Morning Moments

Whereas those whose lives are dominated by the flesh shall not inherit the kingdom of God, those who SHALL inherit God's kingdom are the fruit bearers in whose soul soil the seed of the Word was sown and brought forth fruit. Where there is no fruit, there is no root. If there is not the fruit of the Spirit in a life that life does not possess the Spirit of the Living God and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a lifestyle proposition.

It is important to understand that the lifestyle of the Christian is consistent with that of the fruit of the Spirit, but the lifestyle of the non-Christian is that of the works of the flesh.

BUT there is another life to live - the life that makes complete conformity to Christ our Goal - life in the Spirit. It is know by fruit because it does not produce by working but by abiding. The fruit, not fruits, consists of:

5:22-23

1. Love - This is not the warm fuzzy feeling, but the intense desire to please God who is love and who is pouring out His love in our hearts, and to demonstrate that love to others.

2. Joy - This is the ecstasy of exultation that overwhelms the spirit man man at the very thought of the Spirit of the Living God lives within him and has brought forgiveness of sins and life everlasting and it but a foretaste of glory Divine.

3. Peace - This is the dispelling of doubts and fears, despair and dread, discouragement and depression, with the replacement of the safety and solitude, the quiet and calm of a garden of grace. The hymnist wrote, "I come to the garden alone...and He walks with me and He talks with me..."

4. Longsuffering - This is more than merely putting up with, it is as a parent would do with a child that is learn to ride a bike and falls a hundred times before being able to accomplish the objective. It is so easy for us to expect others to be able to leaven quickly what it has taken us so long to learn. But this also relates to our coming to faith in Christ, for we tend to be impatient with others, forgetting how long God had to deal with some of us.

5. Gentleness - "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all, apt to teach, patient" 2 Tim 2:24. God's people should all display a gentle spirit, not easily ruffled, not impatient. The emphasis of Christian teaching was once upon being a young lady or a young gentleman. I fear those days are gone for most, even in the churches.

6. Goodness - A lady recently told me a story about the difficulty she had trying to get her invalid husband out of their van at church. The lift was stuck and she was dressed for Sunday morning service and having to work on the lift. Four adult men walked by and never even asked if they could be of assistance. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." "Let you light shine that other may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." What has become of us? Where are our manners? Where are the polite, the helpful, the courteous, the good, who will go out of their way to to good for others? If the tree is good the fruit will be good also.

7. Faith (faithfulness) - The word "faith" here is used for fidelity and to quote Adam Clarke, means "punctuality in performing promises, conscientious carefulness in preserving what is committed to our trust, in restoring it to its proper owner, in transacting the business confided to us, neither betraying the secret of our friend, nor disappointing the confidence of our employer." The Scripture says, "It is required of a steward that he be found faithful" 1 Cor 4:2.

8. Meekness - Gothard explained this as "strength under control". We certainly see that in the example of Moses in Numbers 12:1-3. Perhaps meekness is the inward attitude that expresses itself outwardly as gentleness. Certainly our Lord displayed outwardly gentleness as proof of His meekness inside.

9. Temperance - There is no doubt that the word means self control. "...but if ye be led of the Spirit, your shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh..." So the ability to control ones fleshly appetites, regardless of what they are can and will be controlled by the Holy Spirit as He walks in fellowship with Jesus. Wuest says "The word refers to the mastery of one's own desires and impulses. The word does not in itself refer to the control of any particular of specific desire or impulse. The context in which it is found will indicate what particular desire or impulse is meant, if a particular one is referred to." So, whatever is needed is provided by the Spirit for those led by the Spirit of God.

This fruit comes in a cluster so you can't have one without the others, although you may grow in all. One may produce more fruit through being pruned. It is through the trials and tribulations of life that the fruit is ripened. It is why Paul said "we glory in tribulations..." Jesus said in John 15 that the Father is glorified when we bring forth MUCH fruit.

THERE IS NO LAW ANYWHERE AGAINST THESE THINGS!

BLESSINGS!