Fruit of the Spirit
Posted: Jul 21, 2010 at 10:22 PM in Wednesday Bible Study
The Fruit of the Spirit
Pastor Grant Williams July 21, 2010 Handout
Colossians 3:1-8 (Amplified Bible)
1 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
6 It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will),
7 Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices].
8 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foul-mouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!
1 John 4:20 (Amplified Bible)
20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.
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Ephesians 4:31-32 (Amplified Bible)
31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarrelling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
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Romans 6:6 (Amplified Bible)
6 We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.
Galatians 5:16-26 (King James Version)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
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Galatians 5:16-26 (Amplified Version)
16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
- THE ACTS OF THE SINFUL NATURE (WORKS OF THE FLESH)
These acts can be divided into four categories.
- SINS INVOLVING SEX (V.19)
- These are “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery v.19
- These sins cover all sexual offenses whether public or private.
3.This list covers all sins whether between married or unmarried.
- SINS INVOLVING RELIGION (v. 20a)
1. These include “idolatry and witchcraft”
2. Idolatry is the worship of anything other than God
3. Idolatry includes worship of money, power, prestige, or self.
4. Witchcraft is using spiritual gifts for evil.
5. Witchcraft – Gk. Pharmakon – drug abuse (form of witchcraft)
- SINS INVOLVING ANIMOSITY(bitterness) (v. 20-21a)
1. These include “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy”
2. These are all signs of the flesh at work in us.
3. There are eight different words dealing with animosity.
4. He lists 15 things, and 8 of them deal with relationships.
5. Discord refers to the strife that beset the Galatians.
6. Discord comes from petty bickering and pride.
7. Fits of rage – an outburst of anger
8. We often say things that we regret later.
- SINS INVOLVING SUBSTANCE ABUSE
1. These include “drunkenness and carousing”
2. NIV says, “orgies” but this word is used three times in the NT and each time it is used in reference to the abuse of alcohol.
3. It is used in Rom.13:13 and 1Pet.4:3
4. The Living Bible translates the word as “WILD PARTIES” which is more in line with it’s New Testament usage.
II. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
A. THE FRUIT
1. “But the fruit” fruit is singular in number.
2. Paul is not discussing nine different fruits.
3. He says, “the fruit”
4. That is a reference to one fruit composed of nine elements.
- THE ELEMENTS OF THE FRUIT
1. The first three are in relation to God
2. The next three are in relation to man
3. The last three are in relation to one’s own inner life.
C. OF THE SPIRIT
1. This is the fruit of having the Holy Spirit in control of one’s life.
2. The Holy Spirit produces this fruit through the believer when he is in union with Christ.
3. John 15:1-8
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John 15:1-8 (Amplified Bible)
1 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
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D. THE NINE ELEMENTS OF THE FRUIT
1. Love
a) Self-denying love.
b) Self-sacrificing love.
c) Christlike love.
d) This is the foundation of all other graces.
e) This love is described in 1Corinthians 13.
2. Joy
a) Joy of the Holy Spirit
b) Deep abiding joy.
c) Inner rejoicing in the Lord
3. Peace
a) Tranquillity
b) The peace that Christ gives
c) Peace that is not based on the world.
d) Peace which the world can’t take away.
4. Patience
a) Endurance
b) Steadfastness in the face of antagonism
c) Forbearance under ill-will
d) Allowing your enemies to wonder indefinitely when you will try to get even.
5. Kindness
a) Gracious
b) Kindly disposition.
6. Goodness
a) Ready to do good
b) Love in action.
7. Faith
a) Trust in God
b) Faithful to his task.
8. Gentleness
a) Controlled strength
b) Submissive to God
9. Self Control
a) Rational and reasonable
b) Restraint of natural impulses
c) Not quick tempered
E. HOW FRUIT COMES
1. Fruit is the result of a long growing process.
2. Fruits are not made, they are grown.
3. Fruit doesn’t come from planning and working it comes from growing.
4. You can’t build a fruit.
5. You can’t fashion a fruit.
6. You can’t get fruit from a fruitless tree.
7. You just have to grow fruit.