Fruit of the Spirit: Summary

I. Introduction:

II. Text:

III. What are the fruits of the Spirit?

A. Love, as a fruit of the Spirit is an active love that serves all men in humility unceasingly and untiringly.

B. Joy: It is primarily a characteristic or quality of life more than an emotion or feeling. Bible joy is the deep satisfaction and pleasure that comes from a close relationship with God and the hope of living with Him eternally that abides even in times of trial, persecution, poverty, and illness.

C. Peace, as a fruit of the Spirit, is a state of harmony with God, others, and oneself resulting from surrender to God’s will and pursuit of peaceful relations with all men.

D. Longsuffering, as a fruit of the spirit, is the spirit of humble and gentle patience that we exhibit towards others because God is exceedingly patient with us.

E. Kindness, as a work of the Spirit, is active good will shown towards those who may or may not be kind to us, in order to demonstrate love and mercy.

F. Goodness, as a work of the Spirit, is God’s goodness acting through us to serve others, seeking what is ultimately and eternally best for them.

G. Faithfulness, as a work of the Spirit, is the steadfast loyalty that we have to Jesus so that He can depend upon us to fulfill His work on earth.

H. Meekness, as a fruit of the Spirit, is the characteristic of gentleness and calmness amid the storm of persecution, oppression, and opposition. It is an obvious trait of the Christian so that when he must correct others, he does so with love and humility.

I. Self-control, as a fruit of the Spirit, is the self-restraint and self-discipline that a Christian uses to pattern his mind and life after Jesus. Self-control is the attribute of a Christian that brings his will under the rule of God and guards his heart from rebellion

J. All of these traits must characterize the life of the Christian; they must grow.

IV. War with the flesh

A. Though we desire to develop the fruit of the Spirit, we are at war with the flesh.

B. The word flesh is used to describe the appeal of sin and the world; it describes a life not led by the Spirit.

C. Titus 3:1-8

D. We were once disobedient children living according to the flesh. God saved us and called us to do good works.

E. Paul described this war of flesh and Spirit in Galatians 5:16-21

F. The Spirit and flesh are on opposite sides.

G. Sometimes we follow the flesh though we desire to be led by the Spirit, Romans 7:14-25

H. It is frustrating for us to give in when we want to oppose evil. The war will continue until God delivers us from the body of death.

I. We must determine to sever our relationship with fleshly lusts.

J. Galatians 5:24 – Crucify the desires and passions

K. Paul did not use the strength of fleshly temptations as an excuse; he did not give up because his desires were so strong. Paul crucified his body of sin so that Jesus would live in him, Gal. 2:20. Our body of sin will not die easily. Romans 6:1-4; 12-14 – Sin must not reign in our flesh Though the call of the flesh is strong, we do not have to give in and give up. Faithfulness and self-control will help us restrain from doing evil. When the Spirit leads us, we are not in opposition to God’s law.

L. Contrast the works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit

M. Love

N. Opposed in marital love by adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and licentiousness (Define) Love for God opposed by idolatry, sorcery, and heresies. Love for brethren cannot exist amidst hatred, contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, envy, and murders. Joy is quenched by hatred, contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, envy, and murders; it does not truly exist in drunkenness and revelries for they cannot provide the deep lasting joy that God gives. Peace is disrupted by hatred, contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, envy, and murders; all the sins disrupt peace with God. Longsuffering is forgotten by brethren who are contentious, envious, harbor selfish ambition in the Lord’s body, and cause dissensions. There will be no kindness or goodness shown by brethren who are contentious, envious, divisive, hateful, and abuse to others. Faithfulness cannot be found in one who is idolatrous, unclean, and does not have proper love towards his brethren. Gentleness is commanded; hatred, contentions, outbursts of wrath, dissensions and other vile behavior among brethren is condemned. Self-control is abandoned by so-called Christians living in adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, drunkenness and revelries. Those who have given in to envy and unchristian displays of anger have abandoned self-control.

O. Result

P. What is your choice?

Q. Galatians 6:7-8 – What will you sow?

R. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption Sow to the Spirit and reap everlasting life

S. Who will you follow?

T. The Spirit which leads in a life praised by God? The flesh which leads to a destructive life on earth and eternal condemnation?

U. How do you choose?

V. Not a Christian, need to obey Jesus so the Spirit can lead you through the word of God.

W. Christians must put off the deeds of the flesh and put on the life of the Spirit

X. Ephesians 4:20-24 – Put off the old man Colossians 3:1-10 – Be renewed in Christ