Do You Have..The Fruit of the Spirit?

[stephen]

BGEA: The Fruit of the Spirit

 

[B-A-C]

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Sometimes easier said than done

Some churches put a lot of emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor 12) and while they are certainly important, I would ask, which determines your maturity as a Christian, the gifts of spirit.. or the fruits of the Spirit?

 

[David777]

Fine question B-A-C.

Perhaps that question would be a good thread of its own.

 

[Donnie Ducati]

Die to yourself, daily.

Like John the Baptist said...He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

 

[stephen]

Some churches put a lot of emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor 12) and while they are certainly important, I would ask, which determines your maturity as a Christian, the gifts of spirit.. or the fruits of the Spirit?

Good question dear brother. I would opt for fruits today. As a young man I "coveted ernestly" as the scripture exhorts, and I saw, and see folks 80 and 90 years of age today that I brought to Jesus 50 years ago when as a young man I coveted His blessing in these things.

Integrity....as we serve Him, is the most important....Just my thoughts.

 

[farout]

There are so many little "treats" like this, and everytime I read a new one it is like a sweet refreshing drink of cool water.

Thanks

 

[laterunner]

God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts. Anon.

:groupwave: :shade:

 

[will]

God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts. Anon.

:groupwave: :shade:

That is so true!!
eace:

 

[Peace Seeker]

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Sometimes easier said than done

Some churches put a lot of emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit (1Cor 12) and while they are certainly important, I would ask, which determines your maturity as a Christian, the gifts of spirit.. or the fruits of the Spirit?

I think the fruits define maturity more so than gifts of the Spirit. So many times scripture says things like, "by their fruits you will know them", "bring forth fruit meet for repentance", etc. God has ordained us to bring forth fruit and it is by our fruit, not our gifts, that we are known.

John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues (gift of Spirit) of men or of angels, but do not have love (fruit of Spirit), I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

John 15:16
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Both fruit and gift are great to have and I am not downplaying either of them by any means. But I can't recall a verse saying, "by their gifts you will know them".

 

[gdemoss]

I think the fruits define maturity more so than gifts of the Spirit.

John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.


John 15:16
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

What is this fruit they are bearing in John 15? Can you give me some examples so I can understand your thoughts on this please?

Thank you in advance,

Gary

 

[Peace Seeker]

What is this fruit they are bearing in John 15? Can you give me some examples so I can understand your thoughts on this please?

The fruit bearing starts with being in Jesus the Vine. We cannot bear any on our own, it is when we are planted in Christ that we bear much fruit.

There is the fruit of love and obedience, which goes hand in hand with faith and maturing in the knowledge of God. Jesus tells us here that everything He learned from His Father is made known to us when we love one another and remain in Him.
As we bear the fruit of love and obedience we demonstrate Christ’s character and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Christ.

 

[gdemoss]

The fruit bearing starts with being in Jesus the Vine. We cannot bear any on our own, it is when we are planted in Christ that we bear much fruit.

There is the fruit of love and obedience, which goes hand in hand with faith and maturing in the knowledge of God. Jesus tells us here that everything He learned from His Father is made known to us when we love one another and remain in Him.
As we bear the fruit of love and obedience we demonstrate Christ’s character and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Christ.

Peace Seeker, I desperately wish to share with you what God reveals unto me without offending you. I need to go well out of my way here to say these words as a preface to what I am about to say. You don't know me very well and could easily be led to believe that I am just trying to give you 'my interpretation' of things and that it is all about what 'I' believe. Please don't see my words as that. I stopped interpreting the bible and have submitted to the teaching of the Holy Spirit instead. I have confessed to God that I of myself am nothing and that I cannot even interpret his word for myself but need him to do it directly or through another man as in the case of Phillip and the Ethiopian. I was in the dark for the first 4 years of my christian walk having never heard the spirit. God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble. I earnestly hope you are able to receive this, my brother.

The fruit bearing starts with being in Jesus the Vine. We cannot bear any on our own, it is when we are planted in Christ that we bear much fruit.

Absolutely Fact.

There is the fruit of love and obedience, which goes hand in hand with faith and maturing in the knowledge of God. Jesus tells us here that everything He learned from His Father is made known to us when we love one another and remain in Him.
As we bear the fruit of love and obedience we demonstrate Christ’s character and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of Christ.

What I hear when I read this is you saying that the 'fruit' is the 'love and obedience' or the product produced from them. If I am 'hearing' you correctly then I must say that the spirit has revealed to me otherwise. Many things are spoken of as fruit in the bible and it can be very confusing. Why confusing? Be cause God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The truth of his word is actually hidden in his word. The wise and the prudent never find it. I am not accusing you of being any of these but am merely offering up the explanation given me by the spirit. I used to fit the category before I submitted to his leading and was blind. I came up with all kind of interesting things.

Jon 15: The vine and the branches.

The fruit spoken of within the context of these scriptures are new converts. The picture is of bearing the weight of suffering under teaching and raising new children in Christ for God. Which is something that we cannot do outside of being connected directly to Christ for all of our food to keep us strong during the process until the convert reaches maturity and is ready for harvesting and prepared for its intended work. The perpetual edifying of the body of Christ by itself.

The Father himself, who is the husbandmen, removes the useless shoots from those who are producing fruit so that they may bear more fruit. This means he takes away those who are just dragging the Christian down so that there is more time to be spent with those who will hear the message. Edifying the body that much more. When Jesus says that they are clean though the word he has spoken to them he is saying that they are clean of false doctrine and ready to bare good fruit. And in order to do so they must continue in that doctrine (his word) or it won't work. Not only will their fruit die, so will they.

Do not take my word for it. If this understanding truly comes form the HS and you have the HS (and have been able to hear him) then he should be verifying or validating truth for you. If you haven't heard his voice, it does not mean that he isn't in you but only that your hearing is dull. I speak from experience. 4 years after coming to Christ I finally heard his voice from within.

Iron sharpens Iron but God gives the increase.

Gary

 

[Peace Seeker]

Peace Seeker, I desperately wish to share with you what God reveals unto me without offending you. I need to go well out of my way here to say these words as a preface to what I am about to say. I earnestly hope you are able to receive this, my brother.

I am not at all offended and I believe I am able to receive it. And I would like to explore this further with you if you don't agree with my response.

What I hear when I read this is you saying that the 'fruit' is the 'love and obedience' or the product produced from them. If I am 'hearing' you correctly then I must say that the spirit has revealed to me otherwise.
The fruit spoken of within the context of these scriptures are new converts.

Yes, I would say that the fruit represents the nine traits mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, but I don't deny that making converts can be, or is one of the fruits spoken of.
If, on the other hand, you aver that the fruit of John 15 is only to do with new converts, I would be interested to hear your reasoning as to why such is the case.

When John 15 is read in the context of chapter 13 & 14 (loving and obeying Jesus and loving one another), it shows that love is the expected fruit. If so, then the unfruitful branches of 15:2 are the people who are in Jesus but are not loving as they should. If we do not love we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Please patiently tell me what you disagree with and show me why. Thanks brother!

If this understanding truly comes form the HS and you have the HS (and have been able to hear him) then he should be verifying or validating truth for you. If you haven't heard his voice, it does not mean that he isn't in you but only that your hearing is dull.

If my hearing is dull I nonetheless trust God that I am right where He wants me to be at present, and that He is constantly working in me to perfect the good work He has started in me.

 

[gdemoss]

I am not at all offended and I believe I am able to receive it. And I would like to explore this further with you if you don't agree with my response.

Yes, I would say that the fruit represents the nine traits mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, but I don't deny that making converts can be, or is one of the fruits spoken of.
If, on the other hand, you aver that the fruit of John 15 is only to do with new converts, I would be interested to hear your reasoning as to why such is the case.

When John 15 is read in the context of chapter 13 & 14 (loving and obeying Jesus and loving one another), it shows that love is the expected fruit. If so, then the unfruitful branches of 15:2 are the people who are in Jesus but are not loving as they should. If we do not love we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Please patiently tell me what you disagree with and show me why. Thanks brother!

If my hearing is dull I nonetheless trust God that I am right where He wants me to be at present, and that He is constantly working in me to perfect the good work He has started in me.

You have the Spirit as well as I, brother and the understanding isn't solely given unto me. I am going to go and do the study you suggest to better understand whether what you say is from the spirit or just a remnant of your own personal understanding that you have worked in your own strength to understand. I expect the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth for his purpose to us. Either through you to me or vice versa. Either way we can count on him and not us.

Isn't it beautiful?

This may take me awhile since it is christmas but I will try not to delay long....If the Lord wills I will have an answer soon!

With all the Love of God, you are now in my heart.

Gary

 

[gdemoss]

Peace Seeker, I desperately wish to share with you what God reveals unto me without offending you. I need to go well out of my way here to say these words as a preface to what I am about to say. You don't know me very well and could easily be led to believe that I am just trying to give you 'my interpretation' of things and that it is all about what 'I' believe. Please don't see my words as that. I stopped interpreting the bible and have submitted to the teaching of the Holy Spirit instead. I have confessed to God that I of myself am nothing and that I cannot even interpret his word for myself but need him to do it directly or through another man as in the case of Phillip and the Ethiopian. I was in the dark for the first 4 years of my christian walk having never heard the spirit. God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble. I earnestly hope you are able to receive this, my brother.



Absolutely Fact.



What I hear when I read this is you saying that the 'fruit' is the 'love and obedience' or the product produced from them. If I am 'hearing' you correctly then I must say that the spirit has revealed to me otherwise. Many things are spoken of as fruit in the bible and it can be very confusing. Why confusing? Be cause God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The truth of his word is actually hidden in his word. The wise and the prudent never find it. I am not accusing you of being any of these but am merely offering up the explanation given me by the spirit. I used to fit the category before I submitted to his leading and was blind. I came up with all kind of interesting things.

Jon 15: The vine and the branches.

The fruit spoken of within the context of these scriptures are new converts. The picture is of bearing the weight of suffering under teaching and raising new children in Christ for God. Which is something that we cannot do outside of being connected directly to Christ for all of our food to keep us strong during the process until the convert reaches maturity and is ready for harvesting and prepared for its intended work. The perpetual edifying of the body of Christ by itself.

The Father himself, who is the husbandmen, removes the useless shoots from those who are producing fruit so that they may bear more fruit. This means he takes away those who are just dragging the Christian down so that there is more time to be spent with those who will hear the message. Edifying the body that much more. When Jesus says that they are clean though the word he has spoken to them he is saying that they are clean of false doctrine and ready to bare good fruit. And in order to do so they must continue in that doctrine (his word) or it won't work. Not only will their fruit die, so will they.

Do not take my word for it. If this understanding truly comes form the HS and you have the HS (and have been able to hear him) then he should be verifying or validating truth for you. If you haven't heard his voice, it does not mean that he isn't in you but only that your hearing is dull. I speak from experience. 4 years after coming to Christ I finally heard his voice from within.

Iron sharpens Iron but God gives the increase.

Gary

I make a public confession as pertaining to the written text above. It is in error and I reject the teaching of it. God in his mercy has sent his word through Peace Seeker to help me see the true understanding of the text.

The fruit of the vine above is in fact the same as the fruit of the spirit as it was said. New converts do not have any place within this text and is error to believe or to teach such things. I repent of ever having taught such. There is a way that seems right unto a man and there in is the way of death. I have consulted God through the spirit to seek the truth of the text upon Peace Seekers question. The spirit pointed out where the understanding of what the fruit is has to come from. It is within the same text in chapter 15.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We were chosen by Christ to go and bring forth fruit. And that the fruit brought forth would remain. For what purpose it remains is answered next. So that >>> when we pray, prayers are answered by our Father.

Our answered prayers are not conditioned upon how many new converts we have or whether they continue in the faith or not. Our answered prayers are conditioned upon whether or not we are abiding in Christ and the Spirit. Thus our works being manifested as Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance.

This fruit of the Spirit then is truly manifest as food for others to freely take and eat, just as Jesus fed those who were around him with the same fruit.

Thank you for your patience and forbearance Peace Seeker, may your fruit remain and your prayers all be answered.

Gary

 

[agua]

I would suggest refraining from hastily claiming an interpretation has come from God/HS/spirit of God.

It isn't a claim to be made lightly.

 

[Peace Seeker]

You have the Spirit as well as I, brother and the understanding isn't solely given unto me. I am going to go and do the study you suggest to better understand whether what you say is from the spirit or just a remnant of your own personal understanding that you have worked in your own strength to understand. I expect the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth for his purpose to us. Either through you to me or vice versa. Either way we can count on him and not us.

Isn't it beautiful?

Yes, I love it! We can never go wrong when we have the source of all love, wisdom, power and grace guiding our path. He does not tarry as He teaches and equips us to go forth in service to Him.

This may take me awhile since it is christmas but I will try not to delay long....If the Lord wills I will have an answer soon!

Ditto for me, no hurry. His will be done.

Yours in Christ,

Tony

 

[faithfulservant]

I think the fruits define maturity more so than gifts of the Spirit. So many times scripture says things like, "by their fruits you will know them", "bring forth fruit meet for repentance", etc. God has ordained us to bring forth fruit and it is by our fruit, not our gifts, that we are known.

John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues (gift of Spirit) of men or of angels, but do not have love (fruit of Spirit), I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

John 15:16
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Both fruit and gift are great to have and I am not downplaying either of them by any means. But I can't recall a verse saying, "by their gifts you will know them".

I agree with you, but the gifts of the Spirit have an important role as they accompany the people who are a part of His Kingdom proving that their commendation is not by mere men, but by God:

1 Corinthians 4:19-20
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

2 Corinthians 10:18
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

 

[faithfulservant]

This fruit of the Spirit then is truly manifest as food for others to freely take and eat, just as Jesus fed those who were around him with the same fruit.

This is a beautiful way to look at it. The Lord showed me that it's kinda like walking around with a platter before you, and we want our platter to be filled with juicy, sweet fruits for others to benefit and eat from.

 

[Peace Seeker]

I agree with you, but the gifts of the Spirit have an important role as they accompany the people who are a part of His Kingdom proving that their commendation is not by mere men, but by God:

1 Corinthians 4:19-20
19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

2 Corinthians 10:18
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Absolutely! God can commend us, or we can be like the Pharisee in

Luke 18:10-14 that commended himself.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."