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LESSON VIII – THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part I)
Read Gal. 5:16-26.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
1. It embodies NINE WONDERFUL QUALITIES of our wonderful God – our Lord Jesus.
2. This fruit can only come from a GOOD TREE. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in the life of a Christian. God desires this fruit to be seen in the believer’s life.
3. Only a MATURE TREE bears fruit. This fruit is the sign of Christian maturity.
As we study these nine qualities one by one, we shall see the holiness and loveliness of our Lord Jesus. The fruit is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. With such knowledge and understanding, we can yield ourselves freely as the Spirit transforms us to the image of our Lord Jesus. (2 Cor. 3:18)
B. THE SPIRIT VS. THE FLESH (vs. 16-17)
- Everyday in our lives, we will be FACED WITH SITUATIONS that challenge us to a decision to walk in the Spirit of God or according to the lust of the flesh.
- The WORKS OF THE FLESH (vs. 19-21) are adultery, fornication … hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, drunkenness.
- The FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (vs. 22) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith (faithfulness), gentleness (meekness) and self-control.
- WALKING IN THE SPIRIT (vs. 16) is the decision to walk according to the ways and nature of God by the grace of the Holy Spirit. ‘GRACE’ is the Divine enabling power of God upon us.
II. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. L O V E
1. GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE. God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)
His heart is full of love for people, whether good or bad. He always desires to help people.
That is why He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins and give us salvation and
eternal life with God. That is why His commandments can be summarized into one word:
LOVE. Firstly, we are to love with all our heart, mind and strength. Secondly, we are to love
others as we love ourselves. Love is the fulfillment of the Law of God. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 says,
we might have the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, we might have faith that can move
mountains, we might have all knowledge, but without love, we are like clanging cymbals. 1
Cor. 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.”
2. WHAT IS LOVE?
a. There are 3 kinds of love: EROS (the romantic sexual love you can have for the
opposite sex); PHILEO (the love you have for your friends and other people) ; and AGAPE (God’s kind of love, the highest form of love). It is Agape Love that is referred to as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is the kind of love that God wants us to have for all people.
b. WHAT IS ‘AGAPE’ LOVE? (Just a review from ‘Who is God’ Module)
1.) It is WILLING THE HIGHEST GOOD OF OTHERS, what we think is BEST for them. It does not desire to harm, spoil or destroy, but always desires to build up and be a blessing to people.
2.) It EXPRESSES ITSELF in words, actions and thoughts / desires of our heart for people.
3.) It is UNCONDITIONAL. It is not choosy. It loves whether people are lovable or unlovable, whether they are good or bad, friends or enemies. God loved us and died for us while we were yet sinners. (Rom. 5:6-8)
4.) It is PATIENT (1 Cor. 13:4), understanding with the weaknesses and shortcomings of others. It is not rude. It does not wish to hurt others. It forgives and lets the love of God cover a multitude of sins that others commit against us. This is not easy, but by the grace of God and by the knowledge that God is patient with us too. He loves us so much and always forgives all our sins as we repent of them.
5.) It is KIND, generous, merciful, wanting to help, comfort and support those who are in need (whether emotional, physical, material or financial needs).
6.) It is NOT ENVIOUS, but desires the HAPPINESS & SUCCESS of other people.7.) It is SACRIFICIAL, willing to give up oneself for others (time, effort, finances, comfort, etc.). God sacrificed His own Son Jesus for our salvation.
May we have and show the love of God in our hearts and lives. “By this shall all men know that we are His disciples, if we have love one to another.” (John 13:35)
B. J O Y
1. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that gives us a deep, calm DELIGHT, GLADNESS
& CONTENTMENT in our heart. It is not dependent on external circumstances like material blessings or happy situations, but is present in our hearts despite hardships and difficulties.
Ex. Paul & Silas praising God in prison, early Christian martyrs singing to their death.
THIS INNER JOY RESTS IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHO GOD IS, HIS LOVE, GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS.
2. Whether the fruit of JOY will remain in our hearts will depend on where we set our happiness & contentment: on eternal things or on temporal things like material things /money, career, etc. which can never give lasting happiness.
ETERNAL THINGS:
a. Joy of our Salvation. We can rejoice that now our names are listed in heaven. Jesus said: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Lk. 10:20) We can rejoice that now, we are children of God, loved and cared for by Him; that Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven and He will come again to receive us for Himself; that we have a loving & good God & Father; that, just like the angels in heaven, we see people coming to Jesus and getting saved.
b. Joy of Serving the Lord. Jesus talked of this joy in the Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:21,23). “Well done, good and faithful servant: you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” This joy comes out of our desire to please our God and Lord.
c. Joy of Suffering in the Service of the Lord. The joy of serving Jesus increases as we share His sufferings. Peter wrote, “… but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Pet.4:13-14) This joy comes in spite of insults, in spite of persecution. Why? Because the Holy Spirit rests in you! The very Source of this joy abides in you.
3. Be contented, do not envy. (Psa. 37:7-11) “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way …” The love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Tim. 6:10) The Lord Jesus said we cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. (Matt. 6:24) “What shall profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul.” (Mk. 8:36)
“Do not sorrow, for the JOY OF THE LORD is our strength.” (Nehe. 8:10)
1 Thess. 5: 16-18 says, “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS... IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS, FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU.”
C. P E A C E
1. Peace is the state of QUIETNESS, REST AND SECURITY in the midst of turmoil, strife and temptations. Jesus slept in the boat while there was a storm in the seas.
2. HOW DOES PEACE COME AND GROW IN OUR HEARTS?
a. As we cast all our burdens to Jesus, take His yoke and learn from Him.
Knowing that God is always with us and will never leave us nor forsake us gives us peace in our hearts. Keep your mind stayed on Him and perfect peace you shall have. (Isa. 26:3) Paul wrote, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:9)
b. As we learn more of His nature, ways and promises (in Bible), His peace grows in us.
c. Peace grows as we obey Jesus. There is complete peace when we are IN THE CENTER OF GOD'S WILL.
d. As we receive a revelation, an understanding from the Word from God regarding our difficult situation. The Lord is faithful to speak to us, either through a message from the preaching, Bible Study, a book, another person, from Christian programs on TV, etc.
e. Peace comes when we rest from our struggles, let go and allow God to accomplish His good purposes through the trial.
3. Peace leaves us when we worry, doubt, fear and sin or disobey God.
God is good. He will never fail us. Whatever circumstances we are in, we can trust in Him, that He will give us His all-sufficient grace and will carry us through! Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:2)
May we let the peace of God rule in our hearts!
GUIDE QUESTIONS
- What are the nine qualities of the fruit of the Spirit?
- When a believer has the fruit of the Spirit, is that a sign of maturity? Explain.
- Is love a kind of feeling?
- Why does joy give strength and endurance?
- How does peace grow in us?
MINISTRY TRAINING SCHOOL – INTERMEDIATE
School of Worker Module 2