A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (December 15, 2017)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Jesus and the Old Testament prophets used trees on many occasions to illustrate teachings. An example would be, “that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). Another example would be when Jesus cursed the fig tree because it was not bearing fruit (Matthew 21:19).We (that includes me) love to talk and write about the power and gifts of the Spirit, but that is not what Jesus said would be the recognizable trait of a true believer. In fact, the Apostle Paul said just the opposite in 1 Corinthians 13:1 when he said without love (fruit) we would just become like a noisy gong or clanging cymbal (noisy distraction).
Jesus described it this way, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18)
Let’s take a close look at the fruits of the Spirit that we believers are supposed to produce and the Greek words that are used in the Bible that describe these fruits:
1. Love – agape = God’s love, affection and benevolence flowing through us
2. Joy – chara = Cheerfulness, delight, exceeding joy
3. Peace – eirene = Peace, prosperity, quietness, rest
4. Longsuffering – makrothumia = Patience, forbearance, fortitude
5. Gentleness – chrestotes = Graciousness, kindness, usefulness
6. Goodness – agathosune = Good, virtue, benefit
7. Faith – pistis = Conviction, persuasion, assurance
8. Meekness – praotes = Humble, mild, gentle
9. Temperance – egkrateia = Self-control, masterful, continence
Now, let’s take a look at a few things that are not on this list that create roadblocks for the flow of God’s Spirit through our life and hinders fruit from growing. Some prime examples are unforgiveness, bitterness, hate, anger, harshness, doubt, unbelief, negativity, indulgence, addictions, pride, etc. These are just a few of the things that the enemy uses to steal our joy and steal our peace. We can speak in tongues and prophesy all we want (and I think that is important) but if we hate people then we are no more than a noisy gong. That’s the other side of the Spirit story that we sometimes ignore.
Let’s take this Christmas season to examine ourselves. We may not think we have any of these negative roadblocks in our heart but then again, do we? Take the time to ask the Holy Spirit what He thinks. We need a spiritual checkup periodically, kind of like our physical checkups, except it’s a lot more important.
For every tree is known by his own fruit. (Luke 6:44)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:8)
