What is the fruit of the Spirit? How do you get it, and what do you do with it? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally teaches us how to live a life that displays the fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is the various positive character traits displayed in the life of a believer, that are the result of an ongoing, healthy relationship with God.
Its not “fruits” of the Spirit but fruit of the Spirit. One fruit, nine flavors – everyone should look for all the various flavors of fruit in their life.
- You are bearing fruit.
Galatians 5:19-23
We can categorize this fruit in three groups:
Act Like Jesus,
Treat Others Right, and
Grow Up - The type of tree you are determines the type of fruit you bear.
Matthew 7:15-20
Trees grow apples and oranges but people grow actions and attitudes.
Healthy trees produces pleasant fruit, rotten trees produce diseased fruit. - You are called to oversee your own fruit production.
Philippians 2:12 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”
Not work AT your salvation – Jesus has already done the work necessary for you to be saved – but work OUT your salvation. When you were saved, God made your spirit new – now get that change from the inside to the outside. - Your fruit is not only for you, but for others.
Apple trees don’t eat their own apples.
Matthew 5:16 “let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Each fruit contains seeds for the next batch of fruit. - God “bought” your fruit.
John 15:16 “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
Your purpose on earth is tied to your fruit production.
How do you bear fruit?
- Stay attached to the source.
John 15:4-5 - Embrace pruning.
John 15:2 “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
Pruning is not a punishment, but a way to produce even more fruit. Pruning removes what is dying, what is diseased, what is delaying you.
Some Christians are trying to pray stuff away because it hurts them, but God is trying to prune stuff away because it helps them.
Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit?