“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)
Are you full of fruit? That is, the fruit of the Spirit.
The first fruit is love. According to our Father’s word, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NIV)
Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit. Unlike happiness, joy is always there. Even when our temporary circumstances are not ideal, we are joyful. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (See Nehemiah 8:10)
Peace is considered the third fruit. There is a stillness, calmness, or serenity with us. "The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17, NIV)
Next on the list is forbearance or patience which is the total opposite of impatience. “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25, HCSB) We learn patience by waiting for what we are hoping for and expecting in our temporary situations and individual lives.
Kindness comes in fifth in our line-up. It can be defined as compassion, consideration, thoughtful, or just plain nice. “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” (Hosea 11:4, NIV)
Goodness falls in at number six in the list. Badness is the opposite of this one. We cannot be good without the Lord’s help. “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13, NIV)
The seventh fruit is faithfulness. Faithfulness can be defined as loyal, dependable, devoted, or constant to the utmost degree. “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, NIV)
Gentleness is the eighth fruit-bearing sign. Hardness or harshness is just a couple of words that are opposites of this one. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." (Philippians 4:5, NIV)
Self-control rounds up at number nine in the list of fruit. This one is usually thought of as self-discipline, self-restraint, or willpower. “…Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:5b, NIV)
By their fruit you will recognize them... (See Matthew 7:16, 20)
Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2020
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Bearing Fruit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV) Once we have been born again, we already have the fruit of the Spirit. It has to be used and developed by us though in order for the fruit to be shown in our lives.
As Jesus' disciples and Christ-followers, we need to bear fruit. However, we cannot and will not bear fruit without remaining in a continuous relationship with Jesus. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, NIV)
Jesus is the true vine. Therefore, we must stay connected to Him. "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4, NIV) Jesus' Father and ours is the gardener who cuts off every branch in us that doesn't bear fruit. Every branch that does bear fruit, our Father prunes so that we will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1-2)
We don't need to just bear fruit, but we need to produce a lot of fruit in our lives. "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)
In addition, it isn't just any kind of fruit that we want and need to display either. It's the good kind of fruit. In order to bear good fruit, we have to be good disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make us truly good. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)
We will truly be known by the fruit that we bear in our lives. "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16-20)
Jesus wants us to produce fruit that doesn't end. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (John 15:16)
The Apostle Paul encourages us to live as children of the light. He tells us that the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9)
Let's choose to bear fruit but not just any fruit. Choose to produce lots of good fruit in your life. Decide to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ by staying in relationship with Him. Then, we will truly be Children of the Light as He is in the Light. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
As Jesus' disciples and Christ-followers, we need to bear fruit. However, we cannot and will not bear fruit without remaining in a continuous relationship with Jesus. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, NIV)
Jesus is the true vine. Therefore, we must stay connected to Him. "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4, NIV) Jesus' Father and ours is the gardener who cuts off every branch in us that doesn't bear fruit. Every branch that does bear fruit, our Father prunes so that we will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1-2)
We don't need to just bear fruit, but we need to produce a lot of fruit in our lives. "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)
In addition, it isn't just any kind of fruit that we want and need to display either. It's the good kind of fruit. In order to bear good fruit, we have to be good disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make us truly good. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)
We will truly be known by the fruit that we bear in our lives. "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16-20)
Jesus wants us to produce fruit that doesn't end. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (John 15:16)
The Apostle Paul encourages us to live as children of the light. He tells us that the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9)
Let's choose to bear fruit but not just any fruit. Choose to produce lots of good fruit in your life. Decide to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ by staying in relationship with Him. Then, we will truly be Children of the Light as He is in the Light. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
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