Introduction: Jeremiah 17:7, 8, Ephesians 5:8-11, John 15:4-5 (Abide-to make permanent residence) In order for one to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit one must first have: A) A love for God, B) A love for God’s Word. (John 14:23)

Satan has a counterfeit of every fruit listed below. There is a difference between the Work of the Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. A) The work of the Holy Spirit is the direct result of the Holy Spirit’s active ministry in the life of the Believer. (Philippians 2:13) B) The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the outcome of His indwelling and our yielding to Him.

Galatians 5:22-26 It is fruit not “work”. Your Flesh works. Notice it is referred to as “the fruit of the Spirit” singular not “the fruits of the Spirit” plural. This signifies the oneness of the fruit. It is not complete until all nine are present. The Christian is not complete until all nine fruit are manifested in his/her life.

1.       Love

A.      Divine Love 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8; The Love that God has poured into us will in turn produce a Love for God on our part. The natural man cannot love God. A person must be born again in order to be able to have this kind of Love (1 John 4:12-13, Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:19, John 3:16, John 15:9, 12-14, 1 John 4:7)

B.      Love for God’s Word John 14:23, 1 Peter 2:2; You cannot love God without loving His Word! (John 1:1) The two are inseparable.

C.      Love for God’s People John 13:35 Not to be confused with humanistic love which is the type of love the world has for each other. True love for God’s people is a love that tells them the truth and does not compromise that truth for the sake of unity. A person who has a love for God’s people will also know that they have eternal life. (1John 3:14)

Note: 1 Corinthians 13 “The Love Chapter” The term “charity” is a specific kind of love. It is human love a Christian shows toward others and the chapter deals with our motives when operating in that kind of love. When the motive is wrong then “it profits nothing”. (1 Corinthians 13:3) Charity is giving just as love is giving. (John 3:16) Love/Charity that does not give is not real love. But watch this! You can give without loving or showing charity (1 Corinthians 13:3) But you can show love/charity without giving. It is about motive.

2.       Joy   Philippians 4:4, Romans 8:28

Not to be confused with “fun” which is the world’s counterfeit of true joy. (John 15:11, Romans 14:17, 15:13, James 1:2) This joy is supernatural and helps you to rejoice when all kinds of things are going wrong around you. (1 Peter 1:8) It is an unspeakable joy. (1 Peter 4:13, Jude 24) Being partakers of Christ Sufferings will produce exceeding joy. (1 John 1:4) The things written (the Word of God) will give you full joy. (3 John 4) Walking in the truth gives fullness of joy.

3.       Peace wholeness, completeness

Not world peace or worldly unity. (John 14:27) The Holy Spirit’s Peace satisfies the soul completely. (Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15) It rules our hearts. True peace starts with Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:1, Isaiah 26:3)

4.       Longsuffering Slow to act out, to show restraint, bearing pain or suffering wrong without complaining; to have patience and endurance. Remember it starts with God. (Psalm 86:15, Numbers 14:8, Romans 2:4, Romans 9:22, 2 Peter 3:9, 15, Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 1:9-13, 3:12-13) 1 Timothy 1:16 It is a pattern that we are to live out as Christians. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 We are to be known by it. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 We are to preach the Word of God by longsuffering.

5.       Gentleness usefulness, excellence in character or demeanor, goodness, kindness. Christ himself had gentleness (2 Corinthians 10:1) The servant of the Lord must be gentle unto all men. (2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 3:2) Wisdom itself is gentle. (James 3:17) Gentleness is not being a coward but shows up to minister grace when needed. Examples of the gentleness of Jesus being manifest in the lives of those around him: 1. Woman of Samaria, 2. Mary Magdalene, 3. The woman who came and washed his feet with her tears and hair. Gentleness is not a sign of weakness either. This same Jesus could be stern when needed. Examples include Matthew 23:33, 23:27-28, 25:41, John 8:44, 46-47

6.       Goodness being good in its character and beneficial in its effect. Generous, filled with good works. It starts with God Himself. (Psalm 16:2, 27:13, 23:6, Matthew 19:17) It leads thee to repentance. (Romans 2:4, 11:22, 15:14, Ephesians 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Titus 3:8) Remember a Christian does not work to get saved but he works because he is saved. (Galatians 6:9-10) As we have opportunity we should do good (2 Thessalonians 3:13) Romans 12:9 We are to cleave to that which is good. 1 Peter 3:10-11 to see good days do good. Romans 2:10, Ephesians 4:28, 6:8. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 we are to follow after it. 1 Peter 3:13 God’s protection given when we pursue “good”. 3 John 11 Those who are of God follow good. Romans 12:21 You can overcome evil with good.

7.       Faith  conviction, reliance upon Christ for salvation, assurance, belief, fidelity. Romans 1:17 The just live by faith. Romans 10:17 The Holy Spirit produces faith in the believer through the word of God. Romans 12:3 Different measures of faith given. Hebrews 12:2 Jesus Himself is the author and the finisher of our faith. Romans 1:8 Our faith should be spoken of everywhere.

8.       Meekness mildness of temper, humble, non-threatening demeanor and derives from a postion of strength and authority and is useful in calming anothers anger. It is not a quality that is weak and passive. Matthew 11:28-30 We are to learn from Jesus who is meek and lowly. Matthew 21:5 Jesus comes meekly, Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer (the result of meekness) turns away wrath. 1 Corinthians 4:21 Paul asked did they want him to come with a rod or in love and the spirit of meekness. 1 Peter 3:15 We are to give an answer for the hope inside of us with meekness and fear. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves. 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul beseeches us by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-2 We are to walk worthy of the vocation with all lowliness and meekness. Colossians 3:12 We are to put on bowels of among other things meekness. 1 Timothy 6:11 We are to follow after meekness. Titus 3:2 We are to show all meekness unto all men. James 3:13 We are to show our wisdom by our meekness.

9.       Temperance self control. A Christian is to be moderate in drink, moderate in appetite, moderate in dress, moderate in habit and fashion. Self control is doing God’s will not self. 2 Peter 1:6 We are to add knowledge temperance. Acts 24:25 Paul reasoned of temperance to Felix. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Those who are striving for mastery are temperate in all things. Titus 1:8 A Bishop must be temperate. Titus 2:2 Part of sound Doctrine is that the aged men be temperate. 1 Peter 2:23 Jesus our example. Proverbs 25:28 A person with no self control is like a broken city. Proverbs 29:11 One who has no self control (a fool) utters all his mind.

Fruit is always an evidence of death. There can be no fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer until that believer is dead to self, the world, and sinful passions. John 12:24 bears this out. Our churches are filled with fruitless, powerless Christians. They go to church, tithe, roll, holler, scream, and talk about love love love but cannot put their hands on 10 people they have led to the Lord. In 25 years they have not taken a stand that might hurt their income. Dead trees with no fruit! John 15:2, Luke 13:9, Philippians 1:23-24. The only reason for our existence after conversion is to bear fruit for the Glory of God. Luke 13:7, James 5:7. Fruit is not in Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 14, or Mark 16. Fruit identifies Matthew 12:33. In Numbers 13:26 the spies showed the fruit of Canaan to prove it was a good land. In N.T. Saints show fruit to prove that he/she has been born again. Matthew 7:16-20. Hosea 14:8 From God comes the fruit. John 15:4 You cannot bear fruit by yourself. Ephesians 3:17-19 “rooted and grounded”. Genesis 1:11 “fruit after his kind”. Colossians 1:10

Christians produce Christians

Preachers produce Preachers

Teachers produce Teachers

If you have no spiritual fruit in your life you cannot reproduce, period! No seed yields no fruit.