What Type of Fruit Are We to Bear?
Intro:
1. Lord Jesus said that you would know whether a person was a disciple by the type of fruit that they bore (Matt 7:20)
2. In the Parable of the Sower, it was the condition of the heart that brought forth the fruit (Matt 13:1-8, 18-23).
3. Jn 15:1-7 tells us that we can bear fruit only by being attached to the vine - Jesus.
a. If we do, He prunes us to do more.
b. If we don’t, He promises to cut us off.
4. Christians, therefore, need to bear fruit to please God!
5. But - what type of spiritual fruit do you need to bear?
Galatians 5:22-23
I. What is the Fruit of the Spirit? The Character of Christ in You!
A. You need to realize where the fruit comes from.
1. It is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit when your life is prepared to be usable.
2. It is your responsibility to prepare your life to be a usable vessel.
B. There are three types of fruit.
1. The inward fruit: love, joy & peace.
2. The outward fruit: patience, kindness & goodness.
3. The Godward fruit: faithfulness, meekness & self-control.
C. Each is beneficial in three different directions.
1. The inward fruit benefits mainly yourself.
2. The outward fruit benefits mainly other people, those around you.
3. The Godward fruit benefits God.
D. All three types honor the Lord, provide power to your witness & increase the purpose & meaning in your life!
II. The Inward Fruit of the Spirit
A. Love.
1. ἀγάπη = giving of yourself to fill a need without expecting anything in return.
2. It’s an unnatural expression because we are prone to be selfish. It’s the Lord in your heart that makes the difference.
3. This love would constrain you to give to a needy person even if he were your enemy (Rom 12:20)
4. This characteristic would change all of your inward attitudes. How can you mistreat someone you love?
B. Joy. (Gentile greeting) The name Charles comes from this word.
1. χᾰρά = delight.
2. The cross freed you from guilt, so you can have real joy.
3. This is an inward thing that bubbles over!
C. Peace. (Jewish greeting) The name Irene come from this word.
1. εἰρήνη = prosperity.
2. This word describes a country’s peace because a good king rules over it. Your inner peace can come from King Jesus ruling over your heart!
III. The Outward Fruit of the Spirit
A. Patience.
1. μακροθῡμία = lit. long-suffering, long tempered. so, slow to get angry.
2. This is the attitude God has toward you. He could have destroyed us all, but He didn’t!
3. This attitude has the ability to get revenge, but doesn’t
4. How patient are you with people who think differently than you; take advantage of you or ridicule you?
B. Kindness.
1. χρηστότης = honesty, uprightness.
2. Used of “mellow” old wine.
3. Jesus showed this trait with the adulterous woman.
4. This is the outward way inward love is expressed.
C. Goodness.
1. ἀγαθωσύνη = kindness.
2. This is like “kindness”, but emphasizes the right way. It could be a stern rebuke or correction.
3. Jesus showed this trait when He drove out the money-changers & rebuked the religious leaders.
4. This is the balance for “kindness” which would never show anger.
IV. The Godward Fruit of the Spirit
A. Faithfulness.
1. πίστις = trustworthiness. Firmly persuaded, reliable.
2. Everyone can count on him.
B. Meekness.
1. πρᾱότης = mildness, gentleness, humility.
2. This word is not fully translatable in English.
a. It’s like submissiveness, teachability, considerateness.
b. It’s the opposite of self-interest & self-indulgence.
c. In Classical literature it is used for a wild animal who has been tamed. ILL: Born Free.
3. Matthew 5:5 tells us that the meek are fortunate because they will inherit the earth.
4. Meek is not weak! Moses was said to be meek (Num 12:1-4)
a. This person will be angry but only at the right time.
b. This person will have a soothing quality, a true gentleman from a position of strength.
c. This person may be in authority, but submissive to his authority. ILL: Military chain of command.
5. Meekness is demonstrated in a Christian life.
a. It’s the spirit that learns from temptation (Jam 1:12).
b. It’s a spirit in which discipline must be exercised (Gal 6:1)
c. It’s a spirit in which opposition must be met (II Tim 2:25)
d. It’s a spirit in which your witnessing must take place (I Pet 3:15)
C. Self-Control.
1. ἐγκράτεια = lit. power within, so a mastery over, self-control.
2. The right use of authority. You will control your authority & resist temptation.
3. You will do the right thing because it’s the right thing even though you has the power to “get away with it”.
a. Pilate said, “Don’t you know I have the power to kill you”.
b. Jesus said, “Don’t you know I have the authority to call 12 Legions of angels & clean up on this whole mess”! But He didn’t! That’s self-control!
4. Used in the Bible:
a. In I Cor 9:25 - It is used of an athlete who trains to have mastery over his body.
b. In I Cor 7:9 - It is used for a Christian’s mastery over sexual temptations.
5. In the Christian’s life.
a. The suggestion of it to Roman Governor Felix made him tremble (Act 24:25)
b. Part of the Christian graces (II Pet 1:6)
c. Jesus is our example. He that sent Me is with Me . . . for I always do those things that please Him - Jn 8:29.
d. Rom 15:3 - Even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me”.
Jesus is God in human terms. The Holy Spirit is God in Spiritual terms. The Lord performs His post resurrection ministry through every usable vessel. You provide the usable vessel; Lord Jesus will provide the fruit!
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