How’s
Your Fruit Growing?
A Study on the Fruit of the Spirit
By Deborah
Brandt/D’vorah
Deborah’s Messianic Ministries
Our Heavenly Father wants us to develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit that He has implanted in our spirits. Yeshua said that we would be known by our fruit, what kind of fruit has been growing in your life? We need to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives so that Yeshua/Jesus would be glorified and that others would want what we have – Yeshua Ha Mashiach/Jesus the Messiah.
It has been said that if one of the fruits of the Spirit is not operating in our life, that our walls of defense have been broken down and Ha Satan can get through the breach in the wall. The fruits of the spirit, when active in our life provide a wall of defense that the enemy cannot conquer.
Yeshua/Jesus walked in the fullness of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and in the Fullness of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. I have heard it taught that the fruit of the spirit is a picture of what the Holy/Set Apart life looks like, if we want to know how to walk in Holiness, then learn to walk in the fruits of the Holy Spirit that are within you, and cultivate and develop these fruits in your life.
It is an awesome study, and if you apply what the Holy Spirit will minister to you as you study you will become like:
Psalm 1:1-3 “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not whither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible3 Tehillim/Psalms 1:1-3 How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! Their delight is in Adonai’s Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams-they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.
The natural is often a picture of the spiritual. If we have fruit trees that are never pruned, never watered, never have the sun shine upon them and neglected they will not bear fruit and will die. In order for fruit to grow in our lives it takes prayer, study of the Word, being a doer of the Word and staying in close fellowship with Yeshua/Jesus. The Word of God is our nourishment, it is our stream of water, without a steady diet of His word we will produce no fruit.
As you study listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and fruit will abound.
Foundation:
Galatians 5:22-23
Psalm 1:1-3
Ephesians 5:9
Psalm 92:13-14
Matthew 13:23
John 15:2-5
John 15:16
Donald Gee from his book “The Fruits of the Spirit” says, “The fruit of the Spirit is the direct result of the Life of Christ/Messiah ministered to the believer by the Spirit-Spiritual fruit is the outcome of the life of unbroken and full communion with Christ/Messiah.2
John 15:5 “Abide in me and I in you so shall ye bring forth much fruit”
“Messiah/Christ within us can accomplish what we can never hope to do in our own strength and that continuous walking with Him will change the weakest of us into His image.”
Websters Dictionary – Fruitfullness – bearing much fruit – producing much, productive, prolific producing results or profitable.
“The fruits are our supernatural disposition that abides within us after we are saved and are hindered by selfishness (i.e. the works of the flesh). The fruits are totally unselfish and all are attributes of God.
There are three groups of fruit:
1. Love, Joy, Peace – These come from our relationship with God
2. Patience, Kindness, Goodness – They bring about good fellowship and
relationships with people.
3. Faithfullness, Meekness and Selfcontrol – The are the overcoming fruits – They
keep us in the right place.
The fruit of the Spirit is the Life of God flowing out of you.
Fruit #1 – Love- Agapao -Vines
Dictionary1
English Word: Love
(Noun and Verb)
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: 25
Greek Word: agapao
Usage Notes: and the
corresponding noun agape (B, No. 1 below) present "the characteristic word
of Christianity, and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to express
ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or
in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the
NT. Cp., however, Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5.
"Agape
and agapao are used in the NT (a) to describe the attitude of God toward His
Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Rom 5:8; and to such as
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly, John 14:21; (b) to convey His
will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34,
and toward all men, 1Thess. 3:12; 1Cor. 16:14; 2Pet. 1:7; (c) to express the
essential nature of God, 1John 4:8.
"Love
can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift
of His Son, 1John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency,
or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects,
Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made
without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cp.
Deut. 7:7, 8.
"Love
had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2Cor. 5:14; Eph.
2:4; Eph. 3:19; Eph. 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the
Christian, Gal. 5:22.
"Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses
itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21,
23; John 15:10; 1John 2:5; 1John 5:3; 2John 1:6. Self-will, that is,
self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men
generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the
natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some
affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no
ill to any, Rom. 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and
especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal. 6:10. See
further 1Cor. 13 and Col. 3:12-14." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by
Hogg and Vine, p. 105.]
In respect
of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love"
and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing
and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a
practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a
desire to help others to seek the Giver.
Scripture Study
1 Cor. 13:4-8
John 13:35
John 15:12
Matthew 19:19
Mark 12:31
1 Thess. 3:12
1 Peter 1:22
James 2:8
Galatians 5:14
Galatians 5:6
Ephesians 3:17-19
Ephesians 5:2
11 John 1:6
Colosians 3:14
1 John 1:6
Colosians 3:14
1 John 4:16
Romans 5:5
Leviticus 19:19,34
Fruit #2 – Joy – “Joy is Loves Strength”
Joy – Greek CHARA – Vines Dictionary
English Words: Joy
(Noun and Verb), Joyfulness, Joyfully, Joyous
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: 5479
Greek Word: chara
Usage Notes: "joy,
delight" (akin to chairo, "to rejoice"), is found frequently in
Matthew and Luke, and especially in John, once in Mark (Mark 4:16, RV,
"joy," AV, "gladness"); it is absent from 1Cor. (though the
verb is used three times), but is frequent in 2Cor., where the noun is used
five times (for 2Cor. 7:4, RV, see Note below), and the verb eight times,
suggestive of the Apostle's relief in comparison with the circumstances of the
1st Epistle; in Col. 1:11, AV, "joyfulness," RV, "joy." The
word is sometimes used, by metonymy, of the occasion or cause of
"joy," Luke 2:10 (lit., "I announce to you a great joy");
in 2Cor. 1:15, in some mss., for charis, "benefit;" Phil. 4:1, where
the readers are called the Apostle's "joy;" so 1Thess. 2:19, 20; Heb.
12:2, of the object of Christ's "joy;" Jas. 1:2, where it is
connected with falling into trials; perhaps also in Matt. 25:21, 23, where some
regard it as signifying, concretely, the circumstances attending cooperation in
the authority of the Lord. See also the Note following No. 3.
Note: In
Heb. 12:11, "joyous" represents the phrase meta, "with,"
followed by chara, lit., "with joy." So in Heb. 10:34,
"joyfully;" in 2Cor. 7:4 the noun is used with the Middle Voice of
huperperisseuo, "to abound more exceedingly," and translated "(I
overflow) with joy," RV (AV, "I am exceeding joyful").
Scripture Study
1 John 1:4
11
John 12
Psalm
30:5
Psalm
43:4
Psalm
16:11
Psalm
126:5
Isaiah
61:10
Jeremiah
15:16
Acts
8:5-8
Isaiah
35:10
Romans
15:13
1
Peter 1:8
Psalm
126:2
Nehemiah
8:10
Romans
14:17
Fruit #3 Peace – Peace is Loves Security
English Words: Peace,
Peaceable, Peaceably
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: 1515
Greek Word: eirene
Usage Notes: "occurs
in each of the books of the NT, save 1John and save in Acts 7:26 ['(at) one
again'] it is translated "peace" in the RV. It describes (a)
harmonious relationships between men, Matt. 10:34; Rom. 14:19; (b) between
nations, Luke 14:32; Acts 12:20; Rev. 6:4; (c) friendliness, Acts 15:33; 1Cor.
16:11; Heb. 11:31; (d) freedom from molestation, Luke 11:21; Luke 19:42; Acts
9:31 (RV, 'peace,' AV, 'rest'); Acts 16:36; (e) order, in the State, Acts 24:2
(RV, 'peace,' AV, 'quietness'); in the churches, 1Cor. 14:33; (f) the
harmonized relationships between God and man, accomplished through the gospel,
Acts 10:36; Eph. 2:17; (g) the sense of rest and contentment consequent
thereon, Matt. 10:13; Mark 5:34; Luke 1:79; Luke 2:29; John 14:27; Rom. 1:7;
Rom. 3:17; Rom. 8:6; in certain passages this idea is not distinguishable from
the last, Rom. 5:1." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, p.
154.]
"The
God of peace" is a title used in Rom. 15:33; Rom. 16:20; Phil. 4:9; 1Thess.
5:23; Heb. 13:20; cp. 1Cor. 14:33; 2Cor. 13:11. The corresponding Heb. word
shalom primarily signifies "wholeness:" see its use in Josh. 8:31,
"unhewn;" Ruth 2:12, "full;" Neh. 6:15,
"finished;" Isa. 42:19, marg., "made perfect." Hence there
is a close connection between the title in 1Thess. 5:23 and the word
holokleros, "entire," in that verse. In the Sept. shalom is often
rendered by soteria, "salvation, e.g., Gen. 26:31; Gen. 41:16; hence the
"peace-offering" is called the "salvation offering." Cp.
Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48. In 2Thess. 3:16, the title "the Lord of peace"
is best understood as referring to the Lord Jesus. In Acts 7:26, "would
have set them at one" is, lit., "was reconciling them (conative
imperfect tense, expressing an earnest effort) into peace."
Scripture Study
Psalm
42:7
Isaiah
54:13
Phillipians 4:7
Matthew
5:9
Psalm
4:8
Luke
1:78-79
Luke
2:13-14
Romans
8:6
Romans 14:17-18
Proverbs
12:20
Psalm
29:11
Psalm
119:165
John
16:33
John
14:27
Fruit #4 – Longsuffering – Patience “Patience is Loves Endurance”
English Words: Patience,
Patient, Patiently
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: 5281
Greek Word: hupomone
Usage Notes: lit.,
"an abiding under" (hupo, "under," meno, "to
abide"), is almost invariably rendered "patience."
"Patience, which grows only in trial, Jas. 1:3, may be passive, i.e., ==
"endurance," as, (a) in trials, generally, Luke 21:19 (which is to be
understood by Matt. 24:13); cp. Rom. 12:12; Jas. 1:12; (b) in trials incident
to service in the gospel, 2Cor. 6:4; 2Cor. 12:12; 2Tim. 3:10; (c) under
chastisement, which is trial viewed as coming from the hand of God our Father,
Heb. 12:7; (d) under undeserved affliction, 1Pet. 2:20; or active, i.e. ==
"persistence, perseverance," as (e) in well doing, Rom. 2:7 (AV,
"patient continuance"); (f) in fruit bearing, Luke 8:15; (g) in
running the appointed race, Heb. 12:1.
"Patience perfects Christian character, Jas. 1:4, and fellowship in
the patience of Christ is therefore the condition upon which believers are to
be admitted to reign with Him, 2Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:9. For this patience
believers are 'strengthened with all power,' Col. 1:11, 'through His Spirit in
the inward man,' Eph. 3:16.
"In
2Thess. 3:5, the phrase "the patience of Christ,' RV, is possible of three
interpretations, (a) the patient waiting for Christ, so AV paraphrases the
words, (b) that they might be patient in their sufferings as Christ was in His,
see Heb. 12:2, (c) that since Christ is "expecting till His enemies be
made the footstool of His feet,' Heb. 10:13, so they might be patient also in
their hopes of His triumph and their deliverance. While a too rigid exegesis is
to be avoided, it may, perhaps, be permissible to paraphrase: 'the Lord teach
and enable you to love as God loves, and to be patient as Christ is
patient." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians by Hogg and Vine, pp.
222,285.]
In Rev.
3:10, "the word of My patience" is the word which tells of Christ's
patience, and its effects in producing "patience" on the part of
those who are His (see above on 2Thess. 3:5).
Scripture
Study
James
1:4
11
Corinthians 12:12
11
Corinthians 6:3-4
1
Corinthians 13:4
11
Corinthians 6:6
Colosians
1:11
11
Timothy 4:2
Romans
12:12
Hebrews
10:36
Romans
8:25
Romans
5:4
Fruit #5 – Gentleness – “Gentleness is Loves Humilty”
English Words: Gentle,
Gentleness, Gently
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: 1933
Greek Word: epieikes
Usage Notes: from epi,
"unto," and eikos, "likely," denotes "seemly,
fitting;" hence, "equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, not
insisting on the letter of the law;" it expresses that considerateness
that looks "humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case;" it is
rendered "gentle" in 1Tim. 3:3, RV (AV, "patient"), in
contrast to contentiousness; in Titus 3:2, "gentle," in association
with meekness; in Jas 3:17, as a quality of the wisdom from above; in 1Pet.
2:18, in association with the good; for the RV rendering
"forbearance" in Phil. 4:5, RV, see FORBEARANCE. Cp. B. See PATIENT.
In the Sept., Esth. 8:13; Psa. 86:5
Scripture Study
Collosians 3:12
1 Thess. 2:7
Titus 3:2
11 Corinthians 6:6
Ephesians 2:7
1 Timothy 3:3
11 Timothy 2:24
James 3:17
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV
Proverbs 31:26
Luke 6:25
Romans 2:4
Fruit #6 – Goodness (Kindness) “Goodness is Loves Character”
English Words: Good,
Goodly, Goodness
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: 18
Greek Word: agathos
Usage Notes: describes
that which, being "good" in its character or constitution, is
beneficial in its effect; it is used (a) of things physical, e.g., a tree,
Matt. 7:17; ground, Luke 8:8; (b) in a moral sense, frequently of persons and
things. God is essentially, absolutely and consummately "good," Matt.
19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19. To certain persons the word is applied in Matt.
20:15; Matt. 25:21, 23; Luke 19:17; Luke 23:50; John 7:12; Acts 11:24; Titus
2:5; in a general application, Matt. 5:45; Matt. 12:35; Luke 6:45; Rom. 5:7;
1Pet. 2:18.
The neuter
of the adjective with the definite article signifies that which is
"good," lit., "the good," as being morally honorable,
pleasing to God, and therefore beneficial. Christians are to prove it, Rom.
12:2; to cleave to it, Rom. 12:9; to do it, Rom. 13:3; Gal. 6:10; 1Pet. 3:11
(here, and here only, the article is absent); John 5:29 (here, the neuter
plural is used, "the good things"); to work it, Rom. 2:10; Eph. 4:28;
Eph. 6:8; to follow after it, 1Thess. 5:15; to be zealous of it, 1Pet. 3:13; to
imitate it, 3John 1:11; to overcome evil with it, Rom. 12:21. Governmental
authorities are ministers of "good," i.e., that which is salutary,
suited to the course of human affairs, Rom. 13:4. In Philem. 1:14, "thy
goodness," RV (lit., "thy good"), means "thy benefit."
As to Matt. 19:17, "why askest thou Me concerning that which is
good?" the RV follows the most ancient mss.
The neuter
plural is also used of material "goods," riches, etc., Luke 1:53;
Luke 12:18, 19; Luke 16:25; Gal. 6:6 (of temporal supplies); in Rom. 10:15;
Heb. 9:11; Heb. 10:1, the "good" things are the benefits provided
through the sacrifice of Christ, in regard both to those conferred through the
Gospel and to those of the coming Messianic Kingdom.
Scripture Study
Exodus 33:19=20
Exodus
34:6
Psalm
145:8-9
Ephesians
5:9
Matthew
12:34-35
Matthew
5:16
Colossians
1:10
Titus
3:8
Psalm
37:2-7,23
Psalm
37:24,31`
When one looses his kindness to others he looses his
usefulness to God.
Fruit #7 Faith or
Faithfullness – “Faith is Loves Confidence”
English Word: Faith
Usage Number: 1
Strong's Number: 4102
Greek Word: pistis
Usage Notes: primarily,
"firm persuasion," a conviction based upon hearing (akin to peitho,
"to persuade"), is used in the NT always of "faith in God or
Christ, or things spiritual."
The word is
used of (a) trust, e.g., Rom. 3:25 [see Note (4) below]; 1Cor. 2:5; 1Cor.
15:14, 17; 2Cor. 1:24; Gal. 3:23 [see Note (5) below]; Phil. 1:25; Phil. 2:17;
1Thess. 3:2; 2Thess. 1:3; 2Thess. 3:2; (b) trust-worthiness, e.g., Matt. 23:23;
Rom. 3:3, RV, "the faithfulness of God;" Gal. 5:22 (RV,
"faithfulness"); Titus 2:10, "fidelity;" (c) by metonymy,
what is believed, the contents of belief, the "faith," Acts 6:7; Acts
14:22; Gal. 1:23; Gal. 3:25 [contrast Gal. 3:23, under (a)]; Gal. 6:10; Phil.
1:27; 1Thess. 3:10; Jude 1:3, 20 (and perhaps 2Thess. 3:2); (d) a ground for
"faith," an assurance, Acts 17:31 (not as in AV, marg., "offered
faith"); (e) a pledge of fidelity, plighted "faith," 1Tim. 5:12.
The main
elements in "faith" in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct
from "faith" in man, are especially brought out in the use of this
noun and the corresponding verb, pisteuo; they are (1) a firm conviction,
producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or truth, e.g., 2Thess.
2:11, 12; (2) a personal surrender to Him, John 1:12; (3) a conduct inspired by
such surrender, 2Cor. 5:7. Prominence is given to one or other of these
elements according to the context. All this stands in contrast to belief in its
purely natural exercise, which consists of an opinion held in good
"faith" without necessary reference to its proof. The object of
Abraham's "faith" was not God's promise (that was the occasion of its
exercise); his "faith" rested on God Himself, Rom. 4:17, 20, 21. See
ASSURANCE, BELIEF, FAITHFULNESS, FIDELITY.
Notes: (1)
In Heb. 10:23, elpis, "hope," is mistranslated "faith" in
the AV (RV, "hope"). (2) In Acts 6:8 the most authentic mss. have
charis, "grace," RV, for pistis, "faith." (3) In Rom. 3:3,
RV, apistia, is rendered "want of faith," for AV,
"unbelief" (so translated elsewhere). See UNBELIEF. The verb apisteo
in that verse is rendered "were without faith," RV, for AV, "did
not believe." (4) In Rom. 3:25, the AV wrongly links "faith"
with "in His blood," as if "faith" is reposed in the blood
(i.e., the death) of Christ; the en is instrumental; "faith" rests in
the living Person; hence the RV rightly puts a comma after "through
faith," and renders the next phrase "by His blood," which is to
be connected with "a propitiation." Christ became a propitiation
through His blood (i.e., His death in expiatory sacrifice for sin). (5) In Gal.
3:23, though the article stands before "faith" in the original,
"faith" is here to be taken as under (a) above, and as in Gal. 3:22,
and not as under (c), "the faith;" the article is simply that of
renewed mention. (6) For the difference between the teaching of Paul and that
of James, on "faith" and works, see Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and
Vine, pp. 117-119.
- To be persuaded – Romans
4:17-22, 11 Timothy 1:2
- Place
confidence in – Ephesians 3:12, Phillipians 1:6, Hebrews 3:6
- What
Faith is – Hebrews 10:19-28, Hebrews 11:1
- Absolute
dependence upon and reliance in the Word of God and Messiah/Christ. –
Matthew 8:8-10, Rom. 10:17, Heb. 12:3
- Full
surrender, yieldness and obedience to all know truth – Romans 1:5, James
2:14-26, Hebrews 11:6
- Trust
wholly unreservedly in the faithfulness of God – Eph. 1:3, 1 Tim. 4:11
- Give
oneself over to a new way of life – Col. 3:5-10, 1 John 1:7
- The
attributes of God and restored faculty of man, whereby both can bring into
existence things that are unseen- Romans 4:17, Gal 5:22, Mark 11:23-24
- The
whole body of revealed truth – Jude 3, 1 Tim. 4:1, 11 Tim. 3:16-17
- Joyfull
faith in and acceptance of Messiah/Christ as the substitute for sin and
savior whereby one receives salvation;
Includes:
- Access into
Grace – Romans 5:2
- Fullfillment
of Promise – Hebrews 6:12
- The
Holy Spirit – Gal 3:14
- Righteousness
– Rom. 4:9, 30,32
- Sonship
– Gal. 3:26
- Healing
– James 5:15-18,36, James 5:24, James 6:47
Fruit #8 – Meekness (Humility) “Meekness is Loves conduct”
English Words: Meek,
Meekness
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: 4239
Greek Word: praus
Usage Notes: Note: The
Greek word 'praos' may also be used.
denotes "gentle, mild, meek;" for its
significance see the corresponding noun, below, B. Christ uses it of His own
disposition, Matt. 11:29; He gives it in the third of His Beatitudes, Matt.
5:5; it is said of Him as the King Messiah, Matt. 21:5, from Zech. 9:9; it is
an adornment of the Christian profession, 1Pet. 3:4. Cp. epios, "gentle,
of a soothing disposition," 1Thess. 2:7; 2Tim. 2:24.
Usage Number: B-1
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: 4240
Greek Word: prautes
Usage Notes: Note: The
Greek word 'praotes' may also be used.
an eariler form, denotes "meekness." In its use
in Scripture, in which it has a fuller, deeper significance than in
nonscriptural Greek writings, it consists not in a person's "outward
behaviour only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow-men; as little in his
mere natural disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the
exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit
in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without
disputing or resisting; it is closely linked with the word tapeinophrosune
[humility], and follows directly upon it, Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; cp. the
adjectives in the Sept. of Zeph. 3:12, "meek and lowly;" ... it is
only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not
fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This
meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in
the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults
and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the
chastening and purifying of His elect" (Trench, Syn. xlii). In Gal. 5:23
it is associated with enkrateia, "self-control."
The meaning
of prautes "is not readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness,
mildness, commonly used, suggest weakness and pusillanimity to a greater or
less extent, whereas prautes does nothing of the kind. Nevertheless, it is
difficult to find a rendering less open to objection than 'meekness';
'gentleness' has been suggested, but as prautes describes a condition of mind
and heart, and as 'gentleness' is appropriate rather to actions, this word is
no better than that used in both English Versions. It must be clearly
understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended
to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man
is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was 'meek' because he
had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively,
meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is
equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is
not occupied with self at all.
"In
2Cor. 10:1 the Apostle appeals to the 'meekness ... of Christ.' Christians are
charged to show 'all meekness toward all men,' Titus 3:2, for meekness becomes
'God's elect,' Col. 3:12. To this virtue the 'man of God' is urged; he is to
'follow after meekness' for his own sake, 1Tim. 6:11 (the best texts have No. 2
here, however), and in his service, and more especially in his dealings with
the 'ignorant and erring,' he is to exhibit 'a spirit of meekness,' 1Cor. 4:21;
Gal. 6:1; even 'they that oppose themselves' are to be corrected in meekness,
2Tim. 2:25. James exhorts his 'beloved brethren' to 'receive with the meekness
the implanted word,' James 1:21. Peter enjoins 'meekness' in setting forth the
grounds of the Christian hope, James 3:15." * [* From Notes on Galatians,
by Hogg and Vine, pp. 294,295.]
Scripture Study
Psalm 25:9
Psalm 37:11
Psalm 147:6
Psalm 149:4
Matthew 5:5
Isaiah 11:4
Isaiah 29:19
Isaiah 61:1
Matthew 11:29
Galatians 5:14,16,22-23
Proverbs 22:4
1 Cor. 13:4-8
Matthew 18:4
Luke 14:10
Example of Meekness – Moses –Numbers 12:1-8
Fruit #9 – Temperance –Self-Control is loves victory
English Words: Temperance,
Temperate
Usage Number: A-1
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: 1466
Greek Word: enkrateia
Usage Notes: from
kratos, "strength," occurs in Acts 24:25; Gal. 5:23; 2Pet. 1:6
(twice), in all of which it is rendered "temperance;" the RV marg.,
"self-control" is the preferable rendering, as "temperance"
is now limited to one form of self-control; the various powers bestowed by God
upon man are capable of abuse; the right use demands the controlling power of
the will under the operation of the Spirit of God; in Acts 24:25 the word
follows "righteousness," which represents God's claims, self-control
being man's response thereto; in 2Pet. 1:6, it follows "knowledge,"
suggesting that what is learned requires to be put into practice.
Usage Number: B-1
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: 1468
Greek Word: enkrates
Usage Notes: akin to
A, denotes "exercising self-control," rendered "temperate"
in Titus 1:8.
Usage Number: B-2
Part of Speech: Adjective
Strong's Number: 3524
Greek Word: nephalios
Usage Notes: for which
see SOBER, is translated "temperate" in 1Tim. 3:2, RV (AV,
"vigilant"); in 1Tim. 3:11; Titus 2:2, RV (AV, "sober").
Note: In
Titus 2:2, AV, sophron, "sober," is rendered "temperate"
(RV, "soberminded").
Usage Number: C-1
Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: 1467
Greek Word: enkrateuomai
Usage Notes: akin to A
and B, No. 1, rendered "is temperate" in 1Cor. 9:25, is used
figuratively of the rigid self-control practiced by athletes with a view to
gaining the prize.
Scripture Study
1 Cor. 6:12
Phil. 1:11
John 15:4
Proverbs 28:1-3
Romans 13:14
11 Peter 1:5-10
Matthew 7:13-20
1 Cor. 9:27
John 15:1-7
Titus 1:7-8
Proverbs 16:32
Other Scriptures for
Study:
Fruitfullness:
Matthew 3:8
John 15:16
Romans 7:4
Phil. 1:11
Col.. 1:10
Spiritual Fruit:
Psalm 92:13-14
Ezek. 47:12
Matthew 13:8
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 5:9
James 3:17
Conditions to Fruit Bearing:
Psalm 1:3
Matthew 13:23
John 15:2,5
Tree of Life:
Genesis 2:9, 3:22
Proverbs 3:18, 11:30
Ezek. 47:7,12
Rev. 2:7, 2:2
Degrees of Fruitfullness:
Mark 4:13-20
Danial 4:12
Matthew 13:8
John 15:2
James 3:17
Rev 22:2