Monday, January 16, 2023

WHERE DOES THE FRUIT OF A DISCIPLE OF THE LORD MESSIAH COME FROM?

PART ONE

One sure way to decide whether Jesus the Messiah is Lord in a persons life is to examine the evidence of everyday character shown forth by that person.

We can ask ourselves: Am I peaceful? Am I patient? Am I loving? These and many more qualities describe attitudes that motivate our actions. We can wash dishes that have accumulated in the sink with joy and thankfulness or with grumbling and complaining. Finishing a chore is one thing, but the mindset we have while doing it is totally another.

The fruit of the spirit is the outgoing witness of followers of the Messiah.

Some think it is too hard to attain these characteristics, which is a fact if one is not enabled by the spirit of Yehovah to show them forth in their lives. Others think it does not matter how we do it, just get the job done. Looking at a Messiah like life, the fruit of the spirit, we will get an understanding of where we are doing well, and direction where change is needed.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The fruit of the spirit is mentioned several times in the New Testament (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9; Romans 12:9-21 for a few). “Fruit” refers to the characteristics which Jesus forms within us by the power of the holy spirit. Galatians. 5:16 tells us: “…walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.“ It is clear there are two paths to take, and one is the Messiah like way; the other is the way that leds to destruction (Matthew 17:13). We recieve a “new nature” when we come out of the waters of baptism, having died to self, and receive God's spirit. With that new nature that we have as new creatoins in the Messiah, the power of Yehovah gives the ability to be transformed into one who shows forth love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits are called the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) because they are borne from Yehovah and His son Jesus.

It is a very interesting way to express these wonderful attributes by calling them “fruit.” If we use a plant that produces fruit as an example, we can understand that the fruit does not magically appear for us to enjoy. The fruit must have a branch to attach to that is connected to a source of sap for nourishment. Without nourishment sent from the roots up the plant stem or tree trunk (defying gravity) to the branches, the fruit could not exist.

We use this metaphor to acknowledge that we cannot produce the characteristics of love, joy, peace and others listed without being attached firmly to the branch. Along this line, Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him [bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” It requires the enabling spirit of Yehovah and His son Jesus indwelling us to develop godly fruit in our lives.

The word “fruit” being singular represents a clump of grapes that the first century people would be very familiar with. There are many grapes on one cluster depicting there are many ways to be Messiah like.

The fruit that is produced in our lives comes from Yehovah because of the finished work of Jesus the Messiah, who, through his spirit, inspires and teaches us how to be gentle and kind and do everything with love.

From the root to the fruit.

Is there a difference between fruit and ‘works’ that we do?

Work is something we do like washing the dishes, tending to the needy, doing our jobs, etc..

The fruit is given by Yehovah's spirit and is produced within the believer in order to do the works or tasks as the Messiah Jesus showed forth in his life. When works are produced from our own desires and pleasures, they are fleshly, worldly. When works are are inspired and strengthened by the spirit of Yehovah and His son working in us, they are righteous deeds. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 teaches that love, a fruit of the spirit, is greater than manifesting works of the spirit, such as speaking in tongues.

Without love, what we do is useless.

As we look at the fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, take care to see if you have an active willingness to live in these ways.

LOVE

Paul lovingly tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”

Previously in chapter 12, Paul explains how disciples of the Lord Jesus have gifts to help spread the gospel - the good news message of the kingdom of God. These gifts include casting out demons, performing miracles, healing the sick, speaking foreign languages, and prophecy. However, Paul stops us short and says we can do all these things and more, but he clearly states if we do not have love behind the doing, they are useless. All these gifts/works can terminate, but the one thing that will continue on when the Messiah Jesus returns and we enter the Kingdom of God - LOVE. 1 John 4:8 sums it up: “The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” We are to be imitators of God as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1), and since the one we imitate is love, we are to be loving as He is love.

JOY

“True joy is determined not by where you are, but by what you are.”

As humans, we think that the emotion we feel when our favorite team scoring the winning half-court shot at the buzzer is joy. We may consider it joy when we have our favorite cherry chocolate passion ice cream or a two-week vacation.

Joy, according to Scripture, develops from Yehovah's and His son Jesus spirit indwelling us.

Note: John 14:23: Jesus answered, and said to him, If any man loves me, he shall keep my words; and my Father shall love him, and we shall come to him, and we shall dwell with him.

Notice all the following scripture:


Amazing words: Do we fully realize what it means to be in union with Yehovah and His uniquely begotten son as new creations in the Messiah Jesus [Yehoshua], We have become members of the New Humanity in the Messiah Jesus [Yehoshua]



John 15:7-8: If you live in union with me, and my words live in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified: that you bear much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

John 16:20-23: Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will cry and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be filled with sorrow, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is giving birth, has pain because her hour has come; but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the distress, for the joy that a boy is born into the world. So you also have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. And in that day you will not ask me anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name.


Brothers and sisters are we totally committed to living out our lives the words that our God and Father Yehovah gave to his son Jesus to give to us, showing we are with the Lord Jesus in all that we do! We gather as we are in union with our God and Father Yehovah and His beloved son Jesus [Yehovah] As we gather in union with them our joy will be incrediablly full indeed!

As believers we feel a God given through the knowledge and experience of having an intimate relationship with Yehovah and His son Jesus.

Experiencing surrender of ourselves to Jesus the Messiah as Lord in our life and acknowledging with obedient faith that Jesus is going to return for us, will bring us to joy. We have full joy in the presence of Yehovah - Psalm 16:11: You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Recorded in the book of Acts, early disciples of the Lord Jesus experienced the fullness of joy when they were praying for imprisoned Peter, and they miraculously saw him standing at the door. There was great rejoicing at the power of Yehovah that set their friends and leaders free. We have Yehovah’s spirit within us that enables us to have the emotion of spiritual joy in our relationship with our Father Yehovah, and His Son.

PEACE

“To be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

Because of the great power we receive when we believe and obey Jesus as the Messiah, we are given the ability to have godly peace. As we endeavor to be motivated by God’s word in every situation and relationship, we will experience peace. Isaiah 9:6b calls Jesus the Prince of Peace: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall rest upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Hero, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It is only through what Jesus accomplished by his obedienceto become a sin-offering sacrifice and his resulting resurrection that we can receive peace. Remember about the sap running from the root to the branch and then to the fruit? Peace must come from the source, Yehovah and the Lord Messiah Jesus: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in the Messiah Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).

PATIENCE

The Greek word for “patience” is defined as cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy, and also enduring patience or waiting. We gain patience by relying on, having dependance on Jesus to teach us, help us, strengthen us, give us wisdom and understanding to deal with difficulties and tragedies.

Paul tells us in Colossians 1:11- 13: “…being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

Paul was strengthened with enabling power of Yehovah's spirit and the spirit of the Lord Jesus [as we are also]. This enabled him to have patience with joy. Paul knew that whatever strength he had to withstand being shipwrecked, stoned by his own people, and imprisoned, had to be the spiritual strength God gave to him. He knew that his God and Father Yehovah and the Lord Messiah Jesus always provided the spirit enablling power to carry our whatever they wanted him to do! He knew that if the Lord Jesus acting as Yehovah's agent required him to do anything he would give him the enabling power to accomplish it.

Philippiand 4:13: "I can do all things through the Messiah who strengthens me."

Patience is an indwelling ability to maintain love, joy, and peace while facing seemingly unsurmountable difficulties. Those who are evagelists and pastors and elders, most assuredly require patience. It takes years and years to establish the gospel in some areas. Some of us find that is the case in our own life and for those around us.

Remember as you reach for a piece of fruit that your character is nourished by the power of God’s enabling spirit within you that is connected to Him [Yehovah] and His son Jesus.

If you hear yourself say “I cannot”, then try, “I alone cannot, but I can have fruit in my life because of the enabling spirit of God - Yehovah teaching and strengthening me by His spirit in me.

PART TWO

In part 1, we were discussing fruit in our lives as delineated in Galatians 6:22-23. The metaphor of fruit as being good attributes we have when we allow the spirit of Yehovah and the Lord Jesus to work within us shows us the need for connection, a union with Yehovah and His son Jesus. The sap coming from the roots of the plant up through the plant to produce the fruit is the only way fruit can grow. We allow Yehovah to reign in our hearts [minds] and follow the guidance and direction that Yehovah’s spirit give us, which is nourishment for godly living. The fruit of the spirit is the result of being in union with both the Father Yehovah and the Messiah Jesus who is the vine we are the fruit producing branches attached to the vine - Jesus..

Galatians 6:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The Greek word makrothumia concerns how a believer is to be patient or longsuffering in relationship to persecution, difficulties, troubles with relationships and environmental pressures. We are to be patient in all circumstances, such as our service for the Lord and waiting for the return of the Messiah. Galatians 6:8-9 reminds us to: “…the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Now let us not grow weary in doing what is good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up..”

Patience is an antidote for weariness or becoming so tired of the “fight” that we quit or falter. Patience helps us when we are worn out and want to default to old man nature habits that we thought would bring relief but never did.

Luke 8:15, teaches us that: “in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

A believer’s heart that is steeped in the written revelation of Yehovah, will receive guidance to live a godly life, and exercising patience to wait for Yehovah’s deliverance now and at the soon coming of Jesus the Messiah.

KINDNESS

Gentleness is the fifth fruit listed in Galatians 5. The Greek word chrestotes means kindness or usefulness. This word is used 10 times in the New Testament and refers to Yehovah six times (Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4, goodness Romans 2:4; 11:22). Kindness begins with Yahweh.

Ephesians 2:7. So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in the Messiah Jesus.

We are tempted each day to be irritable, impatient, and combative in response to the stressors of the world and relationships. What we are called to be is gentle and kind despite what goes on around us. Ephesians 4:2, commands us to be kind to each other by showing tenderheartedness and forgiving one another.

We can encourage one another with kindness. When someone does something mean or annoys us, we respond with gentleness, teaching others with our actions that we are striving to love our neighbors as ourselves, who reflect the image of Yehovah. We do so knowing that Yehovah loves all mankind. A common proverb is that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Do we leave others with unkind words and agitation? It would be awesome to have people think of us and say, “What a kind and gentle believer!” Our body and speech show the gentleness that is within. Children gravitate to those they sense are gentle and kind.

GOODNESS

Another fruit in the list is the Greek word “goodness”. It is translated from the Greek word agathosune as “an uprightness of heart and life” (Thayer & Strong, 1995). Our guideline of goodness comes from our God Yehovah and His son Jesus. Jesus goodness exemplified a character of generosity and helping his neighbors as himself. As believers, we represent Yehovah and His son Jesus when we are upright and serving our neighbors as ourselves. We are to be slaves of righteousness [Romans 6:18].

Yehovah gives to us overwhelming riches because of His goodness and love for us as His sons and daughters. We have so much given to us we can certainly share what we have been given to have stewardship over with others in love.

Luke 6:33-35. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

We are not to look for some praise, honor, or a gift for doing good deeds. Disciples of the Lord Jesus show their ability to be in the world but not of the world by loving our enemies, by forgiving people who are mean and hateful and those who do evil. We do not turn around and have revenge or act with meanness. We offer acts of goodness instead. It absolutely makes those who are not disciples shake their heads in disbelief. When a Christian brother or sister has a fault and has hurt us, we are to show forgiveness. Good deeds only can come from the power of the holy spirit of God and not of ourselves.

Without Yehovah’s spirit enabling us to exercise goodness we will not be able to do anything in a way pleasing to Him. No human on his or her own can possibly begin to appropriate and exercise this kind goodness without God's enabling power enabling them.

A hallmark verse for how we are to live in Yehovah’s goodness is found in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (KJV). Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on age upon age lasting life.

Yehovah gives abundance for us to enjoy our family, health, ability to know Hims and His son Jesus the Messiah and to preach the Gospel – good news about the soon coming Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus [Act 8:12] We are to emulate Yehovah and His son Jesus, and do good works by sharing the gospel message with others and give to the needy with a loving heart. Goodness given by a man or woman of Yehovah who loves Jesus the Messiah is a healing balm to a hurting world.

FAITHFULNESS

Faithfulness (Greek word pistis) is a well-known fruit of the spirit. Faithfulness is manifested by living steadfastly and being totally committed to following Jesus the Messiah. Faithfulness attests to our loyalty to and absoute trust in Yehovah and His Son. We are faithful not only to Yehovah and His son Jesus but also to each other. When one decides to become a faithful follower of the Messiah, it will change that person from death to eternal life. Matthew 24:13 states: “…he that shall endure [have faith] unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

GENTLENESS

Meekness (Greek word praotes) is a quality of godly living that we all enjoy being around. We clearly avoid people who are arrogant, conceited, and domineering. The Apostle Paul exhorted Titus: “to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men (Titus 3:2 KJV).” Paul also wrote to Timothy that he should follow meekness (1 Timothy 6:11-12: "…you, O man of God,… diligently pursue righteousness, godliness, trust, love, endurance, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, take hold on the life in the age to come, to which you were also called…").

Galatians 6:1. Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [praotes]; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.

A wonderful healing gift we can give to others is to show forth godly behavior with meekness and gentleness on our part. The other person may or may not be meek, but we are not to “lord it over” anyone else because we might feel superior to their deeds. This will lead us to sin and become tempted to sin ourselves. Never forget pride comes before a fall.

Note: We need to realize that we were purchased by the blood of the lord Messiah Jesus and as such we are his slaves. 
[1 Corinthians 6:20] Reminding ourselves of this fact will stop us from thinking we are better than anyone we encounter. [1 Corinthians 6:20]

SELF CONTROL

Self-control is many times translated temperance (egkrateia), which is to have self-restraint. This word is only used 4 times in the New Testament (in Acts 24:25, Galatians 5:23, and twice in 2 Peter 1:6), and other variants are used 3 times; therefore, it is not a word that is often used

This fruit of the spirit is named last but is vital for building a foundation for the rest of our spiritual attributes. If we do not have the self-discipline to say “No!” to ourselves, we will be incapable of applying the fruit of the spirit. We will be entangled in our own sinful patterns and unable to get ourselves to do the right thing. We are to reakon ourself as dead to self in the Messiah and love Yehovah wholeheartedly. Jesus the Messiah gives us the ability to truly overcome, enabled by the power of his spirit in us.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

We began with the metaphor of fruit, such as grapes, being a clump on the vine and thinking of the fruit of the spirit as each grape to be selected as wanted. I would like now to suggest we are more like a single fruit, say an orange. An orange is a complete fruit within itself being unique in its color, fragrance, taste, and nutrition. One can walk into a kitchen where an orange is being peeled and immediately know that there is an orange in the house. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for us to have the same effect on others because we are showing forth Yehovah and the Lord Messiah Jesus in our lives?

We are unique because of our God given abilities, and we all have the ability to live our lives showing forth love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control, enabled to do so by the spirit of the only true God Yehovah. The individual attributes of brothers and sisters complement and support each other, as do the fruit of the spirit. It isn’t selecting one grape at a time (like love, joy or peace), it is utilizing all of them in unison.

The orange is complete, and we enjoy the experience of tasting the sweetness and smelling the awesome fragrance while reaping benefits of the nutrition all at one time.

The fruit of the spirit is a gift to us from Yehovah to set us apart from unbelievers so that we can be examples of Yahweh’s and His son Jesus character. Jesus is the outshining of Yehovah!

Hebrews 1:1-3: Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe because of him. The Son is the radiance of God’s [Yehovah’s] glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Our fruit is nourished by Yahweh through Jesus the Messiah. Instead of ‘essence of grape or orange’, we are becoming the essence of Yehovah and His son Jesus.

Written by Mary Ann Yaconis and edited and added to by Bruce Lyon

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