THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
BY BISHOP FRANK OGAGBA, PRESIDING BISHOP OF EVER-INCREASING FAITH CHURCHES
2600 ANDRIAS CLOSE, UNIT 9, MMABATHO 2735 NORTH WEST OF PROVINCE SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27 18 3845705; FAX: +27 86 689 9567; CELL: +27 83 480 7992
E-MAIL: bishopfrank@everincreasingfaithchurch.org
WEBSITE: www.everincreasingfaithchurch.org
TEXT: “But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there in no law” (Galatians 5: 22-23)
What a glorious listing of virtues we find in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia. Who could reasonable debate the value of the aforementioned fruits of the Spirit? A great confusion is possible for new believer in understanding the difference between terms of the fruit of the Spirit and a doctrine of works or legalistic behavior. New believers are frequently drawn into groups that place an unhealthy emphasis on works in order to become or stay saved, the fruit of the spirit will be produced by the Holy Spirit within the life of every believer who in partnership with God’s Spirit properly cultivates such fruit, there is however as counterfeit to the fruit of the Spirit and that counterfeit is revealed in Galatians 3:2 where Paul chastises those who think salvation depend upon following a set of rituals. (See also Colossians 2:16-23).
It is often true, both in the world and in the church that we give praise to the powerful personalities rather than the good and noble in character, that is to say, we are greatly impressed with great performance. Could it be that our current cultural standards for many of American’s greatest sports heroes in recent history have turned out in fact to be persons of been idolized by the media and even by the church.
God, in fact has considerably different standards for measuring a Christians greatness than does our society or culture. The Lord is more interested in character than charisma, in godliness than greatness, in showing love rather than impressing people with religious accomplishments.
Jesus commented on the unhealthy preoccupation with size and statistics many times throughout his teaching ministry. One very clear and prominent example of this is found in Mark 12: 41-44.
41 “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more 44. for the all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood..”
God certainly looks upon the heart, while we natural human being have a real tendency to focus on the externals of life and its issues. What is God really after? What are his true standards for greatness, growth and maturity? Scripture is not silent on this matter scripture places far greater value on the fruit of the Spirit than it does external displays of holiness and on large number. Even great feasts of supernatural power are secondary to a transformed life (Matthew 7:21-28).
In John 15:4, Jesus said “abide in me and in you … As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: Again in John 15:7: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you…Ask…it shall be done unto you.” David states, “his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates both day and night.
Fundamentally then” the fruit of the Holy Spirit would be that virtue which is produced in our lives by the Spirit of God as we cooperate with Him in cultivating that virtue.
Since cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit revolves around the word of God it would assist us greatly to look briefly at God’s word as it relates to each of the different fruit of the Spirit.
Love
Love involves our relationship with others and with God.
Love of God
I John 4:7-11 ” Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9. In this the love of God was manifested toward us , that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sings. 11. Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
By this message and others it can readily see how God’s live progressively moves from Love of one’s self, God’s love of us, to the love of God, to the loving of others created in His image. It is made readily apparent that our ability to love in all three realms has its origin in the love of God for us.
The love of others
The love of others is a primary expression of God’s Spirit in our lives. Its importance is made clear by the words of Jesus Himself.
Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45. that you may be sons of your father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust..”
To the Pharisees, neighbor was a narrowly defined term. Neighbors were to be loved, but enemies could be hated. Jesus expanded the definition of neighbor to include enemies. See especially the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25—37).
LOVE OF SELF
When asked which is the greater commandment in Matt 22:37 Jesus response is recorded. “you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
It is apparent from our Lord’s response that one must have a love of oneself as a foundation for loving others. We can truly love ourselves because it is further recorded in scripture. In 1 John 4 we find “we love him because _________________.” God both has loved us and continues to love us even when we are unlovely, with all of our imperfections and shortcomings, We can then be at liberty to love ourselves, even as God does, and subsequently we are free to love others.
JOY
Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Joy is the positive feeling of the whole man that the will of the Lord is being done. Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated such joy when he suffered and died for us. It was in fact the chief motivating factor and the apparent source of strength for His vicarious suffering.
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Joy produced the praise to obey and serve God with the understanding that it is worth it all both now and forever.
Peace
For an exercise in understanding God’s commitment to bringing peace to our lives, just take a look at how many times this particular fruit of the spirit is communicated to the saints by the apostles in the opening and closing statements of the New Testament epistles.
James and I John are the New Testament epistle that do not either end or began with a strong reference to blessing the saints with the peace that comes from God to the body of Christ. Of particular interest is a characteristic of peace that is non-typical to today’s culture.
Romans 6:20 “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.”
Hebrews 13:20 “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
Peace is not passive. It is associated directly with the very resurrection of Christ. It resurrects the life of God within us and it crushes the power of Satan within.
Another scripture of interest on the peace of God as an important aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is
Romans 8:6
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Longsuffering
Longsuffering can be defined as long and patient endurance of offence.
The scripture speaks of the great virtue in several passage, and through our review of them we can learn of this work of this of the spirit in our lives. In the new international version of the bible the word for His suffering is translated patience.
I Timothy 1:16 “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
.”
2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance.”
2 Corinthians 6:6 “by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,”
Colossians 1:11 “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;”
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;.
2 Peter 3:15 “and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.”
Gentleness
Gentleness is that which keeps us from being unkind or harsh to others. To be gentle is to be equitable and fair, not insisting on keeping the letter of the law, but before judging to look objectively and the reasonably at the facts of the situation. Some versions of the Bible use the word kindness instead of gentleness.
Gentleness avoids causing pain whenever possible. Gentleness towards others is an attribution of great grace for the body of Christ.
GOODNESS
Good is love in action. It not only desires for the welfare of others but also acts to see that the welfare is realized. Being good is more than being righteous; the Bible makes a definite difference between the two in Romans 5:7.
Romans 5:7 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.”
A righteous person could evict a widow for not paying her rent, and would have the legal right to do so. Righteousness would keep the letter of the law, but goodness would assist her in times of need
Faith
Faith emphasizes our relationship with God: when it refers to our belief in Christ of God, faith means “a firm persuasion,” However in Galatians 5:22, faith refers to a characteristic in those persons in whom the fruit of the spirit is being produced. Therefore, it is the idea of faithfulness, fidelity, or trustworthiness.” This faith is that characteristic which causes one to be true to his promise and faithful to his task.
Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord!”
Meekness
Meekness is not weakness. It is not the opposite of courage, it is strength under control. It is a spirit of humility that refuses to let pride rule one’s life. Meekness means that we have the mind of Christ that Jesus is in control of our lives. The meek person does not throw his weight around. Meekness is actually the proper use of authority and power.
Christ is to be our example of meekness.
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!
Temperance
To most of us the word temperance conveys the idea of abstinence from alcoholic beverages, but as a part of the fruit of the spirit it refers to self-control. It is that virtue found in the life of one who master his desire and especially in regard to sensual appetites. Perhaps the illustration of self-control is seen in Christ as he faced the cross in the Garden of Genthsemane.
Matthew 26:39 “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
The fruit of the spirit is singular. It is like a pie that has been divided into nine pies. Each one of the characteristics is required if there is to be a whole.
The list of the fruit of the spirit ends with against such there is no law. The law could not produce such fruit. Only the Holy Spirit can lift us out of legalistic law keeping into fruitful discipleship.
DOING THE WORD
Commit to memory Galatians 5:22-23
Examine how these of the gifts are in operation in your life? Ask God to help you to surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit so that the gifts may be in operation in your life and ministry at all times.
