BAC Sermons
Fruit of the Spirit |
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1998-11-01 | Galatians 5:22 |
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. The Fruit of the Spirit is produced in us when the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to produce in us the Mind of Christ. It is a result of loving God with all our heart, MIND, soul and strength. Love is a decision to sacrifice yourself for another’s best interest; Joy is the resulting of choosing what is best (see series on Philippians) which implies a discernment of what is best from God’s perspective; Peace is an absence of anxiety and resultant contentment & security which comes from recognizing the sovereign promises and purposes of God in the events and irritations He permits in our lives; Isa 26:-4 Patience (long-suffering) is the ability to limit or inhibit our natural desires (particularly those for revenge) in the process of persevering for a God-glorifying objective; Kindness is a usefulness to the Master sourced in integrity and expressed in a neighborliness toward others; Goodness is a capacity to do what’s in another’s best interest (Gal 6:10 - first to believers) arising from a purification of deadly desires, and an embracing of God’s value system; Faithfulness is a loyalty to God’s command and responsibilities for us, sourced in the fear of God and expressing itself in unwavering obedience; Gentleness/meekness is a humility that expresses itself in submissiveness to an offense without malice or desire for revenge; Self-control is virtue of power under control, gained from mastery of one’s passions and resulting in being able to exhibit a godly impulse (the sensual ones having been subdued). This trait is gained only as a result of a transformed value system (Rom 12). Love is a commanded decision we must make, not a feeling. Most think of erotic or brotherly love (eros-erotic and philos-philadelphia) rather than agape (Jn 3:16) the self-sacrificial love which is commanded of husbands vis-a-vis their wives in Eph 5. The elaboration does not mention affection and knowing her although that is a part of it, but rather sanctifying her and nourishing and cherishing (valuing). “Falling in love” is an emotion that in unbelievers is called lust. It’s a self-centered feeling, having very little to do with the other person except have them as it’s object of infatuation. |