MEMORY SCRIPTURE
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23)
The believers must possess, at least one fruit of the Holy Spirit (not fruits) to moderate the use of our gifts in all ways. Never lack the spiritual fruit!
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 4: God Is Love, He Desires Replication (1 Jn. 4:16)
Tue. 5: God Gives Endurance And Patience (Col. 1:11)
Wed. 6: Gentleness Brings Restoration (Gal. 6:1)
Thur. 7: God Lifts: Character Sustains (Jn. 3:27)
Fri. 8: Goodness, Righteousness And’ Truth (Eph. 5:9)
Sat. 9: Godly Character Shows In Its Fruits (Matt. 7:15-20)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
The Fruit of the Spirit checkmates spiritual gifts. The truly gifted does not joke with it.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: MARK 1:22; John 15:5; Romans 12:1FF; Galatians 5:22-26; 2 PETER 1:4,5
God has been very faithful to us in the previous lessons as He took us through: CHARACTER MODERATES CHARISMA FOR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE MINISTRY. Godly character in the ministry helps in the development and growth of the Church.
This lesson is premised on the topic: CHRISTIANS MUST POSSESS THE FRUIT OF THÊ SPIRIT, in which we shall be considering how the Fruit of the Spirit fuels godly character. The fruit reflects in the life of any believer who possesses it. Also, we shall look at how it fuels fruitful use of spiritual gifts. The difference is clear when dealing with someone who is born again and fully possesses the fruit of the Spirit added to the giftedness. The fruit checkmates the gifts so that the later would be used appropriately Reverse is the case when dealing with unregenerated ministers, highly gifted but lack the Fruit of the Spirit. The gifts ruin them. Let us consider how the Fruit of the Spirit affects our totality, as the LORD is seeing us through this lesson, in Jesus’ name.
LESSON OUTLINE
- FUELS GODLY CHARACTER
- FUELS FRUITFUL USE OF GIFTS
LESSON EXPOSITION
FUELS GODLY CHARACTER (Gal. 5:22,23; 2 Pet. 1:4,5)
But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
(2 Pet. 1:5)
a) Gal. 5:22,23: fruit of the Spirit.. refers to the wonderful qualities/virtues that make up the Christian character– love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc.
b) Note: not ‘fruits,’ but ‘fruit’, Why? These qualities are to be looked at as control, etc. a ‘whole’. They should grow together in the believer’s life to make the life biblically morally sound-character development
c) 2 Pet 1:4,5: To partake of the divine nature (v. 4 NIV), we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to diligently add virtues (goodness GNB; generous provision of moral excellence NLT).
d) v.5: When wealth is lost, nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost, but when character is lost, all is lost. Christianity without godly character is nonsense.
e) No plant bears fruit unless it is planted and rooted in the soil. No believer possesses the Fruit of the Spirit except he is in Christ (Jn. 15:1,5), indwelled by His Spirit
f) Only spiritual fruit can give one the positive mindset that propels godly character (Matt. 12:34;Rom. 5:3-5; Php.4:8). Is it in you?
FUELS FRUITFUL USE OF GIFTS (Mk. 1:22; Jn. 15:5; Rom. 12:1ff; Gal.5:25,26)
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing
(Jn. 15:5b)
a) Jn. 15:5: “Being’ precedes ‘doing’. Being in Christ transforms one into godly nature (being) (2 Cor. 5:17). This results in godly fruitfulness that also manifests in the use of spiritual gifts (doing).
b) Gal. 5:25,26: Living in the Spirit produces indispensable fruit (vv. 22,23) showing us as having crucified the flesh (v. 24), so that we can follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives (v.26 NLT), including the use of our gifts.
c) Rom. 12:1ff: Sacrificially offering our bodies to God and renewing our minds result in fruitful Christian living, such that we can discern and follow His will, even in acceptable service onto Him.
d) VV. 4ff: The spiritual fruit produced helps to appreciate the delicate working of Christ’s body, so that one exercises one’s gift(s) in the body to glorify God, unify the body, and bless all members.
e) Mk. 1:22: The people f) at Jesus’ unique authority different from their scribes’. Why? Jesus bore God-glorifying fruit alongside His doctrine (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16). He lived a sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15). Why won’t He carry a unique authority?
f) Ask in history how the fruit of love, humility, patience, etc., helped the founding fathers/mothers of CAC to champion the much-needed revival with their God-given gifts.
LESSONS DERIVED
- When the believer possesses the fruit of the Spirit, godly character is evident
- Spiritual gifts without the Fruit of the Spirit turns the gifted into something else. When you allow spiritual fruit to moderate your gifts you will be unique in life and ministry.
QUESTIONS
- No believer can possess the Fruit of the Spirit unless he is in Christ. Discuss.
- Spiritual gifts need spiritual Fruit to be balanced for godly fruitfulnes Explain this in the light of the happenings in the contemporary world and Church
