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Post by Giller on Sept 26, 2018 12:19:08 GMT -5
This post is about the fruit of the Spirit, and how it works in conjunction with the leading of the Spirit.
And I want for us to delve deeper into the meanings of each fruit, and to expound somewhat on them, and what they do.
But also how God uses these fruits, in the realm of being led of the Spirit.
I will start off with a certain scripture, and then people can just share in regards to this.
Gal 5:22-25 (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
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Post by John on Sept 26, 2018 12:36:15 GMT -5
In times past, my view was just that living after the flesh was doing things that were sinful, and living according to the Spirit was doing things pleasing to God. The Spirit would always lead us to do right, and we would bear good fruit. Very recently, I feel like the Lord revealed something to me that was a little bit deeper than that. Living according to the flesh literally means doing what the flesh finds appealing, as opposed to what the Spirit would have us do. That may not sound like much of a difference, but it is not exactly the same thing. I saw the flesh as nothing more than a metaphor or sorts in times past, but it is more than that. Let me give you some examples.
The flesh wants to throw a fit and sin when angry. The Spirit wants us to be at peace. The flesh wants us to be impatient. The Spirit wants us to be longsuffering. The flesh enjoys evil things, like fornication, but the Spirit wants us to do good at all times. To follow the flesh literally means to be led around by the flesh. To be led of the Spirit literally means to be led of the Spirit that lives in the heart of the Christian. To follow the flesh is to do what makes the flesh feel good.
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Post by Giller on Sept 26, 2018 13:22:50 GMT -5
I find that to both sides there is a type of fruit, but the end result of unbelief, brings forth, in one shape or form the bad fruits of the works of the flesh, but true genuine faith that is placed in Christ and what he has done, which produces a trust in God, brings forth good fruit.
Unbelief has bad fruits, and true faith has good fruits, and in fact faith itself is a fruit of course.
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Post by Giller on Sept 26, 2018 13:34:51 GMT -5
Of course to acts of sin, there is a source to it.
The source is the sin nature, which proceeds out of the heart, and makes itself manifest outwardly, and even inwardly, in our thoughts.
Mar 7:21-23 (21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (23) All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Now of course, our source of life is Christ.
Two different sources.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Sept 26, 2018 18:27:50 GMT -5
This is an area of great particular interest to me. The intersection of flesh and Spirit. I tend to see flesh as any part of the human condition which hasn't been sanctified. People can operate in their flesh even as they try to worship in church. People can pray in the flesh. It doesn't necessarily mean they are "sinning" in every case; it means they are managing their human capabilities apart from the Holy Spirit's guidance. This will result in behaviors that might be outright sinful or just might not be God's ideal.
Our bodies are His temple. Our muscles, our hormones, our brain chemistry, all of it. We are called into total surrender. Most sincere Christians will make it through "step one" where they receive conviction of outright sin. They stop cursing, stop getting drunk, maybe get a more modest wardrobe. That's a great start. But then to get to the place where all of your being -- your emotions, opinions, intellect, imagination, everything -- are conformed to the very character of Jesus. Boy, that's a much bigger challenge. I'd like to sit here and say that I am His perfect temple day and night, but I'd be lying. It's what I want. But I'm not there.
Notice that Paul spoke of affections and lusts. Affection itself is not a bad thing, but it can be misdirected into fleshly endeavors. Peter tried to talk Jesus out of letting the crucifixion happen. Peter wasn't trying to be wicked -- it was a perfectly normal response to try to protect a friend. But it wasn't the right spiritual decision. Paul, likewise, was trying to please God when he murdered Christians in Acts. He didn't see himself as a murderer. This was misdirected affection.
When we get to the point that all of our hearts, minds, and reactions are governed by the Holy Spirit, we are still affectionate, just in the proper way. Our faculties are steered in the right direction. I believe there is more to the Holy Spirit as a person than those nine qualities in Galatians 5. I believe these nine qualities are the precise outcomes of what the Holy Spirit can do in a human temple.
I hope this makes sense. Anyway, based on this, I could offer more thoughts on each fruit.
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Cletus
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Post by Cletus on Sept 27, 2018 3:12:01 GMT -5
I could offer more thoughts on each fruit. please do.
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Post by Giller on Sept 27, 2018 8:57:51 GMT -5
Ya PG4HIM thanks for the response, lot of good thoughts, even yummy to the spirit.
I would like to hear what you have to say on each particular fruit, I will mention them as well, and see were we get to, and if many people can expand on them as well.
And of course like you said, none of us walk perfectly in them all the time, and of course none of us has attained.
Bless you sister.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Sept 27, 2018 9:41:31 GMT -5
Please everyone join in with their thoughts! I don't have any patent on knowledge in this area.
I need to jump off for a few minutes, but I'll return with more thoughts.
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Post by Giller on Sept 27, 2018 10:48:51 GMT -5
Here is a scripture on the fruit of peace:
Php 4:7 (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
It says that the peace of God keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Now a good question I find to ask, is this, what does peace do?
I and others came up with at least 3.
I won't mention them right now, just want to hear on what people say about it.
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Post by Sister on Sept 27, 2018 10:50:00 GMT -5
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Sept 27, 2018 11:34:41 GMT -5
Peace is a good one to start with. First, I ask you all to consider this: fruit is a product which grows on trees and vines. It's never the starting point. The fruits in Galatians are not policies or ideals or behaviors for us practice. These fruits grow as a result of other decisions. We cannot wake up one day and exude the peace of God; we pursue behaviors that lead to peace. In Scripture, peace is consistently tied to mental and emotional maturity. It isn't just a lack of conflict -- it's being mentally and emotionally engaged in your life in a positive way. May I turn your attention to this: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9)Paul says peace is our reward when we think about what is lovely and good. We look for beauty, we shape our thinking on that beauty, and peace that transcends normal human understanding will be our reward. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, and the God of peace will be with us. Behold this from Isaiah: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (26:3)And this: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)And this: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)I could go on. Peace is how God governs our hearts and minds. We see beauty, we're thankful for it, we worship God in it, and we keep our sanity by maintaining beautiful thoughts. God then works in our hearts and minds to turn us into confident, stable people who truly desire to do the right thing. Once peace is established as the governor of our hearts and minds, we begin to feel stronger intentions toward virtue. This leads to righteousness. The Bible shows us clear connections between peace and righteousness, one of which Sister just pointed out.
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Post by Giller on Sept 27, 2018 12:31:46 GMT -5
Peace is a good one to start with. First, I ask you all to consider this: fruit is a product which grows on trees and vines. It's never the starting point. The fruits in Galatians are not policies or ideals or behaviors for us practice. These fruits grow as a result of other decisions. We cannot wake up one day and exude the peace of God; we pursue behaviors that lead to peace. In Scripture, peace is consistently tied to mental and emotional maturity. It isn't just a lack of conflict -- it's being mentally and emotionally engaged in your life in a positive way. May I turn your attention to this: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9)Paul says peace is our reward when we think about what is lovely and good. We look for beauty, we shape our thinking on that beauty, and peace that transcends normal human understanding will be our reward. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, and the God of peace will be with us. Behold this from Isaiah: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (26:3)And this: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)And this: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)I could go on. Peace is how God governs our hearts and minds. We see beauty, we're thankful for it, we worship God in it, and we keep our sanity by maintaining beautiful thoughts. God then works in our hearts and minds to turn us into confident, stable people who truly desire to do the right thing. Once peace is established as the governor of our hearts and minds, we begin to feel stronger intentions toward virtue. This leads to righteousness. The Bible shows us clear connections between peace and righteousness, one of which Sister just pointed out. Love this good stuff. Here is a scripture that would define some of the things you have mentioned: Joh 15:3-5 (3) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. We know that Jesus is the word, that is the living word. And to bear fruit you must first abide in the vine, abide in him, the word Christ Jesus. As it says you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. You must allow the word to change you to conform you, to make you, and it will result in fruit. You give must yourself over to the word, with all the heart , mind and soul, but in a way so it can change you, and not just simply for intellectual knowledge. It is believing in your heart.
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Post by Giller on Sept 27, 2018 12:37:31 GMT -5
In an indirect way, you kind of touched on what peace does PG4HIM in regards to what we had found.
It brings stability, but also it brings rest, and clarity.
And I am just touching on what it does right here, and not how you get it.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Sept 27, 2018 12:42:37 GMT -5
Oh I completely agree with you Giller. Stability, clarity, sanity, an ability to sleep at night… these are all what happens when we are governed by peace. You are absolutely right.
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Post by Giller on Sept 27, 2018 12:47:08 GMT -5
Another thing I think about, is that you can say an opposite of peace is turmoil, and in turmoil it is hard to make good clear decisions.
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