“The Fruit of the Spirit”

 “The Fruit of the Spirit”

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  There is no law against these things!   Galatians 5:22-23

 

What makes a Christian to be CHRIST-LIKE?  It is LIVING under the POWER of the Holy Spirit, who indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER at the time of their CONVERSION.  In verse sixteen of Chapter five, the Apostle Paul tells us that we should let the HOLY SPIRIT guide our lives.  Then we won’t be doing what our SINFUL nature craves.  You see, our SINFUL NATURE wants us to do EVIL, which is the OPPOSITE of what the SPIRIT wants.  

The Apostle Paul tells us that those who LIVE their LIFE according to their SINFUL NATURE, will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. (Vv18-21).   So, let’s look at the first three VIRTUES (fruit) of the TRUE BELIEVER, these are habits of their mind  1. LOVE, this LOVE is an AGAPE kind of LOVE, it is a GODLY TYPE of LOVE and it is listed FIRST, because it is the FOUNDATION of the other VIRTUES.  In 1John 4:8, John tells us that GOD is LOVE and He LOVES the World (John 3:16).  This SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE is what sent JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S ONLY SON, to DIE for SINFUL MANKIND.  It is the KIND of LOVE that the TRUE BELIEVERS, who are SPIRIT-CONTROLLED exemplify.  

2. JOY, this JOY is a DEEP, ABIDING INNER REJOICING that was PROMISED to those who ABIDE in CHRIST JESUS.  It is NOT DEPENDENT on outer CIRCUMSTANCES, because it solely rests in the ALMIGHTY GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL of ALL things. 

3. PEACE, this PEACE is a Gift from the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  It is an INNER CALMNESS and QUIETNESS even in ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES. It is a GIFT from the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to the TRUE BELIEVER.  John 14:23, are the words of JESUS:  “I am leaving you with a gift—-PEACE of MIND and HEART.  And the PEACE I GIVE is a gift that the world cannot give.   So, don’t be troubled or afraid. 

As a TRUE BELIEVER you SHOULD be EXEMPLIFYING these three FRUITS of the SPIRIT.  Do you?  Next time we will talk about the NEXT three FRUITS that SHOULD BE EVIDENT in EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  

If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through the SHED BLOOD of His Son, Jesus Christ, then you do NOT POSSESS these VIRTUES, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  In order to ESCAPE that DESTINY and possess the FRUIT of the SPIRIT, you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for YOU before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And You MUST ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION and RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT and start LIVING a SPIRIT-CONTROLLED LIFE. Then YOU can exemplify these FRUITS of the SPIRIT.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!