Theme: THE HOLY SPIRIT & YOU

by | Oct 20, 2024 | Life Class | 0 comments

Topic: THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Texts: Galatians 5:19-23, Ephesians 5:8-11

Aim: To introduce everyone to the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the need to live out the Christian life in the society

INTRODUCTION

The Holy Spirit has not only come into our lives for us to speak in tongues and display power or anointing. He has come into our lives to also help us to live like Christ. Just like the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, when the world sees the character of Christ in us, they would know that we are genuine followers of Christ (Acts 11:26)

DISCUSSION

  1. What is/are the fruit/fruits of the Holy Spirit?
    1. It is the character exhibited by the believer based on the indwelling and outworking of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:12-13)
    1. It is the character of the love of Christ flowing through us to others (2 Corinthians 5:14, Galatians 5:22)
    1. It is the life of Christ in us that causes us to relate well with others as we promote the interest of God and the kingdom (Matthew 5:9)
    1. It is the examples we show to others in everything we do as explained (1 Timothy 4:12)
  2. Is it the fruit of the Holy Spirit or fruits of the Holy Spirit?
    1. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is basically love (Galatians 5:22)
    1. It is the fruits of the Holy Spirit as it is the other attributes or character of Christ that we display as a result of the love of Christ in us (Ephesians 5:9)
    1. It is the fruit of love that should produce all other fruits (Galatians 5:22)
  3. What is/are the fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23?

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance (Discuss each of them)

  • Contrast the works of the flesh with the fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit
  1. The work of the flesh is the allowance we give to the flesh to manifest the nature of the devil or human nature (John 8:44, Galatians 5:19-21)
    1. The works of the flesh are the characters that are unbecoming of a Christian and do not glorify God (1 Corinthians 5:1-7)
    1. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are the attitudes and characters that the Holy Spirit displays in us (Romans 8:14)
    1. The fruits of the Holy Spirit operate in us as we submit to the Holy Spirit leading in our lives (Galatians 5:16, 25)
  2. How do we manifest and develop the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
    1. Genuine Salvation (Luke 3:8)
    1. Baptism in the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
    1. Submission to the Holy Spirit leading and operations (Galatians 5:16, 22)
    1. Relating with mature believers (Proverbs 27:17)
    1. Taking up the challenge to live out the Christian life in the midst of a crooked and preserved generation (Philippians 2:14-15)
    1. By taking responsibility for our actions and constantly asking God for help as we grow daily (1 Corinthians 5:2)
  3. The fruits of the Holy Spirit versus the gifts of the Holy Spirit
    1. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are for daily Christian living. The gifts are for ministry. Both must be combined
    1. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are what balance us as we operate the gifts of the Holy Spirit
    1. The fruits of the Holy Spirit show our maturity and intimacy with God, while the gifts of the Holy Spirit merely show our spiritual activities
    1. The fruits of the Spirit show how much partnership we have with the Holy Spirit, while the gifts of the Holy Spirit are mostly a function of God’s grace and sovereignty
    1. Our priority should be on the fruits of the Holy Spirit and not the gifts of the Holy Spirit
    1. We are not supposed to struggle to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit but to allow Him to work in and through us as we fellowship daily with Him

CONCLUSION

God wants us to exhibit the fruits of the Holy Spirit as a way to show the reality of Christ in us. It is as we submit to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and works that He begins to work out to those fruits in and through us. While gifts are important for ministry, the fruits are what should be our priority. A gifted man without the fruits of the Holy Spirit is a disaster going somewhere to happen.

CLASS EXERCISE

  1. How many of the fruits of the Holy Spirit are you familiar with?
  2. Which of the fruits is most pronounced in your life and which is currently lacking?
  3. What do you do when your character betrays or does not align with fruits of the Holy Spirit?
  4. What steps are you taking, or would you take to intentionally manifest all the fruits of the Holy Spirit daily?
  5. What can you say about your love walk?

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