the same time ignoring God's
Book
of divine instructions.
3. Jeremiah said, “The way of man is not in himself; It is not in
man
that
walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
4. Thus, the word of God “is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105).
5. When a man's heart is in tune with God's wishes and will,
a. it can be said of him, "A good man
out of the good treasure of the
heart bringeth forth good things" (Matt.
b. Wouldn't
it
be wonderful if every person in the church of Christ
1. could
be
looked upon by the world
2. and
recommended by them as being good?
3. What a
wonderful
testimonial this would be.
6. We believe that we get to be good by doing good or being
benevolent.
a. We cannot
do
good if we are lazy, slothful,
b. and unconcerned about our fellow-man
c. and his physical, as well as
spiritual
needs.
7. The early Christians showed forth their faith by their
goodness
of action.
a. They sold
their goods and possessions
b. and distributed them among the needy
(Acts
8. Cornelius was a good man,
a. who prayed to God with all his house
b. and gave
much
alms to the people (Acts 10:2).
9. There was a woman named Dorcas
who
lived in the city of Joppa.
a. This good
woman
made clothing and gave them to poor people.
b. It was
said
of her that she was full of good works and alms deeds.
1. How
wonderful she must have been
2. for
Peter
to have had such compassion on her
3. to have
raised her up from the dead (Acts
10. So we see that the Scriptures are full of the work of good men and
women,
a. who not only said that they loved
God,
b. but demonstrated their love and
goodness
in their lives.
11. Every Christian should so live that what Paul said of the Romans
a. could be truthfully said of each one
of
us.
b. Lets read
it together in Romans 15:14 (READ).
12. So as we have opportunity, "let us do good unto all men, especially
unto
them who are of the household of faith" (Gal.
VII. FAITH
1. Another characteristic of the Christian
fruit
of the Spirit is faith.
a. We read in
Hebrews 11:1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen."
b. This means we cannot always see
everything that God is working out for us,
1.
but by faith we can believe that He is doing all things for our good,
2. even in our trials and afflictions,
3.
and the obstacles that Satan puts in our paths.
2. We must continue to have faith in God that He will deliver us.
a. For faith
is absolutely necessary in order to please Him (Heb . 11:6)
b. Faith is the foundation upon which
all
the Christian graces rest (2 Pet. 1:5-7).
1. We are
to
add to our faith, v k t p g bk 1.
2. For
again, “If these things be in you, and abound, they make
you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:8).
3. The dictionary defines faith as "unquestioning belief in God."
a. We cannot say that we have faith if
we
do not obey God's will.
b. We cannot
obey
His will unless we are interested in the work of His church,
1. and we
cannot do the work of His church
2. unless
we
are willing to cooperate with His leaders,
3. those
who
God has put here to look after His work.
4. Loved ones, we have every reason to be faithful.
a. We have
the
Bible, the perfect Book.
b. It is
inspired
by God (2 Tim.
c. It cannot
be destroyed, because it lives and abides forever (1 Pet.
5. It instructs us of our origin, our destiny,
a. and how to live and please God in
this
life,
b. that we might be saved eternally
(Matt.
6. Our faith comes as a result of what is heard;
a. and hearing by the Word of God (Rom.
b. One day we will be judged by this
same
word (John
VIII. MEEKNESS
1. God also expects us to exhibit meekness
in
our daily living.
a. To be meek
does not mean to be afraid
b. but rather to be able to endure
injury
with patience
c. and without resentment.
2. An attitude of meekness is one of mild forbearance and gentle
kindness.
a. It is an
attitude devoid of harsh intolerance and bitterness.
b. We MUST
put
this fruit into our lives, for Jesus said,
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).
3. Meekness is clearly related to humility.
a. It accepts
the inevitable trials and misfortunes of life
b. without a murmur.
4. Jesus is our perfect example.
a. He was
"meek and lowly in heart" (Matt.
b. Before
dying
on the across, He said,
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke
c. This
should
be our attitude in our dealing with our fellow-man.
5. Can we humble ourselves enough to do this great act of
obedience
to God
a. and manifest this noble fruit of the
Spirit of Christ?
b. In order
to
be pleasing to Him, we must find in our hearts the will
c. and the ability to carry out this
command
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. And then all people, both within and without the church,
a. will be able to examine our lives
b. and to take note that we possess
meekness.
IX. TEMPERANCE
1. Finally we are asked of the Lord to be
temperate.
a. What does
this
mean?
b. This means
to keep within limits -
c. not extreme or excessive but
moderate.
2. This means to use self control.
a. Jesus
said,
"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt.
b. We must
keep
our passions, our bodies, out thoughts, our motives, and our tongues -
c. in short, the entire man - under
control.
3. All would agree that none of us are perfect,
a. and that we are all creatures
b. who by nature are weak and subject to
make mistakes.
4. Even so, we must not "sell out" to the devil.
a. Some
Christians
will "sell out" for another puff or chew from their tobacco cancer
stick.
b. Some will
"sell out" for another drink of whiskey to get drunk.
1. Some will
"sell out" for another lustful moment with the opposite sex
2. (or today
with
the same sex).
c. Some will
"sell out" for another prideful moment in life.
5. You see, the devil goes on the assumption
a. that every righteous person has his
"sell
out" price.
b. But he's
wrong,
as proven by Job.
6. We should strive to be of the caliber of Job,
a. for we realize that God expects and,
yes, demands that we improve as His children
b. and grow up into full adulthood in
His kingdom.
7. We can do this by concentrating, not on others, but on
ourselves;
a. for in the final judgment we must
stand individually before our God
b. to give account of our deeds (2 Cor.
Conclusion
1. Nine things have been studied as the "fruit of the
Spirit."
a. These are not nine different kinds of
fruit,
b. but rather nine elements in one
fruit.
2. This fruit will be perfected
a. only when each of these nine elements
b. is present in its proper proportion.
3. These nine things are said to be the fruit of the Spirit
a. because the Spirit through the Word
of
God
b. is striving to build them into our
character.
1. The
Spirit dwells in us.
2. He
operates
on us through the truth of God's Word.
4. We suppose we could sum it all up by saying
a. that what God really expects from us
is
to love Him.
b. If we love
Him we will keep His commandments (John
1. and
these things we have mentioned will just naturally follow,
2. and we
can truly call ourselves God's children.