Key verse Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,joy,peace,Patience,kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Context of 5
* Life in the Spirit and love - Galatians 5:12- 6:10
* Believers have died with Christ to sin and therefore have renounced flesh -Gal 5:24
* Spirit is the source of power and guidance in a Christians life. He produces love and faith in a believer.Gal 5:6,16,18,25
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love,
joy,
peace,
Patience,
kindness
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness
and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
Luke 6:44
Importance of bearing fruit
Mathew 7:15-23
15 ‘Watch out for false prophets. Theycome to you in sheep’s clothing, butinwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles
17 Likewise, every goodtree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 Agood tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot beargood fruit
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
True and false disciples
21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom ofheaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform manymiracles?”
23 Then Iwill tell them plainly,“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
A tree bears fruit based on what it receives through its roots.
Unless we bear good fruit being rooted in Christ Jesus. We might be cut down and thrown into fire.How much ever we might be doing things without the being in Christ.
Our doing should be an outpouring of our being in Christ. Out of the love and relation with Christ our actions should flow.
Else we might be surprised at judgement day.
One of the traps of devil is to get people busy in unfruitful work. That will occupy their hours and give a false satisfaction doing something in their lives. Especially in ministry. But at the end if know it was all useless. What will be our situation?. That's the destruction devil is seeking?.
Bearing fruit if the Spirit is a life long process.
What will happen when we bear fruits of Spirit.
Bearing fruit that matters/patience
*** Story of plantain and the coconut tree.
Plantain bears banana only once and then dies. It takes years for coconut tree to bear friut. Once it bears fruits hundreds coconuts will be there every year there after.
*** Story of Nabeel Qureishi/faithfulness
Great anti Christian, Muslim apologist who surrendered his life to Christ. Was used mightily by God. Diagnosed with final stage cancer. But his message on Facebook, sharing this news with world still holding to Christ and choosing to serve him till death.
A Hindu girl who attended our fellowship back and now in North India is inspired to follow Christ due to his faithfulness to Christ even in face of sure death.
Great revival in Rome/dangerous Love
Many great historians credit the rise of Christian faith in Roman empire to the loving way Christians responded to their persecutors during the great plague during Aurelius.
The plague which killed two thousand per day and wiped one fourth of Roman population.
When pagans deserted and ditched those who got plague. Christians heroically risked their lives to serve and take care of the Romans who persecuted them. Best of the Christians lost their lives in the process and they were treated as martyrs for sharing Christ even when in sure death. Then the miracle happened, Christian workers who served the plague affected became immune to disease and they started surviving plague. They were now sought after all over Rome to serve. While pagans deserted and ditched their loved ones and their homes and cities. Christians fed the population, took care of them and served them with love. Rightfully Christians took over Rome in next century eventually leading to conversion of emperor Constantine to Christian faith.
Joy in the Rise of Christian faith in China.
Christians persecuted and jailed for faith in Christ rejoices when they are beaten. As they have been chosen to suffer for doing good and their rewards are great in heaven. No wonder people in China would love to join Christians who are joyful always no matter what be it good or bad.
Peace during persecution and Korean revival
World famous revival leader pastor of once the world's biggest church , Paul yonggi cho. Has written most of the initial believers in his church were from North Korea who migrated during rear south Korea. When thru heard gospel they immediately accepted Christ. Later pastor came to know that. In North Korea Christians will be persecuted. If they are find and they don't denounce Christ in public. They will be killed one by one. The absolute peace in which Christians faced death shook the hearts of people who were called to witness this event. Add they were buried alive. Christians peacefully singing songs glorifying Christ till death.
Kindness /Mother Teresa
Kindness to the ones who were discarded by everyone.
I see Christ in every person i meet.
Whatever you do unto the least of the brethren you do unto me.
Countless people have turned their life to Christ due to this voiceless preaching.
Nations were transformed wherever bold Christians decided to allow God to proon them to develop fruits Spirit.
Francis of assisi -a great evangelist of medieval times once said
"Share the gospel always, use words if needed".
Pray for fruits of Spirit to be developed in life.
