Weapons to Fruit of The Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfkZfkBP0pc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dRb1fIl2M
We begin with Jesus' words, the anchor passage, if you will.
John 15:1 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.
2 He takes away every branch in me which has no fruit, and every branch which has fruit he makes clean, so that it may have more fruit.
3 You are clean, even now, through the teaching which I have given you.
4 Be in me at all times as I am in you. As the branch is not able to give fruit of itself, if it is not still on the vine, so you are not able to do so if you are not in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches: he who is in me at all times as I am in him, gives much fruit, because without me you are able to do nothing.
6 If a man does not keep himself in me, he becomes dead and is cut off like a dry branch; such branches are taken up and put in the fire and burned.
7 If you are in me at all times, and my words are in you, then anything for which you make a request will be done for you.
8 Here is my Father's glory, in that you give much fruit and so are my true disciples.
9 Even as the Father has given me his love, so I have given my love to you: be ever in my love.
10 If you keep my laws, you will be ever in my love, even as I have kept my Father's laws, and am ever in his love.
11 I have said these things to you so that I may have joy in you and so that your joy may be complete.
12 This is the law I give you: Have love one for another, even as I have love for you.
(BBE)
Albert Barnes
Verse 1. I am the true vine. Some have supposed that this discourse was delivered in the room where the Lord's Supper was instituted, and that, as they had made use of wine, Jesus took occasion from that to say that he was the true vine, and to intimate that his blood was the real wine that was to give strength to the soul. Others have supposed that it was delivered in the temple, the entrance to which was adorned with a golden vine (Josephus), and that Jesus took occasion thence to say that he was the true vine; but it is most probable that it was spoken while they were going from the paschal supper to the Mount of Olives. Whether it was suggested by the sight of vines by the way, or by the wine of which they had just partaken, cannot now be determined. The comparison was frequent among Jews, for Palestine abounded in vineyards, and the illustration was very striking. Thus the Jewish people are compared to a vine which God had planted, Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:8-16; Joe 1:7; Jer 2:21; Eze 19:10.
When Jesus says he was the true vine, perhaps allusion is had to Jer 2:21.
Jer 2:20 For in the past, your yoke was broken by your hands and your cords parted; and you said, I will not be your servant; for on every high hill and under every branching tree, your behaviour was like that of a loose woman
21 But when you were planted by me, you were a noble vine, in every way a true seed: how then have you been changed into the branching plant of a strange vine?
22 For even if you are washed with soda and take much soap, still your evil-doing is marked before me, says the Lord God.
(BBE)
The word true, here, is used in the sense of real, genuine. He really and truly gives what is emblematically represented by a vine. The point of the comparison or the meaning of the figure is this: A vine yields proper juice and nourishment to all the branches, whether these are large or small. All the nourishment of each branch and tendril passes through the main stalk, or the vine, that springs from the earth. So Jesus is the source of all real strength and grace to his disciples. He is their leader and teacher, and imparts to them, as they need, grace and strength to bear the fruits of holiness.
And my Father is the husbandman. The word vine-dresser more properly expresses the sense of the original word than husbandman. It means one who has the care of a vineyard; whose office it is to nurture, trim, and defend the vine, and who of course feels a deep interest in its growth and welfare. See Mt 21:33.
Mt 21:33 Give ear to another story. A master of a house made a vine garden, and put a wall round it, and made a place for crushing out the wine, and made a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went into another country.
34 And when the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit.
35 And the workmen made an attack on his servants, giving blows to one, putting another to death, and stoning another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more in number than the first: and they did the same to them.
37 But after that he sent his son to them, saying, They will have respect for my son.
38 But when the workmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death and take his heritage.
39 And they took him and, driving him out of the vine-garden, put him to death.
40 When, then, the lord of the vine-garden comes, what will he do to those workmen?
(BBE)
The figure means that God gave, or appointed his Son to be, the source of blessings to man; that all grace descends through him; and that God takes care of all the branches of this vine--that is, of all who are by faith united to the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus and all his church he feels the deepest interest, and it is an object of great solicitude that his church should receive these blessings and bear much fruit.
As we mentioned earlier. we are clean. Jesus death took our sins with Him and his resurrection testifies that we too are risen with Him and carry the Spiritual cleaning that will eventually purge our flesh. Because we are clean that frees us to be His brothers, His family, His Body, forged by the Spirit and gifted to act.
Jameison, etc.:
John 15:4
4. Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.--As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.
Wesley:
John 15:5
V. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches-Our Lord in this whole passage speaks of no branches but such as are, or at least were once, united to him by living faith.
That succeeds by following the law of love. James' Royal Law. And everything related to it.
LOVE THE LORD GOD WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
Mt 22:36-37 "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."
Luke 10:27 And answering, he said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
LOVE JESUS ALSO
John 8:42 "Jesus said to them, If God were your father, you would love Me, for I went forth and came from God; for I did not come of Myself, but He sent Me."
John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him."
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Mt 22:39 "And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Mark 12:31 "And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
LOVE YOUR ENEMY
Mt 5:43-46 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
"But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same?"
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (KJV)
KEEP CHRIST'S COMMANDMENTS IN LOVE
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
John 14:31 "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has given Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go away from here."
John 15:9-10 "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."
And:
THE GOLDEN RULE
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
All this paves the way to understand the NEED to follow the Spirit.
http://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/2014/08/19/5-ways-the-holy-spirit-helps-us/
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”
(John 14:16)
Who is the Holy Spirit and how exactly does He help us? Sometimes, we refer to the Holy Spirit as some nebulous spirit being that just hovers around to lead us this way and that. But Jesus is very clear: the Spirit is so much more. He is our real and necessary helper and advocate, sent to assist us in living the Christian life.
In a recent staff devotional, we read the following quote from Tim Keller’s Encounters with Jesus on the role of the Holy Spirit:
Many people say that the Holy Spirit gives us power, and that’s true, but how does he do that? Does he merely zap us with higher energy levels? No—by calling him the other Advocate [or Helper], Jesus has given us the great clue to understanding how the empowering of the Holy Spirit works. The first Advocate [Jesus] is speaking to God for you, but the second Advocate [the Holy Spirit] is speaking to you for you.
In other words, the Holy Spirit was sent to remind us about Christ and empower us to live in light of the gospel. Here are a few ways that the Holy Spirit “speaks” to us both for our good and God’s glory:
He reminds us about all that Jesus has taught.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit — the Father will send Him in My name — will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26).
He is a personal witness to testify about Christ.
“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — He will testify about Me” (John 15:26).
He convicts us of sin.
“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8).
He guides us to truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come” (John 16:13).
He brings glory to Jesus.
“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).
So this is why Jesus tells His disciples that it is to their advantage that He left them (John 16:7). Because in His leaving, a new Helper was sent. And this Helper would be the most sturdy of lifelines to all those who believe upon the gospel.
To receive the Spirit is to receive a helper and advocate for the soul, One who will always point us to Jesus, our Redeemer and King.
Now we know from previously that we have this adviser to help us use our offensive (gifts) weapons to spread the gospel and our defensive (daily disciplines) weapons to bold our position in Christ.
And with the love of God mentioned above.
The Spirit dispenses God’s love into our hearts
.Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {in due time: or, according to the time}
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
(KJV)
That love we talked about to begin the post. That impossible stuff. Paul told us about the nature of it in 1 Corinthians 13 and John, while relating Jesus long lecture as they walked to the garden, tells us all the details of the relationships in heaven: Jesus serving God, the Holy Spirit serving God, God allowing Jesus to plan the world, to include the act of the sacrifice, all intermingled in the Spirit, and His people meant to be that way, meant to be complete in Him. The Spirit regenerates us.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. {again: or, from above}
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
(KJV)
Born again means the Spiritual rebirth, but it also entails the Resurrection, the rising from the "womb' of death, the turning of the Fallen Flesh into the Final Flesh.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, {love: or, pity}
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; {abundantly: Gr. richly}
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(KJV)
And part of the regeneration is our response in allowing the Spirit to change us. And, in the change, we grow and produce fruit.
By "fruit", our Lord means two things: first, fruit in the idea of converting others to join him in the body and that seems to be the intent of his statement in John; the second meaning, the fruit of accepting the Spirit and obedience and successfully fighting the the holding action, the fruit of the Spirit:
Col 1:9 For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit,
10 Living uprightly in the approval of the Lord, giving fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy;
(BBE)
And so we arrive at Galatians.
Galatians is the letter of liberty. It is likely the second NT book written after James. It traces the development of Christianity from the Law to liberty. It begins with vindication with the Gospel "not according to Man" (1:11) moving to Paul's arguments on faith vs, observance of the law then arriving at the practical value and application of the Gospel. It ranks beside Romans in it's examination of the doctrine of salvation.Galatians 5 covers the contrast of the flesh, our fallen flesh and its desires, with the desires of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; because these are opposite the one to the other; so that you may not do the things which you have a mind to do.
Compare this with Paul's comment in Romans:
7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. {allow: Gr. know}
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? {the body...: or, this body of death}
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
(KJV)
Paul has been consistent in his writings. The flesh always struggles against the Spirit. The mind despite longing to obey betrays as much as the physical desire. We have the enemy in us and outside us. That holding action from two posts ago becomes even more needed.
18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul has been talking about the Law and the fact the body is under the Law until Christ is accepted as Savior. The flesh strives against it, as he says in Romans 7 and it sins in both the striving and then the act.
19 Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses,
20 Worship of images, use of strange powers, hates, fighting, desire for what another has, angry feelings, attempts to get the better of others, divisions, false teachings,
21 Envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God.
These get divided into classes:
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-galatians-5-16-21(1).htm
Sensual sins:
Fornication, evil desire:
The word "fornication" refers to sexual immorality in general. It is defined in the lexicons as, "prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse."
A person is guilty of fornication when he/she engages in pre-marital sex (1 Cor 7:2-5). Adultery (illicit sex in which one party is the spouse of another) is a specific form of sexual immorality included in the term fornication. The participation in sex by homosexuals and lesbians would fall under the term fornication. Incest also is fornication. The person who puts away his or her spouse for a cause other than fornication and marries another commits fornication. The person who marries the put away spouse (the one put away for a cause other than fornication) commits fornication. So also is he/she held guilty who puts away his/ her spouse for a cause other than fornication, because he/she is the cause of the guilt of the put away spouse when he/she remarries. (Matt 5:32).
Uncleanness:
In this word "uncleanness" there are perhaps three ideas expressed: (1) Physical and material dirt. The word is used to describe the condition that an outgoing tenant is to leave the house free from, that is, free from uncleanness. (2) In the Greek Old Testament the word is used to denote physical, ritual and ceremonial impurity. When a person became unclean either in the physical, ritual or ceremonial sense, he could not approach God. He could not enter the temple, or share in its worship. (3) It also indicates moral impurity which is inconsistent with personal purity. Embraced in the word is whatever is defiling, contaminating or impure in look, in gesture, in dress, in thought or sentiment. When the heathen of Romans one became vain in their imaginations, "God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves," (Rom. 1:24). It is used to indicate the lewdness of Gomer, the immoral wife of Hosea (see Hosea 2:10).
The New Testament informs us that no unclean person "hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5: 5). Also, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness." (2 Pet. 2:9-10). No Christian should forget that, "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (I Thess. 4:7).
Lasciviousness:
The word translated "lasciviousness" is defined as "unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantoness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence .... lasciviousness: 2 Cor. 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 2 Pet. 2:7 plur. 'wanton (acts or) manners' as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of male and females, etc." Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon. "Lewd, lustful, that which is intending to produce lewd emotions; suiting or proceeding from unlawful sexual desire." - Webster's New International Dictionary.
It seems that Lasciviousness has to do with: (1 ) wanton and undisciplined action - the action of a man who is at the mercy of his passions and his impulses and emotions, and in whom the voice of calm reason has been silenced by the storm of self will; (2) shameless conduct - an act of a character which has lost its self-respect, and its sense of shame in that it is indifferent to public opinion and to public decency; (3) activities and/or conduct that tends to excite lustful desires; (4) vulgar acts or manners or filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of the body.
The word "Lasciviousness" is found nine times in the New Testament. It is usually used in connection with sexual sins or activities of a lustful nature. In the text before us (Gal 5:19-21) it is coupled with fornication and uncleanness. In 1 Peter 4:1-6 it is used to describe the course of life followed by the Gentiles before their conversion to Christ. In 2 Peter 2:7 it is used to describe the kind of life being lived in Sodom before its destruction by God for unrighteousness. In Rom. 13:13-14 it is listed among such activities as reveling, drunkenness, chambering (most likely referring to prostitution), and wantonness. 2 Peter 2:18 speaks of it as the means used by some to entice newly born Christians to return to living in error. Jude 4 speaks of some, who of old turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness as being ungodly men under condemnation. In Eph. 4:18-19 those who gave themselves up to lasciviousness did so because of their ignorance and hardness of heart which resulted in their working all uncleanness and greediness or covetousness. In 2 Cor. 12:21 lasciviousness is joined with fornication and uncleanness as sins which are to be repented of and Paul mourned because of those who sinned and had not repented.
Idolatry:
Idol is defined as, "An image, likeness . . . the image of a heathen god . . . a false god," Thayer, p.174.
W.E. Vine defines Idol as, "an image to represent a false god . . . the false god worshipped in an image," p.583. Idolatry denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representation of the true God (Ex. 20:3-5), or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. In Old Testament times the neighbors of Israel, all had their idols. The Philistines had Dagon. The Ekronites had Baalzebub. The Moabites had Chemosh. The Ammonites had Molech or Milcom. The Phoenicians had Astarte. The Canaanites had Baal and Astoreth. Idolatry was also a problem continually with Israel from the golden calf of Aaron (Ex. 32), the practice of idolatry by Solomon (I Kings l1 :1-8), Jereboam's two calves of gold (I Kings 12:28-29) which all the kings of the northern kingdom condoned and continued, to the final carrying away of Israel by the Assryians because of her sins, of which idolatry was one. In Judah there were the bad kings which introduced and practiced idolatry. The reforms of the good kings of the southern kingdom always included the destruction of idolatry. However, it seems that Judah learned her lesson, for when she returned from the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, idolatry was not characteristic of her sins. However, the Gentiles continued the practice during the early days of the church. Paul spoke to them saying: "Forasmuch then as we are the off-spring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts I 7:29).
Idolatry may also be defined as anything that comes between man and God. Or better yet, anything that occupies the place in the heart of man that God should occupy. It was for this reason that Paul said that covetousness was idolatry (Eph. 5:5).
Today, few would bow to an image of stone, or steel wrought by man's device. But many do practice idolatry by letting other things occupy the place God should occupy in the heart. How many bow to strong drink, sinful pleasures, drugs, etc. These are inherently wrong and sinful. The"tree out of the forest" that Jeremiah spoke of was not inherently sinful, yet when it became the Astoreth and men bowed before the works of their hands it became sinful. Fishing poles, golf clubs, boats, camping, etc. are not inherently sinful, but when they come between an individual and his/her service to God, they are as sinful as Baal.
Religious or superstitious sins:
Sorcery:
The original word from which sorcery or witchcraft (KJV) is translated is "pharmakeia" It is also the word from which our word "pharmacy" is derived. It is defined as: "primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery, Gal.5:20. . .In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulet, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer." - W. F.. Vine.
It seems that there are three stages to the meaning of pharmakeia (1) for the medical use of drugs for healing as prescribed by a physician; (2) the misuse of drugs to poison and not to cure; (3) a vicious and malignant dealing in witchcraft and sorcery.
Witchcraft, sorcery and its related activities may be identified as:
Magic - We do not have in mind the stage magician who seeks to entertain an audience by slight of hand or other tricks. We do have in mind one who by the use of secret incantations, charms amulets, drugs, special exercises or by other means tries to tap supernatural beings or non physical forces to influence them for his benefit. The use of white magic to help someone, black magic to hurt; the evil eye or protection from it. Some Bible references to magic are Gen. 41:8,16,24,25,28; Ex. 7:11,22, 8:7, 18-19; 2 Kings 9:22; Dan. 2:2,10-11,12,27-30; 5:11-12; Nah. 3:4; Acts 8:9; 13:8 as well as the text under consideration. The magicians in contrast to Moses had limited success in the beginning but subsequently were exposed as outstanding failures. In the book of Daniel, when put to the test over and over again they failed at every test. The New Testament mentions magicians without once giving credibility to their claims.
Necromancy - consultation with the dead for the purpose of receiving information. The supposed occurrence takes various forms: The deceased may appear; the spirit of the dead may possess a living person; the dead may speak through a medium, the sorcerer; or in various other ways limited only by the imagination of the sorcerer and the credulity of the seeker. This is spoken of in Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:7; 1 Chron. 10:13-14; and Isa. 8:19. This forbidden practice is useless a source of information. (See also, Eccl. 9:1-6).
Astrology - "The pseudo science which treats of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling terrestrial events by their positions and aspects." - Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. The astrologer then would be one who seeks information about an individual's decisions, plans, future and fortunes by charting the stars and planets in connection with the moment of birth and life. Not only is this forbidden, it is useless as a source of council. Some passages are: Deut.17:2-5, Isa. 47:12-14; and Jer. 10:2. (Please notice that your astrological readings are in every daily newspaper on the USA. W.)
Divining: The effort to tap some power or spirit so as to discover hidden knowledge, especially to be able to foretell the future or to obtain some special information. Observing times, or interpreting omens, portents, and chance events belong under divining. Ezekiel pictures them as consulting images and looking into the liver to discover the hidden knowledge. Sometimes spirits are called, arrows shot, or special divining rods used. (There is the use of divining by holding a pendant over a map to search for missing person as well as to find water. W) Some passages are: Lev.19:2; Deut. 18:10,14; 1 Sam. 28:8; 2 Kings 21 :6; Isa. 2:6; 44:25; Jer. 27:9; 29:8-9; Ezek. 21:21-22; Dan. 2:27; 4:7; 5:7,11; Hos. 4:12; Mic. 5:12; Acts I6:16.
God's instruction to Israel as they were about to enter the promised land included, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consultor with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord, " Deut.18:10-12.
Social sins:
ENMITIES
The word translated "Enmity" has been translated by a variety of words; such as: hatred, enmity, quarrels, quarreling, hostile or hostility, feud, mutual enmity,
etc. To hate indicates malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others, whether toward the innocent or by mutual animosity. In 1 John 3:15, he who hates his brother is called a murderer, for the sin lies in the inward disposition, of which the act is the outward expression.
The word translated "Enmity" is used only five times in the New Testament. Here in Gal. 5:20 as a work of the flesh. In Luke 23:12 of Herod and Pilate. In Rom. 8:7 we are told that the mind of the flesh is enmity with God. Eph. 2:14,16 reveals that Jesus abolished the enmity between man and God by His sacrifice. James 4:4 says, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God."
STRIFE
The word translated "Strife" is also translated by the words "variance" (KJV) and "contention". Strife or variance is the expression of hatred or enmity. Enmity is
the state or attitude of mind toward other people; and strife is the outcome in actual life of that state of mind. (see Factions)
JEALOUSIES
"The root word in the Greek is zelos, from which the word zeal is derived. It may have either a good or a bad connotation, depending on the context. In Gal. 3:20 it is used in the bad sense - that of envious rivalry. Vine says, 'jealousy desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.' Barclay says, 'zelos could denote a
great thing which degenerated into a sin.' To observe the achievements of another can stir within one the desire to 'emulate' or 'imitate' with a view to achieving the same worthwhile thing in oneself. But if the same ambition, good at first, should provoke to a bitter resentment then zelos becomes a work of the flesh. This deterioration of zeal is not the work of the Spirit but of the flesh." - J. Wilely Adams
Jealousies, also translated emulations, is the feeling of ill will at the good fortune of another. It is destructive of personal relations and individual happiness. This pain
springs not from the fact that the beholder does not possess the fine thing (a possession, an honor, a characteristic, etc); it springs from the fact that the
other person does.
WRATHS
The characteristic feature of the word translated "wrath" is that it is very violent but very brief. The Greeks said this wrath was like fire in straw, quickly blazing up and just as quickly burning itself out. Wrath, as it is here used, is not long cherished anger, it is the blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies.
There are several scriptures that reveal to us the attitude we ought to have toward wrath:
I. "Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice" (Eph 4:31).
2. Jesus said, "that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgement" (Matt. 5 :22).
3 . "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:20).
4. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath." (Eph. 6:4).
"Many a person is well aware that he has a violent temper; and many a person claims that he cannot help it, and expects others to accept and to forgive his bursts of
passion. . . . It may well be that such a person is never fully aware of the way in which he wounds others and produces a situation in which fellowship becomes very
difficult. Because he blazes and forgets the things that others should equally be able to forget the pain he has inflicted. Let such a person remember that such
displays of temper are sin, and that the way to overcome them is through the power of the Spirit in his heart" (that is as the Spirit teaches through His word. -DB) -
William Barclay
FACTIONS
The American Standard Version used the word "faction," while in other translations we find such words as strife, selfishness, selfish ambitions, intrigues and rivalry. W. E. Vine defines the word as "strife, contention in the expression of enmity, Rom. 1:29." Thayer defines it as "contention, strife, wrangling." The word denotes a spirit of personal ambition and rivalry which issues in a partisanship or faction which sets party or personal ambition above service to Christ. Paul exhorted the Romans not to walk "in strife and envying" (Rom. 13:13). He was fearful of returning to Corinth "lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions,
backbitings," (2 Cor 12:20). To the Philippians he wrote: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
themselves" (Phil. 2:3). He wrote to Timothy to warn those who are "proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings" (I Tim. 6:4). James speaks of the fruit that comes from strife, "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, hut is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:14-16). The wise man Solomon said, "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:" (Proverbs
20:23).
DIVISIONS
William Barclay says, "The word denotes a state of things in which men are divided, in which feuds flourish, and in which unity is destroyed." He further states, "It literally means 'a standing apart', that is, a state in which all community, all fellowship, and all togetherness are gone." W. E. Vine defines the word as "A standing apart (diche, asunder, apart, stasis, a standing; the root di - indicating division, is found in many words in various languages)."
Jesus prayed, "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me." (John 17:20) Paul plead for unity among the believers, "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor 1:10). The Holy Spirit, through Paul revealed a plan for unity that brethren not be divided, "giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." (Eph 4:3-6). Division does not happen as a result of being led by the Spirit, it is a work of the flesh. "These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit." (Jude 19). Paul said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them." (Rom. 16:17).
PARTIES
Other translations translate the word by heresies, party spirit, party quarrels, and factions. W. E. Vine says it "denotes a choosing, choice; then, that which is chosen, and hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects, Gal.5:20." Throughout the book of Acts (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 26:5; 28:22) the word is translated "sect". The sectarian or denominational view of the church that Jesus bought with His blood is not the Bible view. Every figure used to reveal some aspect of the church indicates a unity or oneness. The church is viewed as a "fold" and Jesus said there is one fold. It is viewed as a kingdom in which all who are born again serve the king, Jesus. It is viewed as a family, the family of God. It is viewed as a body, one body, with each individual being a member. It is pictured as a vineyard with members as workers in that vineyard. Every figure destroys the contention that the church is to be divided into a multitude of sects each holding a peculiar doctrine and wearing a different name. The sectarian view is a work of the flesh and not the Spirit.
ENVYINGS
Envy has been defined as a feeling of displeasure and ill will because of another's advantages, honor, possessions, etc. William Barclay comments, "The essence of it is that it does not describe the spirit which desires, nobly or ignobly, to have what someone else has; it describes the spirit which grudges the fact that the other person has these things at all. It does not so much want the things for itself; it merely wants to take them from the other person." Solomon compared envy in the spiritual realm to what cancer is in the physical realm. He said, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones" (Prov. 14:30).
Envy has been the cause of some of the most terrible tragedies that have occurred. Because of envy, Cain committed the first murder and that of his brother. (Gen.4:4,5). The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery because of their envious heart. (Acts 7:9). Saul, Israel's first king, became so envious of David that he hunted him like an animal with evil intentions. (I Sam.18:8-9). The gospel has been preached with envy by some who sought to add to the afflictions of a faithful preacher. (Phil . 1: 15- 16). Envy has been an impetus for persecution of the followers of Christ (Acts 13:45). The strife and divisions of the church in Corinth can in a large measure be laid at the feet of envy. (1 Cor. 3:3). A deed even more terrible is recorded in Matt. 27:18, "For he (Pilate) knew that for envy they had delivered him (Jesus) up."
Asaph's story in the 73rd Psalm ought to help us put the right perspective on envy. Though he is dealing with just one specific reason for envy and its possible consequences and showing the reason, in this circumstance, one should not be characterized by envy. It should help us to know that if we opened our eyes to the whole truth we would learn that envy ought not to be an attitude we manifest. Here is his story.
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me-- Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction." (Psa. 73:2-18, NKJV).
Personal Sins:
DRUNKENNESS
Paul said plainly, "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18). Peter points out that the Christian does not now run to the same riot of excess that formerly characterized his behavior. "For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them in the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: " ( I Pet. 4: 3 4).
Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
(Matt. 7: 16-21 ).
Notice the moral and spiritual effects or the fruit of drunkenness:
1. Maladministration of justice - Prov 31:5; Isa. 5:23.
2. Provokes anger, contentions, brawling - Prov. 20:1; 23:29.
3. Conduces a profligate life - Eph 5:1~.
4. Is allied with gambling, licentiousness - Joel 3:3 and indecency - Gen 9:21ff.
5. Deadens the spiritual sensibilities, producing a callous indifference to religious influences and destroys all serious thought - Isa 5 :12.
"Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among men. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper." (Prov. 23:20-32, NKJV).
REVELLINGS
This word "revellings" is used in only two other passages in the New Testament besides out text. It is used in Rom. 13:13 "Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy" and also in 1 Peter 4:3, "For the time past in our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries."
Webster's collegiate dictionary defines the word as, "To be festive in a riotous or noisy manner." Thayer says, ". . .a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence used generally, of feast and drinking-parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry:" Donnegan's Lexicon says, "A jovial assembly of friends, who met at an entertainment, or to celebrate a festival, with music, dancing, and singing hymns and odes - a band of revellers, who, after a feast, go through the streets and visit their friends, or mistresses, singing, dancing, and indulging in wanton and boisterous merriment; hence revelry, and the wanton conduct of persons elated with wine; licentious indulgence."
Other sins exist, of course, and I'm sure we humans will found a few more as our devices become even more refined. The lists are nice and the time well worth it to discuss and examine those sins, but keep them in mind only as a detector of them in your own behavior and as a tester of the spirit guiding you and the people around you.
Just as the fruit of the Spirit is a fine test of your growth in christ and of the people who seek to be spiritual leaders.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith,
23 Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law.
I learned it from the NIV:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
One commentary suggested that the punctuation should be changed to read: "The fruit of the Spirit is Love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..." The idea being that the single fruit is love and the rest of the list describes the characteristics of love. I tend to agree but let's spend time examining the list as separate items anyway.
http://www.allaboutgod.com/fruit-of-the-spirit.htm
http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=48297&columnid=4166
Joy - "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
Peace - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Longsuffering (patience) -- We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11).
Gentleness (kindness) -- We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2 Corinthians 6:6-7).
Goodness - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Faith (faithfulness) - "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1).
Meekness - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).
Temperance (self-control) - "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
We are called to Put on this, a call to take on the character of Jesus and put it on us, while we put off the vices that hinder us. Don't worry that we cannot do this on our own; He imparts to us the power and ability to do so though His work and the Spirit! It is something we do not force to come about; rather it happens naturally as we learn and grow in Christ, then His character envelopes us as we take on the new identity of a person not only saved by grace but empowered and shaped by Him. If we just live our lives with the attitude of how things affect "me" and not "others," then we are living "with" the devil, and not "with" God! It is essential as Christians to demonstrate His love in how we relate to both for God and then to others (Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 4:1-6, 22-24; Philippians 2:1-6).
How is this done?
Simply put by Paul, we achieve this by allowing the Word of Christ and His presence to dwell in us, and learn His instruction, so the peace of Christ rules our hearts and minds, translating into actions. It is all about our spiritual growth impacting us so it impacts others positively and in love (Col. 1:15; 2:3; 3:1-11)!
Take a close look at each of the fruits listed. Which ones are you exhibiting well? Which ones do you lack? What are you going to do about the ones in which you are weak? We are called not to be ineffective or unproductive; this means we are being called to be productive and useful in the Kingdom as well as the community. If not, we are in disobedience and ignoring of His love and gifts for us. Why would a Christian not want to be productive for the Kingdom (Phil. 4:8-9)?
And they act as a test for the wolves out there:
Mt 7:15 Be on the watch for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are cruel wolves.
16 By their fruits you will get knowledge of them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit.
18 It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit.
19 Every tree which does not give good fruit is cut down and put in the fire.
20 So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them.
21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven.
22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?
23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.
(BBE)
24 And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.
The Fallen Flesh needs to be put it's place daily and the reflection of Christ will begin to shine in us as we do.
25 If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided.
Charles Stanley on how to know we follow the Spirit:
http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/15420-10-guarantees-of-guidance-aug-2012
Not sure if you’re being led by the Spirit? Here are a few key Scriptures to help discern.
26 Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
Rephrasing another command of Christ:
Lu 9:22 Saying, The Son of man will undergo much and be put on one side by the rulers and the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and be put to death, and on the third day he will come back to life.
23 And he said to them all, If any man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross every day, and come after me.
24 For whoever has a desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, but whoever gives up his life because of me, will keep it.
(BBE)
First the crucifixion, then call to surrender and pick up the cross daily and follow him.
My Life Application Bible sums up Galatians by saying Paul boldly declared freedom to the new Christians who were trying to grow in Christ but they were invaded by Jews who were saying they had to follow the Law now that they were saved. It then says:"How strange it would be for a prisoner who had been set free to walk back into his or her cell and refuse to leave!"
My response is: "Not really." One of the things about repeat offenders is that they seek the security of prison order. Bad food and the likelihood of fights, rape even being killed, but many fond the routine of meals, time in the yard and being with one ethic gang or another as the only order they have ever felt in their lives.
Religion has that same offer. You can do this routine, pray 5X a day. give alms every day, show up regularly and raise as many children as you can under this banner. People brought up in that comforting routine chase after the comfort more than the Lord. The rules and the feeling of safety they offer replace God. For instance, a few years back the Catholic Church had to close some of it's neighborhood churches in Detroit. The Free Press said they saved the icons, these are religious artifacts that have been around for years like the snake Moses raised up. The Freep said that the parishioners were comforted by the icons so they moved them into the churches the members would be attending. They had, in other words, become idols which is usually the intent of the Church and was a reason the Puritan came to America.
The other reason we face such challenges has to do with our nature.
My friend, Phil Muir was in missions with his wife for years. He is now an elder for Lockwood Church and has an apple orchard for income. He told us an interesting story about apple trees in one of his adult Sunday School class. Phil said he is constantly pruning the apple trees off season. Over the years there has been grafting of various limbs to the trees, ways to genetically alter the apple a tree produces. (Jesus' vine image likely pops into your head.) Despite all that work, he has to keep track of the trees or they will develop branches that produce some of the original fruit and the original fruit of an apple tree is ugly, oddly shaped, can't be sold in our markets where we are used to a particular type of fruit.
Notice that Phil does that pruning. There are things we can do, like those weapons of the Spirit. Did you happen to think of them as our own pruning tool? We study the word, we seek after righteousness by walking in love. We seek to walk in peace. All of that helps us stand against Satan because it prunes US. Because God uses us for pruning as well as doing it directly himself. (Understand, it is only if we are walking in that fruit of love the Spirit first produces in us. If we are obedient in study and application.) We were thinking of it as our defense, which it is, but Jesus, walking in this fallen flesh, who resisted Satan, had been raised in the Word his whole life, had walked in righteousness seen in His father Joseph and in his mother, Mary.
And had the Spirit with Him.
This seems like a conclusion, but there is one party to hear from yet about the topic of fruit and we'll talk about him next time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfkZfkBP0pc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dRb1fIl2M
We begin with Jesus' words, the anchor passage, if you will.
John 15:1 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.
2 He takes away every branch in me which has no fruit, and every branch which has fruit he makes clean, so that it may have more fruit.
3 You are clean, even now, through the teaching which I have given you.
4 Be in me at all times as I am in you. As the branch is not able to give fruit of itself, if it is not still on the vine, so you are not able to do so if you are not in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches: he who is in me at all times as I am in him, gives much fruit, because without me you are able to do nothing.
6 If a man does not keep himself in me, he becomes dead and is cut off like a dry branch; such branches are taken up and put in the fire and burned.
7 If you are in me at all times, and my words are in you, then anything for which you make a request will be done for you.
8 Here is my Father's glory, in that you give much fruit and so are my true disciples.
9 Even as the Father has given me his love, so I have given my love to you: be ever in my love.
10 If you keep my laws, you will be ever in my love, even as I have kept my Father's laws, and am ever in his love.
11 I have said these things to you so that I may have joy in you and so that your joy may be complete.
12 This is the law I give you: Have love one for another, even as I have love for you.
(BBE)
Albert Barnes
Verse 1. I am the true vine. Some have supposed that this discourse was delivered in the room where the Lord's Supper was instituted, and that, as they had made use of wine, Jesus took occasion from that to say that he was the true vine, and to intimate that his blood was the real wine that was to give strength to the soul. Others have supposed that it was delivered in the temple, the entrance to which was adorned with a golden vine (Josephus), and that Jesus took occasion thence to say that he was the true vine; but it is most probable that it was spoken while they were going from the paschal supper to the Mount of Olives. Whether it was suggested by the sight of vines by the way, or by the wine of which they had just partaken, cannot now be determined. The comparison was frequent among Jews, for Palestine abounded in vineyards, and the illustration was very striking. Thus the Jewish people are compared to a vine which God had planted, Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:8-16; Joe 1:7; Jer 2:21; Eze 19:10.
When Jesus says he was the true vine, perhaps allusion is had to Jer 2:21.
Jer 2:20 For in the past, your yoke was broken by your hands and your cords parted; and you said, I will not be your servant; for on every high hill and under every branching tree, your behaviour was like that of a loose woman
21 But when you were planted by me, you were a noble vine, in every way a true seed: how then have you been changed into the branching plant of a strange vine?
22 For even if you are washed with soda and take much soap, still your evil-doing is marked before me, says the Lord God.
(BBE)
The word true, here, is used in the sense of real, genuine. He really and truly gives what is emblematically represented by a vine. The point of the comparison or the meaning of the figure is this: A vine yields proper juice and nourishment to all the branches, whether these are large or small. All the nourishment of each branch and tendril passes through the main stalk, or the vine, that springs from the earth. So Jesus is the source of all real strength and grace to his disciples. He is their leader and teacher, and imparts to them, as they need, grace and strength to bear the fruits of holiness.
And my Father is the husbandman. The word vine-dresser more properly expresses the sense of the original word than husbandman. It means one who has the care of a vineyard; whose office it is to nurture, trim, and defend the vine, and who of course feels a deep interest in its growth and welfare. See Mt 21:33.
Mt 21:33 Give ear to another story. A master of a house made a vine garden, and put a wall round it, and made a place for crushing out the wine, and made a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went into another country.
34 And when the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit.
35 And the workmen made an attack on his servants, giving blows to one, putting another to death, and stoning another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more in number than the first: and they did the same to them.
37 But after that he sent his son to them, saying, They will have respect for my son.
38 But when the workmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death and take his heritage.
39 And they took him and, driving him out of the vine-garden, put him to death.
40 When, then, the lord of the vine-garden comes, what will he do to those workmen?
(BBE)
The figure means that God gave, or appointed his Son to be, the source of blessings to man; that all grace descends through him; and that God takes care of all the branches of this vine--that is, of all who are by faith united to the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus and all his church he feels the deepest interest, and it is an object of great solicitude that his church should receive these blessings and bear much fruit.
As we mentioned earlier. we are clean. Jesus death took our sins with Him and his resurrection testifies that we too are risen with Him and carry the Spiritual cleaning that will eventually purge our flesh. Because we are clean that frees us to be His brothers, His family, His Body, forged by the Spirit and gifted to act.
Jameison, etc.:
John 15:4
4. Abide in me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, &c.--As all spiritual fruitfulness had been ascribed to the mutual inhabitation, and living, active interpenetration (so to speak) of Christ and His disciples, so here the keeping up of this vital connection is made essential to continued fruitfulness.
Wesley:
John 15:5
V. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches-Our Lord in this whole passage speaks of no branches but such as are, or at least were once, united to him by living faith.
That succeeds by following the law of love. James' Royal Law. And everything related to it.
LOVE THE LORD GOD WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
Mt 22:36-37 "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."
Luke 10:27 And answering, he said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
LOVE JESUS ALSO
John 8:42 "Jesus said to them, If God were your father, you would love Me, for I went forth and came from God; for I did not come of Myself, but He sent Me."
John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him."
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Mt 22:39 "And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Mark 12:31 "And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
LOVE YOUR ENEMY
Mt 5:43-46 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
"But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same?"
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (KJV)
KEEP CHRIST'S COMMANDMENTS IN LOVE
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
John 14:31 "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has given Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go away from here."
John 15:9-10 "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."
And:
THE GOLDEN RULE
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
All this paves the way to understand the NEED to follow the Spirit.
http://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/2014/08/19/5-ways-the-holy-spirit-helps-us/
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”
(John 14:16)
Who is the Holy Spirit and how exactly does He help us? Sometimes, we refer to the Holy Spirit as some nebulous spirit being that just hovers around to lead us this way and that. But Jesus is very clear: the Spirit is so much more. He is our real and necessary helper and advocate, sent to assist us in living the Christian life.
In a recent staff devotional, we read the following quote from Tim Keller’s Encounters with Jesus on the role of the Holy Spirit:
Many people say that the Holy Spirit gives us power, and that’s true, but how does he do that? Does he merely zap us with higher energy levels? No—by calling him the other Advocate [or Helper], Jesus has given us the great clue to understanding how the empowering of the Holy Spirit works. The first Advocate [Jesus] is speaking to God for you, but the second Advocate [the Holy Spirit] is speaking to you for you.
In other words, the Holy Spirit was sent to remind us about Christ and empower us to live in light of the gospel. Here are a few ways that the Holy Spirit “speaks” to us both for our good and God’s glory:
He reminds us about all that Jesus has taught.
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit — the Father will send Him in My name — will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26).
He is a personal witness to testify about Christ.
“When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — He will testify about Me” (John 15:26).
He convicts us of sin.
“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8).
He guides us to truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come” (John 16:13).
He brings glory to Jesus.
“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).
So this is why Jesus tells His disciples that it is to their advantage that He left them (John 16:7). Because in His leaving, a new Helper was sent. And this Helper would be the most sturdy of lifelines to all those who believe upon the gospel.
To receive the Spirit is to receive a helper and advocate for the soul, One who will always point us to Jesus, our Redeemer and King.
Now we know from previously that we have this adviser to help us use our offensive (gifts) weapons to spread the gospel and our defensive (daily disciplines) weapons to bold our position in Christ.
And with the love of God mentioned above.
The Spirit dispenses God’s love into our hearts
.Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {in due time: or, according to the time}
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
(KJV)
That love we talked about to begin the post. That impossible stuff. Paul told us about the nature of it in 1 Corinthians 13 and John, while relating Jesus long lecture as they walked to the garden, tells us all the details of the relationships in heaven: Jesus serving God, the Holy Spirit serving God, God allowing Jesus to plan the world, to include the act of the sacrifice, all intermingled in the Spirit, and His people meant to be that way, meant to be complete in Him. The Spirit regenerates us.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. {again: or, from above}
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
(KJV)
Born again means the Spiritual rebirth, but it also entails the Resurrection, the rising from the "womb' of death, the turning of the Fallen Flesh into the Final Flesh.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, {love: or, pity}
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; {abundantly: Gr. richly}
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(KJV)
And part of the regeneration is our response in allowing the Spirit to change us. And, in the change, we grow and produce fruit.
By "fruit", our Lord means two things: first, fruit in the idea of converting others to join him in the body and that seems to be the intent of his statement in John; the second meaning, the fruit of accepting the Spirit and obedience and successfully fighting the the holding action, the fruit of the Spirit:
Col 1:9 For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit,
10 Living uprightly in the approval of the Lord, giving fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Full of strength in the measure of the great power of his glory, so that you may undergo all troubles with joy;
(BBE)
And so we arrive at Galatians.
Galatians is the letter of liberty. It is likely the second NT book written after James. It traces the development of Christianity from the Law to liberty. It begins with vindication with the Gospel "not according to Man" (1:11) moving to Paul's arguments on faith vs, observance of the law then arriving at the practical value and application of the Gospel. It ranks beside Romans in it's examination of the doctrine of salvation.Galatians 5 covers the contrast of the flesh, our fallen flesh and its desires, with the desires of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; because these are opposite the one to the other; so that you may not do the things which you have a mind to do.
Compare this with Paul's comment in Romans:
7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. {allow: Gr. know}
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? {the body...: or, this body of death}
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
(KJV)
Paul has been consistent in his writings. The flesh always struggles against the Spirit. The mind despite longing to obey betrays as much as the physical desire. We have the enemy in us and outside us. That holding action from two posts ago becomes even more needed.
18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul has been talking about the Law and the fact the body is under the Law until Christ is accepted as Savior. The flesh strives against it, as he says in Romans 7 and it sins in both the striving and then the act.
19 Now the works of the flesh are clear, which are these: evil desire, unclean things, wrong use of the senses,
20 Worship of images, use of strange powers, hates, fighting, desire for what another has, angry feelings, attempts to get the better of others, divisions, false teachings,
21 Envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God.
These get divided into classes:
http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-galatians-5-16-21(1).htm
Sensual sins:
Fornication, evil desire:
The word "fornication" refers to sexual immorality in general. It is defined in the lexicons as, "prostitution, unchastity, fornication, of every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse."
A person is guilty of fornication when he/she engages in pre-marital sex (1 Cor 7:2-5). Adultery (illicit sex in which one party is the spouse of another) is a specific form of sexual immorality included in the term fornication. The participation in sex by homosexuals and lesbians would fall under the term fornication. Incest also is fornication. The person who puts away his or her spouse for a cause other than fornication and marries another commits fornication. The person who marries the put away spouse (the one put away for a cause other than fornication) commits fornication. So also is he/she held guilty who puts away his/ her spouse for a cause other than fornication, because he/she is the cause of the guilt of the put away spouse when he/she remarries. (Matt 5:32).
Uncleanness:
In this word "uncleanness" there are perhaps three ideas expressed: (1) Physical and material dirt. The word is used to describe the condition that an outgoing tenant is to leave the house free from, that is, free from uncleanness. (2) In the Greek Old Testament the word is used to denote physical, ritual and ceremonial impurity. When a person became unclean either in the physical, ritual or ceremonial sense, he could not approach God. He could not enter the temple, or share in its worship. (3) It also indicates moral impurity which is inconsistent with personal purity. Embraced in the word is whatever is defiling, contaminating or impure in look, in gesture, in dress, in thought or sentiment. When the heathen of Romans one became vain in their imaginations, "God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves," (Rom. 1:24). It is used to indicate the lewdness of Gomer, the immoral wife of Hosea (see Hosea 2:10).
The New Testament informs us that no unclean person "hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5: 5). Also, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness." (2 Pet. 2:9-10). No Christian should forget that, "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (I Thess. 4:7).
Lasciviousness:
The word translated "lasciviousness" is defined as "unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantoness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence .... lasciviousness: 2 Cor. 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Eph. 4:19; 2 Pet. 2:7 plur. 'wanton (acts or) manners' as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of male and females, etc." Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon. "Lewd, lustful, that which is intending to produce lewd emotions; suiting or proceeding from unlawful sexual desire." - Webster's New International Dictionary.
It seems that Lasciviousness has to do with: (1 ) wanton and undisciplined action - the action of a man who is at the mercy of his passions and his impulses and emotions, and in whom the voice of calm reason has been silenced by the storm of self will; (2) shameless conduct - an act of a character which has lost its self-respect, and its sense of shame in that it is indifferent to public opinion and to public decency; (3) activities and/or conduct that tends to excite lustful desires; (4) vulgar acts or manners or filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of the body.
The word "Lasciviousness" is found nine times in the New Testament. It is usually used in connection with sexual sins or activities of a lustful nature. In the text before us (Gal 5:19-21) it is coupled with fornication and uncleanness. In 1 Peter 4:1-6 it is used to describe the course of life followed by the Gentiles before their conversion to Christ. In 2 Peter 2:7 it is used to describe the kind of life being lived in Sodom before its destruction by God for unrighteousness. In Rom. 13:13-14 it is listed among such activities as reveling, drunkenness, chambering (most likely referring to prostitution), and wantonness. 2 Peter 2:18 speaks of it as the means used by some to entice newly born Christians to return to living in error. Jude 4 speaks of some, who of old turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness as being ungodly men under condemnation. In Eph. 4:18-19 those who gave themselves up to lasciviousness did so because of their ignorance and hardness of heart which resulted in their working all uncleanness and greediness or covetousness. In 2 Cor. 12:21 lasciviousness is joined with fornication and uncleanness as sins which are to be repented of and Paul mourned because of those who sinned and had not repented.
Idolatry:
Idol is defined as, "An image, likeness . . . the image of a heathen god . . . a false god," Thayer, p.174.
W.E. Vine defines Idol as, "an image to represent a false god . . . the false god worshipped in an image," p.583. Idolatry denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representation of the true God (Ex. 20:3-5), or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. In Old Testament times the neighbors of Israel, all had their idols. The Philistines had Dagon. The Ekronites had Baalzebub. The Moabites had Chemosh. The Ammonites had Molech or Milcom. The Phoenicians had Astarte. The Canaanites had Baal and Astoreth. Idolatry was also a problem continually with Israel from the golden calf of Aaron (Ex. 32), the practice of idolatry by Solomon (I Kings l1 :1-8), Jereboam's two calves of gold (I Kings 12:28-29) which all the kings of the northern kingdom condoned and continued, to the final carrying away of Israel by the Assryians because of her sins, of which idolatry was one. In Judah there were the bad kings which introduced and practiced idolatry. The reforms of the good kings of the southern kingdom always included the destruction of idolatry. However, it seems that Judah learned her lesson, for when she returned from the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, idolatry was not characteristic of her sins. However, the Gentiles continued the practice during the early days of the church. Paul spoke to them saying: "Forasmuch then as we are the off-spring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts I 7:29).
Idolatry may also be defined as anything that comes between man and God. Or better yet, anything that occupies the place in the heart of man that God should occupy. It was for this reason that Paul said that covetousness was idolatry (Eph. 5:5).
Today, few would bow to an image of stone, or steel wrought by man's device. But many do practice idolatry by letting other things occupy the place God should occupy in the heart. How many bow to strong drink, sinful pleasures, drugs, etc. These are inherently wrong and sinful. The"tree out of the forest" that Jeremiah spoke of was not inherently sinful, yet when it became the Astoreth and men bowed before the works of their hands it became sinful. Fishing poles, golf clubs, boats, camping, etc. are not inherently sinful, but when they come between an individual and his/her service to God, they are as sinful as Baal.
Religious or superstitious sins:
Sorcery:
The original word from which sorcery or witchcraft (KJV) is translated is "pharmakeia" It is also the word from which our word "pharmacy" is derived. It is defined as: "primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then, sorcery, Gal.5:20. . .In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulet, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer." - W. F.. Vine.
It seems that there are three stages to the meaning of pharmakeia (1) for the medical use of drugs for healing as prescribed by a physician; (2) the misuse of drugs to poison and not to cure; (3) a vicious and malignant dealing in witchcraft and sorcery.
Witchcraft, sorcery and its related activities may be identified as:
Magic - We do not have in mind the stage magician who seeks to entertain an audience by slight of hand or other tricks. We do have in mind one who by the use of secret incantations, charms amulets, drugs, special exercises or by other means tries to tap supernatural beings or non physical forces to influence them for his benefit. The use of white magic to help someone, black magic to hurt; the evil eye or protection from it. Some Bible references to magic are Gen. 41:8,16,24,25,28; Ex. 7:11,22, 8:7, 18-19; 2 Kings 9:22; Dan. 2:2,10-11,12,27-30; 5:11-12; Nah. 3:4; Acts 8:9; 13:8 as well as the text under consideration. The magicians in contrast to Moses had limited success in the beginning but subsequently were exposed as outstanding failures. In the book of Daniel, when put to the test over and over again they failed at every test. The New Testament mentions magicians without once giving credibility to their claims.
Necromancy - consultation with the dead for the purpose of receiving information. The supposed occurrence takes various forms: The deceased may appear; the spirit of the dead may possess a living person; the dead may speak through a medium, the sorcerer; or in various other ways limited only by the imagination of the sorcerer and the credulity of the seeker. This is spoken of in Lev. 19:31; 20:6,27; Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:7; 1 Chron. 10:13-14; and Isa. 8:19. This forbidden practice is useless a source of information. (See also, Eccl. 9:1-6).
Astrology - "The pseudo science which treats of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling terrestrial events by their positions and aspects." - Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. The astrologer then would be one who seeks information about an individual's decisions, plans, future and fortunes by charting the stars and planets in connection with the moment of birth and life. Not only is this forbidden, it is useless as a source of council. Some passages are: Deut.17:2-5, Isa. 47:12-14; and Jer. 10:2. (Please notice that your astrological readings are in every daily newspaper on the USA. W.)
Divining: The effort to tap some power or spirit so as to discover hidden knowledge, especially to be able to foretell the future or to obtain some special information. Observing times, or interpreting omens, portents, and chance events belong under divining. Ezekiel pictures them as consulting images and looking into the liver to discover the hidden knowledge. Sometimes spirits are called, arrows shot, or special divining rods used. (There is the use of divining by holding a pendant over a map to search for missing person as well as to find water. W) Some passages are: Lev.19:2; Deut. 18:10,14; 1 Sam. 28:8; 2 Kings 21 :6; Isa. 2:6; 44:25; Jer. 27:9; 29:8-9; Ezek. 21:21-22; Dan. 2:27; 4:7; 5:7,11; Hos. 4:12; Mic. 5:12; Acts I6:16.
God's instruction to Israel as they were about to enter the promised land included, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consultor with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord, " Deut.18:10-12.
Social sins:
ENMITIES
The word translated "Enmity" has been translated by a variety of words; such as: hatred, enmity, quarrels, quarreling, hostile or hostility, feud, mutual enmity,
etc. To hate indicates malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others, whether toward the innocent or by mutual animosity. In 1 John 3:15, he who hates his brother is called a murderer, for the sin lies in the inward disposition, of which the act is the outward expression.
The word translated "Enmity" is used only five times in the New Testament. Here in Gal. 5:20 as a work of the flesh. In Luke 23:12 of Herod and Pilate. In Rom. 8:7 we are told that the mind of the flesh is enmity with God. Eph. 2:14,16 reveals that Jesus abolished the enmity between man and God by His sacrifice. James 4:4 says, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God."
STRIFE
The word translated "Strife" is also translated by the words "variance" (KJV) and "contention". Strife or variance is the expression of hatred or enmity. Enmity is
the state or attitude of mind toward other people; and strife is the outcome in actual life of that state of mind. (see Factions)
JEALOUSIES
"The root word in the Greek is zelos, from which the word zeal is derived. It may have either a good or a bad connotation, depending on the context. In Gal. 3:20 it is used in the bad sense - that of envious rivalry. Vine says, 'jealousy desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.' Barclay says, 'zelos could denote a
great thing which degenerated into a sin.' To observe the achievements of another can stir within one the desire to 'emulate' or 'imitate' with a view to achieving the same worthwhile thing in oneself. But if the same ambition, good at first, should provoke to a bitter resentment then zelos becomes a work of the flesh. This deterioration of zeal is not the work of the Spirit but of the flesh." - J. Wilely Adams
Jealousies, also translated emulations, is the feeling of ill will at the good fortune of another. It is destructive of personal relations and individual happiness. This pain
springs not from the fact that the beholder does not possess the fine thing (a possession, an honor, a characteristic, etc); it springs from the fact that the
other person does.
WRATHS
The characteristic feature of the word translated "wrath" is that it is very violent but very brief. The Greeks said this wrath was like fire in straw, quickly blazing up and just as quickly burning itself out. Wrath, as it is here used, is not long cherished anger, it is the blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies.
There are several scriptures that reveal to us the attitude we ought to have toward wrath:
I. "Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice" (Eph 4:31).
2. Jesus said, "that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgement" (Matt. 5 :22).
3 . "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:20).
4. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath." (Eph. 6:4).
"Many a person is well aware that he has a violent temper; and many a person claims that he cannot help it, and expects others to accept and to forgive his bursts of
passion. . . . It may well be that such a person is never fully aware of the way in which he wounds others and produces a situation in which fellowship becomes very
difficult. Because he blazes and forgets the things that others should equally be able to forget the pain he has inflicted. Let such a person remember that such
displays of temper are sin, and that the way to overcome them is through the power of the Spirit in his heart" (that is as the Spirit teaches through His word. -DB) -
William Barclay
FACTIONS
The American Standard Version used the word "faction," while in other translations we find such words as strife, selfishness, selfish ambitions, intrigues and rivalry. W. E. Vine defines the word as "strife, contention in the expression of enmity, Rom. 1:29." Thayer defines it as "contention, strife, wrangling." The word denotes a spirit of personal ambition and rivalry which issues in a partisanship or faction which sets party or personal ambition above service to Christ. Paul exhorted the Romans not to walk "in strife and envying" (Rom. 13:13). He was fearful of returning to Corinth "lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions,
backbitings," (2 Cor 12:20). To the Philippians he wrote: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
themselves" (Phil. 2:3). He wrote to Timothy to warn those who are "proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings" (I Tim. 6:4). James speaks of the fruit that comes from strife, "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, hut is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:14-16). The wise man Solomon said, "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:" (Proverbs
20:23).
DIVISIONS
William Barclay says, "The word denotes a state of things in which men are divided, in which feuds flourish, and in which unity is destroyed." He further states, "It literally means 'a standing apart', that is, a state in which all community, all fellowship, and all togetherness are gone." W. E. Vine defines the word as "A standing apart (diche, asunder, apart, stasis, a standing; the root di - indicating division, is found in many words in various languages)."
Jesus prayed, "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me." (John 17:20) Paul plead for unity among the believers, "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor 1:10). The Holy Spirit, through Paul revealed a plan for unity that brethren not be divided, "giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." (Eph 4:3-6). Division does not happen as a result of being led by the Spirit, it is a work of the flesh. "These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit." (Jude 19). Paul said, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them." (Rom. 16:17).
PARTIES
Other translations translate the word by heresies, party spirit, party quarrels, and factions. W. E. Vine says it "denotes a choosing, choice; then, that which is chosen, and hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects, Gal.5:20." Throughout the book of Acts (Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5,14; 26:5; 28:22) the word is translated "sect". The sectarian or denominational view of the church that Jesus bought with His blood is not the Bible view. Every figure used to reveal some aspect of the church indicates a unity or oneness. The church is viewed as a "fold" and Jesus said there is one fold. It is viewed as a kingdom in which all who are born again serve the king, Jesus. It is viewed as a family, the family of God. It is viewed as a body, one body, with each individual being a member. It is pictured as a vineyard with members as workers in that vineyard. Every figure destroys the contention that the church is to be divided into a multitude of sects each holding a peculiar doctrine and wearing a different name. The sectarian view is a work of the flesh and not the Spirit.
ENVYINGS
Envy has been defined as a feeling of displeasure and ill will because of another's advantages, honor, possessions, etc. William Barclay comments, "The essence of it is that it does not describe the spirit which desires, nobly or ignobly, to have what someone else has; it describes the spirit which grudges the fact that the other person has these things at all. It does not so much want the things for itself; it merely wants to take them from the other person." Solomon compared envy in the spiritual realm to what cancer is in the physical realm. He said, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones" (Prov. 14:30).
Envy has been the cause of some of the most terrible tragedies that have occurred. Because of envy, Cain committed the first murder and that of his brother. (Gen.4:4,5). The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery because of their envious heart. (Acts 7:9). Saul, Israel's first king, became so envious of David that he hunted him like an animal with evil intentions. (I Sam.18:8-9). The gospel has been preached with envy by some who sought to add to the afflictions of a faithful preacher. (Phil . 1: 15- 16). Envy has been an impetus for persecution of the followers of Christ (Acts 13:45). The strife and divisions of the church in Corinth can in a large measure be laid at the feet of envy. (1 Cor. 3:3). A deed even more terrible is recorded in Matt. 27:18, "For he (Pilate) knew that for envy they had delivered him (Jesus) up."
Asaph's story in the 73rd Psalm ought to help us put the right perspective on envy. Though he is dealing with just one specific reason for envy and its possible consequences and showing the reason, in this circumstance, one should not be characterized by envy. It should help us to know that if we opened our eyes to the whole truth we would learn that envy ought not to be an attitude we manifest. Here is his story.
"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me-- Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction." (Psa. 73:2-18, NKJV).
Personal Sins:
DRUNKENNESS
Paul said plainly, "And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph 5:18). Peter points out that the Christian does not now run to the same riot of excess that formerly characterized his behavior. "For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them in the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: " ( I Pet. 4: 3 4).
Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
(Matt. 7: 16-21 ).
Notice the moral and spiritual effects or the fruit of drunkenness:
1. Maladministration of justice - Prov 31:5; Isa. 5:23.
2. Provokes anger, contentions, brawling - Prov. 20:1; 23:29.
3. Conduces a profligate life - Eph 5:1~.
4. Is allied with gambling, licentiousness - Joel 3:3 and indecency - Gen 9:21ff.
5. Deadens the spiritual sensibilities, producing a callous indifference to religious influences and destroys all serious thought - Isa 5 :12.
"Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among men. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper." (Prov. 23:20-32, NKJV).
REVELLINGS
This word "revellings" is used in only two other passages in the New Testament besides out text. It is used in Rom. 13:13 "Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy" and also in 1 Peter 4:3, "For the time past in our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries."
Webster's collegiate dictionary defines the word as, "To be festive in a riotous or noisy manner." Thayer says, ". . .a nocturnal and riotous procession of half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence used generally, of feast and drinking-parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry:" Donnegan's Lexicon says, "A jovial assembly of friends, who met at an entertainment, or to celebrate a festival, with music, dancing, and singing hymns and odes - a band of revellers, who, after a feast, go through the streets and visit their friends, or mistresses, singing, dancing, and indulging in wanton and boisterous merriment; hence revelry, and the wanton conduct of persons elated with wine; licentious indulgence."
Other sins exist, of course, and I'm sure we humans will found a few more as our devices become even more refined. The lists are nice and the time well worth it to discuss and examine those sins, but keep them in mind only as a detector of them in your own behavior and as a tester of the spirit guiding you and the people around you.
Just as the fruit of the Spirit is a fine test of your growth in christ and of the people who seek to be spiritual leaders.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith,
23 Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law.
I learned it from the NIV:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
One commentary suggested that the punctuation should be changed to read: "The fruit of the Spirit is Love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..." The idea being that the single fruit is love and the rest of the list describes the characteristics of love. I tend to agree but let's spend time examining the list as separate items anyway.
http://www.allaboutgod.com/fruit-of-the-spirit.htm
http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=48297&columnid=4166
"Fruit of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. Using the King James Version of Galatians 5:22-23, these attributes are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. We learn from scripture that these are not individual "fruits" from which we pick and choose. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit is one ninefold "fruit" that characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit. Collectively, these are the fruits that all Christians should be producing in their new lives with Jesus Christ.
Fruit of the Spirit - The Nine Biblical Attributes
The fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life. In order to mature as believers, we should study and understand the attributes of the ninefold fruit:
Love - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16)
The fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life. In order to mature as believers, we should study and understand the attributes of the ninefold fruit:
Love - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16)
.
Through Jesus Christ, our greatest goal is to do all things in love.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
- Love will enable us to appreciate our brothers and sisters in the Lord and, of course, our family and others around us. Love is taking the initiative to build up and meet the needs of others, without expecting anything in return. We must allow love to be the foundation of our relationships-the love of our Lord that He gives us. Love manifests patience and kindness and it is not greedy or jealous; it is not prideful nor brags of one's accomplishments. It is not rude or self-seeking, and it allows one not to be easily angered. By this, we do not keep record of others wrongs or enjoy it when bad things happen to others; rather, we rejoice with others to build them up. Love always looks after others, shows trust, hope, and always carries on. Love encapsulates the purpose and role of Fruit, and thus, our furthermost goal, as followers of Christ, is to do all things in love (John 13:1; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 13:3-8; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 4:16).
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
- Joy is our focus on Christ as Lord; this allows us to enjoy our relationship with Him, His creation, and others, regardless of our circumstances, with an expression of delight and real, authentic happiness that comes from and with harmony with God and others. Joy in James refers to declaring our situation as happy and fulfilling, even when it is not. It is to change our mindset and focus. It is realizing the sovereignty of God and that He is in control, even when life seems to be turned upside down and inside out! Joy helps us understand God's perspective and gives us the confidence and patience to endure anything. Joy is not happiness, because we may not be content and pleased with it; rather, joy is hope. It is our real hope. It is not a meager wish; rather, it is the unshakable confidence of our future in Christ. Our pleasure comes from knowing He is in charge and caring for us (Psalm 32:7-9; 34:1-8; Proverbs 15:13; John 15:11; 17:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thess. 5:18; 1 Peter 4:13- 19; Hebrews 10:34; 12:2; James 1:1-4)!
Peace - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
- Peace is surrendering and yielding ourselves to the Lord to be in His control, for He is our ultimate peace! In so doing, tranquility will be our tone, control, and our composure. This will be fueled from our harmonious relationship with God-handing over control of our hearts, will, and minds to Him. We are willing to make peace with others because we have found peace with God. Thus, we can live at peace with our neighbors, proclaiming serenity and rekindling it when it goes down or is lost. Peace is unity, which is more important than just resolving trivial disagreements. Our focus must be on edifying and encouraging-such things, unfortunately, rare in the church today! We will either lift people up or bring them down, something we need to know so as to pursue peace and harmony and not let the childish and petty things of life divide us. Our focus must be on keeping our own accounts straight and not worrying or interfering with others. This helps make us peacemakers. Once we make real peace with God, we will be able to make and maintain peace with others. When we are at peace with God, we need to be at peace with ourselves emotionally, and others relationally (Isaiah. 26:3; Matthew 5:9; Luke 19:42; John 14:27; 16:33; Romans 5:1; 12:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7).
Longsuffering (patience) -- We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11).
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).
- Patience, in some translations is called Longsuffering; this calls for showing tolerance and fortitude toward others, even accepting difficult situations with them-and God-without making demands or conditions. Patience is our "staying power." It is like perseverance and the endurance to not give up; it is about actively overcoming our situation-not just sitting, accepting, and doing nothing! It allows us to endure a less than desirable situation, to make us better, more useful, and even optimistic and prudent. Hence, its other name, longsuffering. It allows us to put up with others who "get on our nerves" without losing other characteristics of grace (Hosea 2:19-23; Psalm 33:20; Matthew 27:14; Romans 5:3; 12:12; Galatians 5:1; 5:22-23; Colossians 1:11; James 1:3-4,12; 5:10-11).
Gentleness (kindness) -- We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2 Corinthians 6:6-7).
- Kindness is the medium through which Christ's love becomes real, tangible, and knowable through us. It is the application of sincere love that manifests itself in practicing benevolence and a loving attitude towards others. Kindness is the essence that shows the world we are Christians, like the fragrance coming from a beautiful flower. It is being convicted with God's Word, and then modeling it to others. Being charitable is an aspect of good positive relationships of others, and a "MUST" part of the Christian experience and duty! Kindness is the subject to the object of who we are in Christ. This is something we replicate as we are kind, and also respond in kindness to others, our response to one another fuels the other's response, and so forth. In this way, we will be escalating love and kindness instead of repression and dysfunction (Romans 2:1-4; 12:9-21; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 John 3:16-23)!
Goodness - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
"For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:9).
- Goodness is the engagement of love that shows the application of Christ, His righteousness, and Truth. This models it to others in the action of love, making Christ and us attractive and inviting. This is God at work in our faith, so we are synergized with His power and then engage it to others. This is the fruit that makes people liked by and even lovable to others. This displays integrity, honesty, and compassion to others, and allows us to do the right thing. It is doing the right thing, even when it does not feel like we should, as Joseph did. He was betrayed and sold as a slave, yet, he chose to make his situation into something good, and to help and treat others better than he needed to. Why are we to be good? Because God is good to us (Psalm 86:5; 145:4-13)! Goodness is the model for people to repent and accept Christ (Amos 5:15; Proverbs 25:22; Matthew 19:16; Romans 12:17; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 5:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 1 Peter 3:11; 2 Peter 1:3-8).
Faith (faithfulness) - "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1).
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:16-17).
- Faithfulness is the application of our faith in action; because we are saved by Christ, He dwells in our hearts. Thus, we are infused with dependability because as we praise His name, it hits home in our being. It is not faith itself; rather, it is the fruit and character of faith. It is the "gluing" fruit that will preserve our faith and the other characters of the Spirit, and identify God's will, so we can be dependable and trusting to God and others. Faith is the one fruit that we give back to God, whereas faithfulness and the other fruits, virtues, and characters are from the Spirit working in us! Faithfulness is authenticity that is so absent today and so badly needed to show the power and motivation for Christian living. Because God is trustworthy with us, we can be faith-worthy in Him (Psalm 119: 89-90; Isaiah 25:1; Matthew 17:19; 25:21; Romans 1:17; 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:16-17; Hebrews 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)!
Meekness - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).
- Gentleness, sometimes referred to as Meekness, is the fruit that will show calmness, personal care, and tenderness in meeting the needs of others. It is to be more than just a personality; it is to be who we are by the work of the Spirit within us. This is not weakness or a lack of strength; rather, it is being humble and gentle toward God and others. This also means being nonresistant to God and His work in us. Gentleness produces a desire and effort to please God and to submit our will and aspirations to His will and what is best. By keeping our focus on Christ with humility, we can endure being personally attacked (Psalm 37:11; Isaiah. 40:11; 42:2-3; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4: 5; Matthew 5:5; 11:29; 12:15; Ephesians 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24; 1 Thessalonians 2:7).
Temperance (self-control) - "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
- Self-Control, sometimes referred to as Temperance, is allowing God to be in control of our will and hearts, and to be diligent in seeking the Spirit to enable us. We can know what not to do, and guard the areas in which we are weak. This will allow us to have discipline and restraint, with obedience to God and others. It is not allowing distractions to derail or remove us from His will and plan, so we will not be held back from what Christ has called us to do. This comes down to how we trust in our Lord, we can trust God for the future because we can see what He has done in the past (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28; Romans 13: 12-14; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 9:25-27; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 5: 22; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Peter 1:5-7).
We are called to Put on this, a call to take on the character of Jesus and put it on us, while we put off the vices that hinder us. Don't worry that we cannot do this on our own; He imparts to us the power and ability to do so though His work and the Spirit! It is something we do not force to come about; rather it happens naturally as we learn and grow in Christ, then His character envelopes us as we take on the new identity of a person not only saved by grace but empowered and shaped by Him. If we just live our lives with the attitude of how things affect "me" and not "others," then we are living "with" the devil, and not "with" God! It is essential as Christians to demonstrate His love in how we relate to both for God and then to others (Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 4:1-6, 22-24; Philippians 2:1-6).
How is this done?
Simply put by Paul, we achieve this by allowing the Word of Christ and His presence to dwell in us, and learn His instruction, so the peace of Christ rules our hearts and minds, translating into actions. It is all about our spiritual growth impacting us so it impacts others positively and in love (Col. 1:15; 2:3; 3:1-11)!
Take a close look at each of the fruits listed. Which ones are you exhibiting well? Which ones do you lack? What are you going to do about the ones in which you are weak? We are called not to be ineffective or unproductive; this means we are being called to be productive and useful in the Kingdom as well as the community. If not, we are in disobedience and ignoring of His love and gifts for us. Why would a Christian not want to be productive for the Kingdom (Phil. 4:8-9)?
And they act as a test for the wolves out there:
Mt 7:15 Be on the watch for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are cruel wolves.
16 By their fruits you will get knowledge of them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit.
18 It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit.
19 Every tree which does not give good fruit is cut down and put in the fire.
20 So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them.
21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven.
22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?
23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.
(BBE)
24 And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.
The Fallen Flesh needs to be put it's place daily and the reflection of Christ will begin to shine in us as we do.
25 If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided.
Charles Stanley on how to know we follow the Spirit:
http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/spiritual-growth/15420-10-guarantees-of-guidance-aug-2012
Not sure if you’re being led by the Spirit? Here are a few key Scriptures to help discern.
1. The Holy Spirit guides us into God’s will.
Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”26 Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.
Rephrasing another command of Christ:
Lu 9:22 Saying, The Son of man will undergo much and be put on one side by the rulers and the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and be put to death, and on the third day he will come back to life.
23 And he said to them all, If any man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross every day, and come after me.
24 For whoever has a desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, but whoever gives up his life because of me, will keep it.
(BBE)
First the crucifixion, then call to surrender and pick up the cross daily and follow him.
My Life Application Bible sums up Galatians by saying Paul boldly declared freedom to the new Christians who were trying to grow in Christ but they were invaded by Jews who were saying they had to follow the Law now that they were saved. It then says:"How strange it would be for a prisoner who had been set free to walk back into his or her cell and refuse to leave!"
My response is: "Not really." One of the things about repeat offenders is that they seek the security of prison order. Bad food and the likelihood of fights, rape even being killed, but many fond the routine of meals, time in the yard and being with one ethic gang or another as the only order they have ever felt in their lives.
Religion has that same offer. You can do this routine, pray 5X a day. give alms every day, show up regularly and raise as many children as you can under this banner. People brought up in that comforting routine chase after the comfort more than the Lord. The rules and the feeling of safety they offer replace God. For instance, a few years back the Catholic Church had to close some of it's neighborhood churches in Detroit. The Free Press said they saved the icons, these are religious artifacts that have been around for years like the snake Moses raised up. The Freep said that the parishioners were comforted by the icons so they moved them into the churches the members would be attending. They had, in other words, become idols which is usually the intent of the Church and was a reason the Puritan came to America.
The other reason we face such challenges has to do with our nature.
My friend, Phil Muir was in missions with his wife for years. He is now an elder for Lockwood Church and has an apple orchard for income. He told us an interesting story about apple trees in one of his adult Sunday School class. Phil said he is constantly pruning the apple trees off season. Over the years there has been grafting of various limbs to the trees, ways to genetically alter the apple a tree produces. (Jesus' vine image likely pops into your head.) Despite all that work, he has to keep track of the trees or they will develop branches that produce some of the original fruit and the original fruit of an apple tree is ugly, oddly shaped, can't be sold in our markets where we are used to a particular type of fruit.
Notice that Phil does that pruning. There are things we can do, like those weapons of the Spirit. Did you happen to think of them as our own pruning tool? We study the word, we seek after righteousness by walking in love. We seek to walk in peace. All of that helps us stand against Satan because it prunes US. Because God uses us for pruning as well as doing it directly himself. (Understand, it is only if we are walking in that fruit of love the Spirit first produces in us. If we are obedient in study and application.) We were thinking of it as our defense, which it is, but Jesus, walking in this fallen flesh, who resisted Satan, had been raised in the Word his whole life, had walked in righteousness seen in His father Joseph and in his mother, Mary.
And had the Spirit with Him.
This seems like a conclusion, but there is one party to hear from yet about the topic of fruit and we'll talk about him next time.
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