Testing the Fruit of a Persons Spirit
After reading the scripture on testing the fruits to know whether its of God, I began wondering what are the “fruits” of a good tree?
Based on the Vines Greek and Hebrew translation the word fruit can be translated as product or results. As my week continued on I was led to a specific verse in Galatians that specifically indicates what the fruits of the spirits where: love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
A tree bearing bad fruit is considered a tree after the flesh. Galatian also indicate the traits of this tree are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, and revellings.
I would like to give a definition of a few of the less common words addressed above.
Temperance- self control
Adultery: When a married person looks at someone with lust or commits the actual act of sex outside of their marriage. If you have previously been married but where not a born again and are in a new relationship as a born again you were not under the law and your current marriage is holy per 1Corinthians 7:20
Fornication: is sex outside of marriage.
Lasciviousness: is to arouse or sexually tempt a person
Idolatry- is putting anything/anyone in the place of God to include self.
Witchcraft- sorcery, superstition, magic (not to be confused with miracles), medians, divination, tarot cards, palm readers, good witch/white witch, warlocks, magicians, fortune telling, horiscopes, etc…
Variance-inconsistant
Emulation-desire to be equal oe excel others: jealous rivalry
Strife-bitter conflict, discord, quarrel
Seditions-rebellion any action in speech or writing
Heresies-doctrines at variance with church
Envy-feeling discontent or covetousness with regards to anothers advantages, success, possessions
Revellings-to take great pleasure or delight in luxury; make merry or festivity
The Bible says that they that do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
If you are a Christian the bible says that those that are in Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7: 15-23
Galatians 5King James Version (KJV)
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.