THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART# 79)
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3377
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART# 79)
From Glory to Glory ( Study #58)
Walking By The Spirit #28
REVIEW OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT#2
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?
From our previous study, we can define the Fruit of the Holy Spirit as the observable behavior of believers who have allowed the grace of the Holy Spirit to be effective in them.
One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit coming into a believer's life is to change that life. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to conform us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him.
But the Christian life is a battle of the sinful flesh against the new nature given by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). As fallen human beings, we are still trapped in a body that desires sinful things (Romans 7:14-25).
Thus the Fruit of the Holy Spirit is in direct contrast with the acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21.
Our sinful flesh produces certain types of fruit that reflect our nature, and the Holy Spirit produces types of fruit that reflect His nature.
True fruitfulness begins in the heart with the Fruit of the Spirit. That inner fruit affects outward actions; our words and our activities will glorify the Lord, and God’s will is accomplished.
God’s desire is to transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and make us as fruitful as He was.
In our allegiance to Him, we want to be characterized by good works (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:7; Colossians 1:10), humility (Ephesians 4:2; Titus 3:2), and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). We want to always be ready to “give an account for the hope that is within you” (1 Peter 3:15).
We desire to be the “good soil” Jesus spoke of in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3–9.
The result of spiritual fruitfulness is that God is glorified, we grow, and others come to know Christ—this is the ultimate fruitfulness for a child of God (Matthew 5:16; Acts 20:26–27; Mark 16:15).
Abba Father,
when we have committed ourselves to Christ and live to please Him, the natural result is behavioral choices that look like His. He was clear that His true followers will be recognizable by their fruit:
“Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16–20).
As our Gardener (John 15:1), Jesus desires us to be fruitful. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). As branches cling to the vine, we cling to Christ, drawing our very life from Him.
Indeed the goal is “much fruit,” as Christ uses us to bring about blessed results in a broken, fallen world.
Dearest Father, let us have Your grace and empowerment to be fruitful believers for the extension of Your kingdom on earth.
