THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PART 5 OF 6

Text- Galatians 5:22-23

INTRODUCTION

Tonight I would like us to continue with our study on the topic of the Holy Spirit and see what the Bible says about the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

In the last two lessons we have examined how someone is saved through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and also filled with the Holy Spirit.

When someone has been saved through the Holy Spirit and is filled with the Holy Spirit the evidence of this can be seen in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:7-10, "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8]  "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; [9] and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10]  "And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

In the same way that a tree is identified by the fruit it bears, we are identified as Christians by the fruit we bear.

Matthew 7:15-20, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? [17] "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. [19] " Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] "So then, you will know them by their fruits."

One of the reasons why Jesus died on the cross and saved us from hell was so we would bear fruit for Him.

Romans 7:4, "Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God."

Not only is it important that we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in order to be identified as Christians but also so we can glorify God as He wants us to.

John 15:1-8, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [2] "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. [3] " You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. [4] " Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. [6] "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. [8] " By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."

The Bible has much to say about fruit, which is mentioned 106 times in the Old Testament and 70 times in the New Testament.

In those references we find several different kinds of fruit mentioned that we as Christians should bear.

First there is the fruit of WINNING PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

Romans 1:13, "And I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented thus far) in order that I might obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles."

John 4:35-38, "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. [36] "Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. [37] "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.' [38] "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Second, there is the fruit of GIVING OUR GIFTS TO GOD.

Romans 15:26-28, "For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. [27] Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. [28] Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain."

Third, there is the fruit of DOING GOOD WORKS.

Colossians 1:9-10, "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;"

Fourth, there is the fruit of GIVING THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD.

Hebrews 13:15, "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."

Fifth, there is the fruit of HOLY LIVING.

Ephesians 5:7-10, "Therefore do not be partakers with them; [8] for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light [9]  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), [10] trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."

The fruit of the Spirit that we are going to examine in our text tonight has to do with Christian character.

In studying about the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our text we find that there are nine characteristics that God wants us to exhibit in our life.

These nine qualities can be divided into three categories.