Well, well, well. Who knew I would drag this series out all week long? I had every intention of getting this post to you sooner, but my crazy week just wouldn't have it.
But, it's coming at ya now, so all is well. :)
In part 1 on Monday I shared this sentence that answered the question "What is spiritual fruit?"
Spiritual fruit is Godly attitudes, righteous behavior, praise, and leading others to faith in Jesus.
I talked a lot about the first aspect of spiritual fruit, which is a godly attitude. There was so much goodness packed into what I learned about the fruits of the spirit that I am still processing it all myself. Today, we are going to unpack the last three aspects of spiritual fruit.
Spiritual fruit is righteous behavior.
"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation- the righteous character produced by Jesus Christ- for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:11
As Paul says in Philippians, a righteous character brings glory to God, but what exactly is righteous behavior?
In Proverbs, a righteous person is characterized as:
-honest: "The words of the godly are a life giving fountain." (10:11)
-generous: "Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!" (21:26)
-steadfast and courageous: "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe." (18:10)
-merciful and just: "Yes, speak up for the poor and the helpless, and see that they get justice." (31:9)
Sadly enough, these characteristics don't characterize me sometimes. I don't want to waver in my character. I want to have a strong, righteous character in the Lord.
Spiritual fruit is praise.
This one makes me excited. Now that I've been back on track with the 1000 gifts challenge, I have been much more intentional about recognizing the important of giving praise to the Lord everyday, in every circumstance. I LOVE the NASB translation of Hebrews 13:15-16
"Through him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is , the fruit of the lips that give thanks to his name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Oh, I love these verses! In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a part of daily life. Now that we live in New Testament times, we don't offer sacrifices to God in the way they did in the Old Testament, but we are still to offer sacrifices daily. Sacrifices of praise.
I love MacArthur's commentary on on verse 16, "The sacrifices of praise coming from the lips of God's people please Him only when accompanied by loving action."
What a solid truth that has the power to convict the heck out of my heart. I'm often guilty of offering praise to the Father that is not backed up by the way I live. I will "Praise the Lord" for this and "Thank you, Jesus!" for that, but then my life doesn't show a life of thanksgiving. My actions aren't showing that I truly am sacrificing myself with praise.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27
"Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." 1 John 3:18
Spiritual fruit is leading others to faith in Jesus.
"I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile" Romans 1:13-16
Paul was itching to speak the Gospel. Paul couldn't wait to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Shouldn't that be us, ladies? Shouldn't we be nearly jumping out of our skin with love and compassion for others that we want them to know the Jesus we know because there is so much fulfillment there? I want that to be me.
Spiritual fruit is godly attitudes, righteous behavior, praise, and leading others to faith in Jesus.
It is my prayer that we are all producing fruit. I pray that we are convicted by the Word and our hearts are stirring for something more. I pray that we wouldn't settle for mediocre Christianity, but that our hearts would be on fire for the Gospel. I pray that our roots would be so deep in Christ that even through the pruning that needs to take place we would still be firmly attached to Him.
I pray that if you need to know Jesus and you don't that you would open your heart to the possibility. I pray that you would talk to me, or someone else about what it means to truly live for Jesus.
I pray that if you know Jesus, but you're not producing fruit that you would allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart. I pray that you wouldn't be comfortable in a place that isn't bringing honor and glory to Jesus.
I'm praying for you, sister. Every one of you.
But, it's coming at ya now, so all is well. :)
In part 1 on Monday I shared this sentence that answered the question "What is spiritual fruit?"
Spiritual fruit is Godly attitudes, righteous behavior, praise, and leading others to faith in Jesus.
I talked a lot about the first aspect of spiritual fruit, which is a godly attitude. There was so much goodness packed into what I learned about the fruits of the spirit that I am still processing it all myself. Today, we are going to unpack the last three aspects of spiritual fruit.
Spiritual fruit is righteous behavior.
"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation- the righteous character produced by Jesus Christ- for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:11
As Paul says in Philippians, a righteous character brings glory to God, but what exactly is righteous behavior?
In Proverbs, a righteous person is characterized as:
-honest: "The words of the godly are a life giving fountain." (10:11)
-generous: "Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!" (21:26)
-steadfast and courageous: "The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe." (18:10)
-merciful and just: "Yes, speak up for the poor and the helpless, and see that they get justice." (31:9)
Sadly enough, these characteristics don't characterize me sometimes. I don't want to waver in my character. I want to have a strong, righteous character in the Lord.
Spiritual fruit is praise.
This one makes me excited. Now that I've been back on track with the 1000 gifts challenge, I have been much more intentional about recognizing the important of giving praise to the Lord everyday, in every circumstance. I LOVE the NASB translation of Hebrews 13:15-16
"Through him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is , the fruit of the lips that give thanks to his name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Oh, I love these verses! In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a part of daily life. Now that we live in New Testament times, we don't offer sacrifices to God in the way they did in the Old Testament, but we are still to offer sacrifices daily. Sacrifices of praise.
I love MacArthur's commentary on on verse 16, "The sacrifices of praise coming from the lips of God's people please Him only when accompanied by loving action."
What a solid truth that has the power to convict the heck out of my heart. I'm often guilty of offering praise to the Father that is not backed up by the way I live. I will "Praise the Lord" for this and "Thank you, Jesus!" for that, but then my life doesn't show a life of thanksgiving. My actions aren't showing that I truly am sacrificing myself with praise.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27
"Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." 1 John 3:18
Spiritual fruit is leading others to faith in Jesus.
"I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile" Romans 1:13-16
Paul was itching to speak the Gospel. Paul couldn't wait to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Shouldn't that be us, ladies? Shouldn't we be nearly jumping out of our skin with love and compassion for others that we want them to know the Jesus we know because there is so much fulfillment there? I want that to be me.
Spiritual fruit is godly attitudes, righteous behavior, praise, and leading others to faith in Jesus.
It is my prayer that we are all producing fruit. I pray that we are convicted by the Word and our hearts are stirring for something more. I pray that we wouldn't settle for mediocre Christianity, but that our hearts would be on fire for the Gospel. I pray that our roots would be so deep in Christ that even through the pruning that needs to take place we would still be firmly attached to Him.
I pray that if you need to know Jesus and you don't that you would open your heart to the possibility. I pray that you would talk to me, or someone else about what it means to truly live for Jesus.
I pray that if you know Jesus, but you're not producing fruit that you would allow the Holy Spirit to convict your heart. I pray that you wouldn't be comfortable in a place that isn't bringing honor and glory to Jesus.
I'm praying for you, sister. Every one of you.