...Every healthy (sound) tree
bears good fruit [worthy of admiration],
but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree
bears bad (worthless) fruit.
A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit,
nor can a bad (diseased) tree
bear excellent fruit [worthy of admiration]... Therefore,
you will fully know them by their fruits.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.
Jesus told His disciples that you can tell if someone truly belongs to Him by the kind of spiritual fruit that they produce.
Are you a fruit tree that produces healthy, sound fruit? Do you produce some good and some bad fruit? I am sure you want to produce ALL good fruit, right?
Ready to make that change?
Now, the changes don't happen over night. They're gradual.
You may not notice them over days and weeks. Or even after several months. But, you are God's work in progress - Not your own.
Have you ever heard that song: "He's still workin' on me?" Well in the song the singer sings
"He's still workin' on me, to make me what I ought to be, it took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. I love how patient He must be, cause He's still workin' on me."
I love to remember this when I feel I have room to grow in an area. I should not feel badly for this shortcoming, but to realize that I am a work in progress.
The Spirit Controlled Life, the Fruit of the Spirit are not things that we can scrounge up on our own. But, the more time you spend truly seeking God, the more these signs will become evident in every area of your life.
Everything that you do. Every thing that you say.You begin to look more like Jesus. Wouldn't that be awesome! Hang in there... you can do it!
Here are the 9 signs to check for:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patient Endurance
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faith and Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-Discipline
(Galatians 5:22-23)
These signs are called the 9 Fruits of the Spirit. They are evidence to the world that you have been paid for by the blood of Jesus, and you have the Mark (an attitude)to prove it!
You live for Him, and His Spirit lives inside of you.
What is the Purpose of the Fruits of the Spirit?
There are two huge things that the Fruits of the Spirit accomplish here on Earth.
- They give you the power to fulfill your destiny in Christ.
Without the Holy Spirit bearing spiritual fruit inside of you, you would be powerless.
You wouldn't have the endurance and faithfulness to complete the calling that God has given you. You wouldn't even have the self-discipline to study your Bible or pray.
Without the Fruits of the Spirit, the gifts that God has hidden inside of you, would stay locked away forever.
You wouldn't have the endurance and faithfulness to complete the calling that God has given you. You wouldn't even have the self-discipline to study your Bible or pray.
Without the Fruits of the Spirit, the gifts that God has hidden inside of you, would stay locked away forever.
- They are what God uses to draw people to Himself through you.
Do you know anyone who, no matter the situation, always radiates a godly peace - They are unshakable. People in this world are drawn to that kind of peace.
With all of the chaos surrounding them every day, they search their entire lives for whatever peace and joy they can get their hands on.
They end up trying to fill the void with fleeting counterfeits like alcohol and illicit sex. Things that merely numb their pain for a short while, but leave them longing once again, after the party is over.
When they look at you in a time of crisis, and see God's unshakable peace and joystaring back at them through your eyes, they want to know what you know.
Then, you can introduce them to Who you know.
With all of the chaos surrounding them every day, they search their entire lives for whatever peace and joy they can get their hands on.
They end up trying to fill the void with fleeting counterfeits like alcohol and illicit sex. Things that merely numb their pain for a short while, but leave them longing once again, after the party is over.
When they look at you in a time of crisis, and see God's unshakable peace and joystaring back at them through your eyes, they want to know what you know.
Then, you can introduce them to Who you know.
Remember, the Fruits of the Spirit are not something that you can scrounge up on your own, but gifts that God gives to you. He uses them to set you free from human frailties like anger, fear and depression.
He wants to give you His peace for your stress and anxiety, His love for your unforgiveness, His joy for your depression, and on and on.
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study:
Reflection Questions:
- Do you believe in your heart that you have been Marked by the Spirit of God? Why or why not?
- Do you agree with the idea that people in the world can be drawn to God by His fruit in your life? Why or why not?
- What Fruits of the Spirit do you already see manifesting in your life?
- Which of the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit do you still need God to manifest inside of you? Stop now and pray for the Holy Spirit to begin this work today!
We will continue the study tomorrow... for today ponder on what it is to truly accept the help of the Holy Spirit in your life to change and to mold you. It is not you who will provide the fruit, but God Himself. You must be able to allow change! Pray about it and tomorrow, we will begin with Love, Joy and Peace!
Bible study from "Hem of His Garment"
Looking forward to it!
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