Conclusion

 

Conclusion

We’ve come a long way together through this study of the Fruits of the Spirit.  From being grafted into the Vine to ripening fruit for the harvest, it all comes down to our relationship with God.  There will be a lot of meat in this lesson as we bring the study to a close.  We will see how this all comes together.

 The final teaching is here. 

What it Says

What it Means

How Can I Apply This

Proverbs 8:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 27:18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we put our trust in man, we are a fruitless, barren tree.  Hoping, trusting, and abiding in Christ makes our tree flourish.  We never cease from bearing fruit of holiness and good works.  We allow the Gardener or Vine Dresser to protect our connection to the tree and to be our refuge. 

John 4:36-38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 126:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 3:6-9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we mourn in our sins or suffer for Christ’s sake, we are sowing in tears to reap in joy.  We sow in peace, hate what the Lord hates, and love what delights the Lord. We rejoice in the harvest—it is appointed and anticipated before it comes. Sometimes we sow, sometimes we water, but God always gathers the harvest when it is just ripe and at its best. 

John 15:1-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From a grape vine, we seek grapes.  From people grafted into Christ, who is the True Vine, we look for fruit showing Christ is in them. To find the best fruit, Christ

· cuts out unproductive branches—He does not cut us out from the Vine, He only removes those parts that are unproductive

· secures the productive branches into the Vine

· prunes the productive branches for greater yield

We

· realize there is no fruit apart from the Vine

· understand that the fruit we bear is solely to glorify God

o        is evidence of God working in us

o        is evidence of our abiding in the Vine

· rest in the fact that God’s joy in us completes our joy in Him.

The presence of spiritual fruit is a cause to rejoice. The process of bearing fruit is slow

· buds

· flowers

· pollinating

· fruit

o        growing

o        ripening

· harvesting

The vine/branch has to mature enough to even bear the fruit and hold the fruit on the branches.  The process is as important as the product.  Pruning strengthens the vines that bear the fruit.  Limbs and leaves are window dressing/empty promises without the strength to hold onto the fruit. 

Picking the Fruit

1.                Obedience through faith

1 John 5:2-3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.               Practicing Righteousness—demonstrating desire for godliness

1 John 2:29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.               Radical break from our former life before we were grafted into Christ

 

 

1 John 5:18; 3:6, 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.               Walking in love—loving others is God’s command.  The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love

1 John 3:14; 4:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only cure for lack of fruit:  Turn back to Christ

2 Corinthians 5:14-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The love of Christ controls us, hems us in, and surrounds us.  

Psalm 125:2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our desire to obey pleases God.  I remember the pastor I had in high school once said, “When man pleases to please God, he can do anything he pleases.” Rich Johnson

    2 Corinthians 5:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christ has grafted us into Himself to bear fruit.  The more we abide in Christ, the stronger our relational connection to Christ, and the better fruit we bear.  (James 4:8)

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