AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – December 30, 2022, Tevet 6, 5783
FRIDAY NUGGETS
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – PART SEVEN
Greeting dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to our Friday Bible Study named Friday Nuggets and I am currently exploring the Fruit of the Spirit, today is part seven. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means at your disposal to expand, extend our reach with this wonderful, nothing like it, news. There is no better news than that contained in the Holy Bible and demonstrated in our lives.
As you know, I have been laying a firm foundation for this study by exploring the context within which the following text is placed.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
We established that this is talking about the fruit of our spirit in spite of the capitol S in Spirit in verse twenty-two. Of course, the Holy Spirit who is within those who are saved has these fruits which He may express without limit. By comparison we are learning and developing our skill and consistency in producing these spiritual fruit to be like our Heavenly Father. Not long ago I did some teaching on what I called perfect expression. My primary example was the expression of peace in our lives. Peace is one of the fruit of our spirit and the Holy Spirit. We always have a part. When we are doing our part with a whole heart (fully persuaded faith) then God will do His part, make up the difference creating a perfect expression of peace in our life.
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We are commanded to resist worry, anxiety, talk to God (not everyone else) and fill our mouths with thanksgiving. In that setting God will apply His peace to the situation creating a perfect expression of peace in our lives. And so it is with all of the fruit of the spirit and other areas of our walk with God, work in the Kingdom of God.
We have been made in the image and likeness of God, and we are of like kind just as your children or mine are of like kind with us. It is essential, even a life and death decision, that we believe (have faith, be in total agreement with Heaven/the Word) we have the capacity and can express love, joy, peace and so on just like our Heavenly Father. Of course, this takes time, and only happens as we are intentional concerning the expression of these fruit. At first, we must do it as conscious decisions, but with time, the renewing of the mind, the expression of these fruit will be just who we are. As I prepare to delve into the various fruits keep in mind that the fruit produced is reflective of the tree. In other words, an apple tree only produces apples. If we are producing love than we are love, just as our Heavenly Father is love. Do we have only these trees of the spirit producing or are there other trees in us producing works of the flesh? Let’s start looking at the fruit of the spirit and their expression. The tree is useless unless it produces a fruit that can be beneficial to others.
Luke 13:6-9 (KJV)
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Much can be said about this passage but the main thing I want to bring to our attention now is that a lack of fruit is serious to the Master. Just think about the accounts of the talents and pounds and the following passage.
Matthew 7:15-20 (KJV)
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Friday, next year.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Receive the blessing in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (MSG)
24 GOD bless you and keep you,
25 GOD smile on you and gift you,
26 GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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