Fruit Of The Spirit (Bible Study) - Fruit Inspectors Series

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We’re starting a new series on the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has given us some deep revelational wisdom and understanding of what Paul was teaching. You don’t want to miss any of these studies, especially if you prayed or tried to “produce fruits” and failed. It’s much easier than you think! Make sure to bring a notebook or device to take notes. You don’t want to miss what God is speaking to us and what scriptures and information the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you. If you feel like, “Ooo... that’s good!” write it down, because that’s one way the Holy Spirit teaches and guides you. It’s likely in the future He will have you look back on your notes for a reason.

Quick overview: We’ll start out today talking about being fruit inspectors, and why it’s important to be a skillful fruit inspector. Then we’ll talk about the first fruit, love. But it won’t be what you think! We’ll mostly study why it’s a first fruit and its function. We all know what Biblical love is and you know if you’re walking in love or not. The following week we’ll take a close look at joy and how it can actually be used as weapon against problems and how joy is revealing or manifesting Heaven on Earth. After that, we’ll see why peace seems difficult for people to hold down in their lives, when the Bible often talks about peace being available. Everyone’s favorite will be up next, Longsuffering, or patience as we call it, don’t worry it will be a great week! If you have been failing at patience, this week is for you! You will be set free and never fail again, unless you choose to do so. Finally, we’ll combine the remaining fruit and go over them quickly. I don’t believe there is a need to campout on things like faithfulness and self-control. That same week, we’ll do a quick review but the review will have new information, such as how to activate your fruit. We’ll save that day for sharing testimonies of growing fruit, because I know we’ll all be big producers. If you want to write your testimony down and bring them in, I will be happy to read through them.

Let’s jump right into this study!

Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

This fruit is God’s Character that we, as Christ Followers, should be producing in our lives. If you take each one of these characteristics (love, joy, peace, and so on) and search the Bible, you’ll find these words ALL describe God’s Character. We, being Christians, means we too should be able to use these words to describe our character.

The entire passage from Galatians 5, the scripture we just read, the subject in which this fruit is mentioned, is concerning “Walking in the Spirit.” What does that mean? Means to choose the things of God, the good fruit, above the lusts or desires of the flesh. If you have been taught to work on these fruits, you’ve been taught to be an impressionist of God and not to manifest His Character. Because working on them yourself takes the Holy Spirit out of the equation. Not only can that set you up for failure, but if you succeed, even in the smallest, your flesh can glory in the results. Please write this down, take out your phone and text your cousin or email yourself if you have to, “Working on the fruit is being an impressionist of God, not revealing His Character.” We don’t want to do impressions or try to copy God, and that’s where we can and will easily fail. We want to be the body of Christ and allow His Character to be manifest through us. Does everyone understand this point? Because it’s very important as we move on.

Think of it this way, the number one most impersonated celebrity of all time is Elvis Presley. No matter how much they look like him, dress like him, sound like him, sing like him, or act like him; they will never be him. A lady on a documentary from years ago said that Elvis Presley once entered into an Elvis Presley Contest and didn’t win. He was ashamed and decided not to reveal himself. They didn’t know him! They spoke to him and stood near him, but they couldn’t recognize him. They only thought they knew him enough to judge the contest but in reality, they just chose the most entertaining actor. They didn’t know his real mannerisms, real face, real voice, his real responses, or his heart.