The Fruit Of Which Spirit?
Pastor Erickson teaches from Galatians 5 and Romans 8, comparing the fruit of the Spirit of God with the rotten fruit of darkness and the artificial fruit of the deceiver. Going through each of the nine fruits, he calls the church to take an honest inventory and let the Holy Ghost grow real love, joy, peace and the rest of the fruit in their lives.
The message in 6 points
Three spirits, three kinds of fruit
From Galatians 5:22 he says the Spirit of God bears fruit, but so does the spirit of darkness, which openly does not care, and the spirit of the deceiver, whose fruit looks good but is fake. His question is which fruit we will choose to bear.
25:46Fruit is the second evidence
He reads Romans 8 and says the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in the believer. Speaking in tongues, as in Acts 2, is the first evidence of the Holy Ghost, and the fruit of the Spirit growing through discipleship is the second.
27:49Rotten and artificial fruit
He reads the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 and compares the fruit of darkness to rotten fruit that draws fruit flies. The deceiver's fruit is like an artificial banana or imitation crab, and he says he is speaking to a church that must take inventory.
36:40Love and joy, real and counterfeit
Love serves others for their good without wanting anything back, while the deceiver offers something that only feels like love. Joy is an attitude that overrides circumstances, unlike happiness based on things, and he points to joyful believers he met in Papua New Guinea who have very little.
43:52Peace, patience, kindness and goodness
True peace comes from being made right with God, while worry belongs to darkness and rebellion only feels like peace. He calls long-suffering love on trial, warns against kindness that promotes self, and says goodness is holiness put into practice.
57:39Faith, meekness, self-control and an inventory
He covers faith that trusts God's word, meekness free from pride, and self-control as the greatest show of strength. He warns that anyone can look holy, but the fruit decides who inherits the kingdom, and he leads the church to pray for each fruit.
1:12:07
In his words
“Joy is a lifestyle, joy is who we are. Oh my goodness, it's more than just a smile, but there ought to be a smile.”
“The long-suffering is love on trial. That's what long-suffering is, it's love on trial. It enables you to be emotionally strong and to forgive others around you.”
“The spirit of the deceiver has convinced some people to look the part and not [live] the part, because anybody can wear a smile, anybody can wear a long dress.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added. Words in [brackets] were fixed so the line reads clearly.
Scripture
He reads
Galatians 5:22-26
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
King James Version.
Romans 8:1-14
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
King James Version.
Acts 2:1-4
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
King James Version.
Galatians 5:16-19
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For 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. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
King James Version.
Galatians 5:21
21Envyings, 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.
King James Version.
Psalms 5:11
11But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
King James Version.
Psalms 21:1
1The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
King James Version.
Psalms 27:6
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
King James Version.
Colossians 3:13
13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
King James Version.
He also points to
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