The Importance Of The Fruit Of The Spirit.

[MikeinAR]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I actually think the fruits ARE there to varying degrees in everyone who has genuinely repented and receiving the HG. But people still have to deal with their native personalities and unfortunately that is combined with a culture in which the wrong fruits (aka, 'standards') are emphasized.

That's an interesting point. Maybe for the fruits to be displayed prominently in our lives, the flesh must be crucified daily so that we walk after the things of the Spirit?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

That's an interesting point. Maybe for the fruits to be displayed prominently in our lives, the flesh must be crucified daily so that we walk after the things of the Spirit?

Yes, the wrong culture is emphasized. Imagine if we knew everyone walking into the church doors was a Christian based on their sunny dispositions and overall friendliness rather then the clean shaven faces, skirts and poofs?

And since everyone has bad days, this IS truly hard! It is why it is not hammered day in and day out like other "standards" are -no automatic "amens!" when a preacher screams for "people to be long suffering toward your neighbor!". After all, they have Jezebel in the vocabulary when mentioning make-up. No such euphemism for long suffering, meekness and love.

[mfblume]

I always think of the two trees in the Garden when I read Matt 7's reference to the fruit. Even the way of the tree of life is repeated by Jesus just before He mentions false prophets and fruit, when Jesus spoke of few that find the way that leads to life.

In prayer for understanding how I recognize the fruit of the true and the false, the Lord seemed to urge me towards the difference between fruit of life and forbidden fruit in Genesis.

Also, grapes and figs are contrasted from thorns and thistles. Thorns and thistles sting and cut people. Figs and grapes feed and edify.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by MikeinAR

That's an interesting point. Maybe for the fruits to be displayed prominently in our lives, the flesh must be crucified daily so that we walk after the things of the Spirit?

In this context the tree is pruned by nature or the farmer. Nature prunes the tree with the storm, in flashes of lightning and strong winds, the farmer performs careful trimming. Either way the dead and dying branches are striped away so that more sustenance can get to the fruit.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Yes, the wrong culture is emphasized. Imagine if we knew everyone walking into the church doors was a Christian based on their sunny dispositions and overall friendliness rather then the clean shaven faces, skirts and poofs?

And since everyone has bad days, this IS truly hard! It is why it is not hammered day in and day out like other "standards" are -no automatic "amens!" when a preacher screams for "people to be long suffering toward your neighbor!". After all, they have Jezebel in the vocabulary when mentioning make-up. No such euphemism for long suffering, meekness and love.

Folks can see the Joy of the Lord on those that are fruit producers even if they are not having a good day or week or month or perhaps even year. Happiness is predicated on external stimuli while true joy comes from the internal working of the Holy Ghost.

I had the Vice-president of a company I worked for tell me one day, that I was the most charismatic person he knew, but it was one of the worst weeks for me that week. I was not a happy camper. But thankful the joy of the Lord was my strength and he saw that instead of my grouchy ole self........