THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
In the Bible, we are called “trees of righteousness” . . PEOPLE KNOW YOU BY THE FRUIT YOU SHOW . . .
Matt 12:33 (KJV)
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: FOR THE TREE IS KNOWN BY HIS FRUIT.
John 15:1-8 (NIV)
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He CUTS OFF every branch in me that bears NO FRUIT, while every branch that DOES BEAR FRUIT he PRUNES so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, and I will 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.
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8 This is to my Father's glory, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, SHOWING YOURSELVES TO BE MY DISCIPLES.
Here is a LIST of the “Fruit of the Spirit:
Gal 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit (the Greek word for fruit means “something picked”) of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS,
23 GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL. Against such things there is no law.
These 9 fruit are growing IN THE INSIDE of you if you are a Christian . . . now, some Christians try NOT to let it show, but the WISE Christian will LET their fruit show AND EVEN ALLOW SOME TO BE PICKED (as you are “enduring” someone who is being “unlovely’, they are picking the fruit of PATIENCE and LOVE). After a little bit of this, you WILL need to get apart with God and His Word and FEED your SPIRIT so that your spirit can grow some more FRUIT :)
1.) LOVE -
John 13:34-35 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.
2.) JOY -
Rom 14:17 (KJV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, AND JOY in the Holy Ghost.
3.) PEACE -
John 14:23-27 (NIV)
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.
4.) PATIENCE -
3115 makrothumia-
patience, long-suffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
5.) KINDNESS -
5544 chrestotes-
moral goodness, integrity, kindness (translated “gentleness” in the King James Version (KJV))
Eph 2:6-7 (KJV)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That IN THE AGES TO COME he might show the EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
6.) GOODNESS -
19 agathosune-
virtue, uprightness of heart and life, goodness
7.) FAITHFULNESS -
Prov 20:6 (NIV)
6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
8.) GENTLENESS -
4240 prautes-
humility, mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness
9.) SELF-CONTROL -
1466 egkrateia-
self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites)
Gal 5:16 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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One FINAL thought:
Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)
6 Then he told this parable: "A man (the Father) had a fig tree (us), planted in his vineyard (world), and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard (Jesus), 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8 "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
For FURTHER study:
John 15:9-17 (NIV)
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.