Though Paul said to seek Spiritual Gifts, he valued even more highly, the quality of life which the Spirit produces. Spiritual gifts were given to all individuals in the Church w/o any one single gift being given to all Believers. However, the Holy Spirit seeks to produce Spiritual Fruit in every Christian.

QUESTION: What is the 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

Definition: The evidence of a life in which the Holy Spirit is living and reigning. The manifestation in the life of a Believer of
                  Christ likeness.
                       -Believers are being progressively transformed into the image of Christ. the more Christ is evident in the life of
                        the Believer, the more fruit is evident.
                      -Fruit of the Spirit is just that: the product of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer.

QUESTION: The 'fruit of the spirit' is found in what book?
                      What was happening in the churches of Galatia that Paul needed to write his letterto them?

GALATIANS:
     Context
         The Galations  were facing a double problem of which Paul was writing to correct.

  1. Doctrinal Impurity: they were beginning to yield  to Judaizing: the legalistic religion of the Pharisees.
      They were beginning  to believe that they could become more  spiritual by keeping a series of laws.

QUESTION: Is there anything wrong with creating a list of 'good conduct' acts that Believers are asked to follow?

         -It quenches the work of the Spirit in the life of the Believer.
         -It puts up a wall of personal behavior that many will see an impossible to climb and therefore will not even consider
           Christianity.
         -It gives us bounds but for many if what they want to do is not on the list, then it must be ok even if it is sin. these lists can
           not be totally inclusive.
         -Paul is saying in Gal. 5 that following the Law or laws will not to produce fruit in the life of the Believer.

  2. Impurity in Conduct: Perhaps related to their do's and don'ts.
        Whatever wasn't on their don't list was a do for many of them and they were guilty of  gross sin.

QUESTION: Galations contrasts what with the 'fruit of the Spirit'?
                     Remember that Paul is writing to Christians here.

Deeds/Works of the Flesh   and  Fruit of the Spirit

     -The spiritual person is evident by God's Spirit.
     -The Carnal or fleshly Believer acts like unbelievers, those who do not have the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:12-3:4)
     -Vice is the work/deed of the flesh.
     -Virtue is the Fruit of the Spirit.
     -Fleshly behaviors will lead to death.
     -Behavior according to the Spirit leads to eternal life. (Gal. 6:7-8)

QUESTION: What are the deeds/works of the flesh that Pauls talks about in Gal. 5?
                      Are we guilty of any of them?
                      Are you guilty of practicing any of them?
                      What does Paul say will happen to those who practice these deeds?

     Paul in Gal. 5 is basically saying that we like to follow the law/laws because we feel it puts us in control and we believe we have freedom to do that which is not law. We chose to do or not to do and we believe that is the essence of true spirituality.
Yet, Paul contrasts the deeds of the flesh/law with the Fruit of the Spirit. He is saying that we need to rethink the whole nature of what is spiritual and what makes us spiritual people.

    It is the Spirit of God dwelling in the life of the Believer that makes them spiritual. It is allowing the Spirit to work that produces fruit in our lives. We are not in control, the Spirit is. We do not work to produce the 'fruit of the Spirit' in our lives, the Spirit does.

     Therefore, since we live (have our very life) in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. 'Walk in the Spirit' has the idea of 'keeping in step with the Spirit. Allowing Him to lead  and we follow, willingly and enthusiastically. So, our spirituality is of the Holy Spirits doing and it is nothing that we can boast or show off to others about. We don't produce the fruit so we cant take credit for it...but don't we like to do that?

ACTION: Read 2 Cor. 3:16-18

QUESTION: What is this saying to us about the fruit of the spirit?

     Little by little the Spirit begins to work transforming willing (Rom. 12:1-2) believers into the image of God. More and more of the fruit of the spirit begins to develop. as the spirit continues to work.

     This is Christian Character Development and is accomplished through the Holy Spirit only. It is not a work we can do.

QUESTION: What are the prerequisites for fruit bearing?

 1. Believers must die to the world (Jn. 12:24)
 2. Believers must remain and abide in the vine. (Jn. 15:1-5)
 3. Believer must go through pruning by God. (Jn. 12:2)
 

QUESTION: Why is fruit a good description of the Spirits work in willing believers?

      Paul states that all Christians live by the Spirit but we do not always keep in step with the Spirit. In what ways do we struggle to keep in step with the Spirit?

ACTION: Spend him thanking God for the Spirits work in your life. Pray for the Spirits help in the areas you feel out of step.

What are the Fruit of the Spirit

QUESTION: What did you find from your search this past week?
                     What is the 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

QUESTION: What is LOVE as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

LOVE: Specifically to God and to others for His sake. It is enough to have said "love," and no more;
             because love extends itself to all the fruits of the Spirit. It is self-giving with Christ being   our chief example.

ACTION: READ 1 COR. 13
     In 1 Cor. 13 Paul attributes to love all the fruit which is done in the Spirit.

QUESTION: What does it mean to have JOY?

JOY:  Cheerfulness in conversation with our friends, or a constant delight in God In the Fourth Gospel it is Jesus himself who
          communicates this joy (Jn. 15:11; 16:24), and it now becomes the  result of a deep fellowship between the church
          and himself (cf. 16:22).

      In Acts joy marks the life of the early church. Paul uses the term chara in three ways
.
         First, progress in the faith on the part of the members of the body of Christ, and particularly  those he has led to Christ, is a cause for joy—he describes them, indeed, as heµ chara    heµmoµn, 'our joy' (1 Thes. 2:19f.; cf. Phil. 2:2).

          Secondly, Christian joy may paradoxically be the outcome of suffering and even sorrow for Christ's sake (Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 6:10; cf. 1 Pet. 4:13; Heb. 10:34, etc.), since it is produced by the Lord and not by ourselves.

         Thirdly: Joy is in fact, finally, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and is therefore something dynamic and not static.

      Since it is fruit which may be interrupted by sin, every believer is called upon to share in   the joy  of Christ by a daily walk with him and a daily practice of rejoicing in the knowledge of   him and his salvation (1 Thes. 5:16; Phil. 3:1; 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:8)

    Where this joy of the Spirit is, there the heart inwardly rejoices through faith in Christ,   with full assurance that he is our Saviour, and outwardly it expresses this joy with words and   gestures. Also the faithful rejoice when they see that the Gospel is spread abroad, that many are   won to the faith, and that the kingdom of Christ is enlarged.

QUESTION: What is PEACE as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

PEACE: OT: Shalom  NT: eirene .  Both mean 'completeness, soundness, wholeness. A    peaceableness of temper and
            behavior towards others.  It has reference to health, prosperity,   well being and security. The Gospel is the message
            of Peace with God and conscience. Is the   tranquil state of the soul because it has assurance of salvation.

QUESTION: What is 'longsuffering' or 'Patience' as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

LONGSUFFERING:  Patience to defer anger, and a contentedness to bear injuries,  perseverance. When the devil cannot
            by force overcome us with temptation, he then seeks    to  overcome us by a long war. Because he knows that we
            are earthen vessels, which cannot   long endure and hold out many knocks and violent strokes; therefore with long
            continuance [of   temptations] he overcomes many.

          Longsuffering between God and men, that we may  be peaceable and quiet; not    contentious, nor hating one another, but one bearing another's burden through long-suffering or   perseverance, without which, peace cannot continue, and therefore Paul puts it next after peace.

QUESTION: What is Gentleness as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

GENTLENESS: A sweetness of temper. To be affable and courteous, and easy to forgive when any have wronged us.
             Suggests the yielding of a judge, who, instead of demanding the exact   penalty required by strict justice, gives way
            to circumstances which call for mercy. Thus the   concession of a legal right may avoid being guilty of a moral wrong

       Similarly in the OT the Heb. word, 'to be humble', and its cognate noun are used of God:   'Thy gentleness (RSVmg.) made me great' (2 Sa. 22:36; Ps. 18:35). One is gentle in their conversation and in their whole life.  Christians must not be sharp   and bitter, but gentle, mild, courteous and soft spoken, so others will delight to be in their    company
 

QUESTION: What is GOODNESS as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

GOODNESS:  (kindness)  which shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we    have opportunity. A man willingly helps
            others in their necessity by giving and lending.  Apart   from the indwelling Holy Spirit people cannot exhibit this fruit of
            the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). They   have no inner spiritual capacity where they can normally and automatically exercise
            genuine   kindness toward others. Instead sin causes them to be selfish and self-centered.

QUESTION: What is Faith as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

FAITH:   Fidelity, justice, and honesty, in what we profess and promise to others.  When Paul lists   faith among the fruits of
            the Spirit, it is important that he is not speaking of faith in Christ, but of  the faith or  sincerity of one man towards
            another. He said in 1 Cor. 13. that love "believes all things." Therefore whoever has this faith is  not suspicious, but of a
            sincere and single heart; and although he may be deceived, and is    mocked, in all  mildness,  he lets it pass.
            Faith  gives credit to all, but he doesn't put his trust in any man.  Without faith in others,  it is impossible for us to have
            love ,joy and peace with others.

QUESTION: What is MEEKNESS as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

MEEKNESS:  The ability to govern our passions and resentments, so as not to be easily    provoked, and, when we are so,
            to be soon pacified. One who is not easily moved or    provoked to anger. There be infinite occasions in this life which
            provoke us to anger, but the godly overcome them by meekness.

      In the NT meekness refers to an inward attitude, whereas *gentleness is expressed rather  in outward action. It is part of the fruit of Christlike character produced only by the Spirit.The   meek do not resent adversity because they accept everything as being the effect of God's wise   and loving purpose for them, so that they accept injuries from men also, knowing that these are   permitted by God for their ultimate good.

QUESTION: What is SELF-CONTROL as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

SELF-CONTROL: Temperance, in meat and drink, and other enjoyments of life, so as not to be   excessive and immoderate
            in the use of them. This is a sobriety or modesty in the whole life of   an individual. The idea is that Christians should
            live soberly and chastely. Self-Control also includes sexaul impulses. In the first and second chapter of Titus,
            Paul   warns all bishops, young women, and married folks, both man and wife, to be chaste and pure.
            Some Christian clergy today may not marry.

      Paul knew that it was difficult for Corinthian Christians to exercise self-control in sexual   matters (1 Cor. 7:9). He compared himself with an athlete who 'exercises self-control in all   things' for the Gospel's sake (1 Cor. 9:25). For Paul, self-control was not really a human    achievement but was linked with love, joy, peace, etc., as 'the fruit of the spirit' (Gal. 5:22-23).

      2 Pet. 1:6 links self-control with such characteristics as faith, knowledge, and    steadfastness. Again, 'God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and   self-control' (2 Tim. 1:7).

      Often translated 'temperance' But there is another Greek word more often translated    'temperate', and this word sometimes carries a restricted reference to drinking, such as is often   read into the modern word 'temperance'.
  This lies at the very heart of the matter: the Christian who practices self-control will not   be destroyed by anger, nor will he or she destroy others. The only way for us to have this    self-control is through the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. We "reign in life"    through Christ (Rom. 5:17). Self-control (temperance) is one of the fruit of the Spirit, the flesh   cannot produce self-control, for the flesh is at war with God.
  It is self-control that gives us the patience we need.  If we exercise self-control at the   very start of a problem, it will save us all kinds of trouble later on. Self-control, produced by the   Spirit, will enable a believer to handle these matters patiently and wisely.

QUESTION: What is Righteousness as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

RIGHTEOUSNESS:  (Heb. 12:11) Is not found in any individual who trusts in himself and his good works to justify or make them righteous. (Matt. 23:28) The righteousness of God comes as a free gift to those who believe and whose sins have been forgiven them by the death of Christ on the Cross.
   It is an attribute of Gods being. One that is given to us in Christ. It is the path of sanctification as we become more like Christ. As a 'fruit of the spirit' we will display more righteous acts and attitudes as we conform to the image of Christ in our lives.
 

QUESTION: What is Truth as a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

TRUTH: (Eph. 5:9) Spiritual reality. Through Christ the Believer can see and speak the truth   (spiritual reality) because the truth (HS) is in them and because of the other fruit preceding truth.  This is  related to all truth, moral, spiritual, physical. All truth is God's truth. Jesus is truth    because He represents the Father.
 

QUESTION: Who is giving thanks a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

GIVING THANKS: (Heb. 13:15) Remembering God for what He has done or give to you. Thanks   is the natural result of a heart overflowing with praise to God. Only those indwelt with the HS   can truly give thanks to whom it is due...God.
  It is interesting that in Rom. 1:21 those who are condemned by God are condemned   because they recognized God as God but did not honor His nor did they give Him thanks. God   deserves our thanks.
  We are to give thanks in all things for Christ's sake.

QUESTION:  How are Good Works related to the 'Fruit of the Spirit'?
  Can we do good works w/o the HS?

GOOD WORKS: (Col. 1:10)  Our Good Works were predestined by God for us to do before the   foundations of the Earth. (Eph. 2:10) We preform the works but it is the HS in us that  makes   them good. Evn the desire to do Good Works comes from the indwelling HS. Therefore we can not boast in anything we do. It is always the HS.

QUESTION: How are New Converts a 'Fruit of the Spirit'?

NEW CONVERTS: (Mk. 4:8,20; Jn. 4:36; Rom. 1:13)  The fruit of the Gospel is saved souls. As we   are faithful to the great commission, God will produce fruit for our labors. Remember it is God   who saves and not anything we do. It is the previenent grace of the HS that  calls sinner to God   and that saves them. We are the instruments of the Word of God.