THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS
THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, February 2, 2025; Sunday, March 8, 2020
On the path of life, we have discovered that the fullness of joy and all the pleasures of life are in the presence of the Lord. In His presence, we are in His Holiness. It is His glorious Holiness, not our righteousness and certainly not any holiness of our flesh nature that we are able to drink in the courts of Holiness.
Romans 6:22: but now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.
Mat. 7:17-20: Every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
When I first started preaching, the Fruit of the Spirit was one of the burdens of the message of which I was sent. This message was not a popular one in the Pentecostal circles. I am not sure it is even today. The Pentecostals to whom I was sent wanted the gifts of the Holy Spirit with healings, deliverance, and prophecy. We still do and like everyone else I will take all of those gifts I can get. In those days, I also taught activated people into their Gifts and Callings. I still do.
But, if I would start preaching on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, I would hear groans and moans in the room. Many were defiant about what they called “fruit checkers.” The Word of God is a mirror and certainly a “fruit checker” when we preach on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
After coming out of an extended season of spiritual warfare, I, for one, need my fruit checked and a heart check. Unless the LORD changes direction, I hope to preach on LOVE through the month of February.
A young lady college student and member of the church in Baton Rouge, La, Brittany Thompson, gave me this plaque of the Fruit of the Spirit from a sermon I preached. The date is 1996. This plaque hangs in a place of honor in my home. (visual to church).
Psa, 1:3: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, and brings forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.
Psa. 92:14: they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the nature of Christ Jesus in the believer. Effective spiritual ministry reveals the fruit of the Holy Spirit in demonstration and administration, just as the power gifts and revelatory gifts reveal Christ’s miracles.
We must stand in the Name of the Lord (in His character) as we speak in the Name of the Lord (His power and authority). There can be no separation of the two. We must speak the truth in love. There can be much teaching on son ship; but it means nothing unless we have the Spirit of the Son.
Gal 5:22he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (N.K.J.V.)
Gal. 5: 19-23: You are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of Grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law, but soaring above it! What are the cravings of the self-life I’m referring to? They are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless argument, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God! But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine. This love is revealed through:
Joy that overflows;
Peace that subdues;
Patience that endures;
Kindness in action;
A life full of virtue;
Faith that prevails;
Gentleness of heart, and
Strength of Spirit. (Passion Translation)
This revelation of Christ is just as powerful as miracles, signs and wonders.
If we are to have the nature of Jesus Christ manifesting in and through us, then what is that nature? This is the new nature, not our flesh nature. It is His divine life flowing through us. This is the new man, the hidden man of the heart, the Spirit of the Son sent forth into our hearts, and our only hope of glory.
This is Agape Love, a pain free love. Agape love cannot be jealous. A jealous love is a hurting love. Just as Christ’s life is divine flowing through us creating in us a new nature, the self-sacrificial love of God is also divine and always gives with pure motives. God is love and love is the nature of God and is the primary fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer.
I cannot suffer from “need-love” or “jealous-love” if I am abiding in the love of God which is the presence of Christ.
Jesus is the Last Adam who was revealed to bring a lasting end to the first Adam. He is the Lord from heaven. He is a life-giving Spirit to us. He is the federal Head of the new creation. He is the beginning of a new race, species, and breed of Spirit beings. Jesus is the Head over the Church. As such, he is the Seat of authority; the Source of life; the Seat of judgment, intelligence, and direction; the Seat of knowledge; the Seat of power; the Seat of honor, glory, and beauty. Jesus Christ is the Head and we are the Body.
Being led by the Spirit of God and living in the realm of the Spirit creates a culture within the world’s social cultures. When I travel, I always enjoy studying and discerning different cultures. Also, we have lived in three states, each with very distinct cultures. There are very distinct spiritual and social cultures within the different denominations and within different regions of the same denominations. We miss God when we think “our opinion” or “revelation” is God’s only way.
We serve a really Big God and Jesus Christ has been given all authority and dominion over all the nations of the earth. He looks upon the heart, not upon my moral standard of life. The Holy Spirit’s gifts and nature (fruit) will always emphasize the preeminence, lordship, and centrality of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a moral code or culture given to us through the life of Jesus Christ. It divides and is in conflict with the world systems and religions. It is in conflict with the self-life which says, “if it feels good, do it.” The spirit of the antichrist continually leads a spiritual, cultural, and political war against Christ’s Kingdom on earth.
The present division within our nation is not political, it is spiritual. As Christians, we have a nature aligned with the Mind of Christ. This is a renewed and transformed mind in the believer to think and then to act like Jesus Christ. A person without being “born again” and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit cannot think like Christ. They are still in bondage to their carnal mind which is to be in a place of limitation. As “born again” Christians, we have been set free into the place of no limitations.
As the Church is now tasked with exposing and defying the mind control spirit over the technology of AI, we who seek after the LORD will press in for more, more, more of the Mind of Christ that even the elect will not be deceived. We must pray that President Donald J. Trump is not deceived. I am not in opposition to our government investigating this man-made power, because other nations are perfecting it as a weapon. But, we the church, must operate from the Mind of Christ, not from the artificial mind of AI.
Galatians 5:1: STAND FAST in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
As we are sanctified and walk in the Spirit, then we will not commit the sins in Gal. 5: 18-2: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, etc.
This life in the Spirit has to do with our walking in the Spirit on earth. Therefore, we have no desire for the works of the flesh. If we overcome these sins of the flesh, then we are walking in the nature and power of Christ with the full inheritance of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.
The Kingdom is the realm of the authority of a King. The Kingdom of God on earth is the realm in the Spirit in which God’s decreed rule and will is performed. God has always wanted in His people a Kingdom of Priests. The “king” denotes authority and the “priest” denotes ministry. We are kings and priests now because our Head, Jesus Christ is a King and Priest; however, under the covering of His Blood, we are being made Kings and Priests.
The new life of the believer is not his own life at all, but rather the life of Christ in us. Christ lifted both Jew and Gentile alike to an entirely new realm. Both Jew and Gentile died with Christ and now live in His new life (2:20; 4:19).
Paul shows that the freedom of Christ is not freedom to enjoy willful thoughts and desires; paradoxically, that is the worst bondage of all, bondage to the flesh (the sinful nature).
Rather this liberty is the holy freedom of Christ Himself becoming my own freedom. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. The yoke in Gal. 5:1 is a yoke of slavery, and thus applicable to the slavery of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13: defines liberty - For brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
True freedom finds its fulfillment in slavery---the voluntary slavery of love. Serve one another stands in emphatic contrast to the yoke of slavery of Gal. 5:1. Second, the result of faith is the enduement of the Spirit and the Spirit is the opposite of the flesh (3:2, 3). Where the Spirit reigns, the flesh cannot have the pre-eminence.
The fruits of the Spirit are essential signs of the Holy Spirit.
Christians have two natures and the struggle between them is a supreme truth of the New Testament. This warfare is a continual battle of dying daily. The source of all desire to do evil resides in the flesh. It is animated by Satan. These two powers (God the Holy Spirit and Satan) compete for our wills. Because of the mutual conflict between them, no matter what we would do, the other opposes it.
The Holy Spirit’s leading is resisted by the old nature and vice versa. If you want to do well, it will be opposed by your flesh. If you want to do evil, it will be opposed by the Spirit. Those who live by their old natures will not inherit the nature, power and authority of the Kingdom of God while on earth.
Gal. 5:17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that you cannot do the things you want. Calvin distinguishes between the directing capacity of the law and the penalty of the law. It’s directing capacity remains, but grace frees us from the penalty of the law.
That does not mean Grace gives us liberty to sin. Quite the contrary, Grace gives us the nature of Christ to overcome sin. If you are struggling with a temptation, ask the Lord to give you Grace to overcome. Ask and you shall receive. The Holy Spirit delights to bless us with more Grace for those who desire the Spirit of Grace.
As we are to Stand in our liberty (5:1), verse 16 admonishes us to “Walk in the Spirit” that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal. 5:25 exhorts us to live in the Spirit. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
God’s purpose centers in Jesus Christ, not in us. Through Jesus, a company of over-comers will come into the image of Christ and be given dominion with Christ. The “Church” spends much time praying for the power and authority of Christ; but we must also manifest the nature of Christ. Grace says we live beyond the realm of the law. Grace also gives us the power to live beyond the realm of the flesh. Through the Holy Spirit of God, Grace is given us to have the nature of Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
We actually “sit in the heavenlies” in Christ because He is seated at the right-hand of God. He is my Head, Elder Brother, Chief Apostle, Bridegroom, Husband, Advocate, Author and Finisher of my faith. He is the High Priest, Prophet, Husbandman, Last Adam, and Pattern Son.
A Christian must do two things: (1) Resist the devil (2) Practice the presence of Christ (dwelling in the new nature).
One is a fight the other a fellowship.
In verses 5 26- 6:10 Paul the pastor asserts himself over every other capacity. Here are the gentle and human rules which are to regulate inter-personal relations. The absence of self-centeredness, of pre-occupation with our own dignity and standing, is to be balanced by that true concern which places ourselves in the position of another, and acts to that other as I would then wish others to act toward myself.
Yet, this forgetfulness of self, this unselfconscious thought for others, can be expected only of one who has learned to live with himself; to accept his own abilities and callings, and the niche in which his own inherent gifts and callings place him/her within Christ’s Body; but Christ’s nature within every believer is to be experienced by all through the Grace of the Holy Spirit.
Nine Characteristics of the NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST:
1. LOVE - “agape love, divine love.”
2. JOY - “cheerfulness; calm delight.”
3. PEACE - “tranquility of mind; quietness; rest.”
4. LONG SUFFERING - “patience; endurance under stress.”
5. GENTLENESS - “kindness, gracious and mild character.”
6. GOODNESS - “moral goodness; helps others.”
7. FAITH - “faithfulness; trustworthiness.”
8. MEEKNESS - “humility.”
9. TEMPERANCE - “self-control; mastery of self.”
Christ the Anointed One in each one of us will produce a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. The prophetic anointing will speak and declare God unto men, producing righteousness. The priestly anointing will speak and bring men unto God, producing peace. The kingly anointing will speak and rule with authority, producing joy.
If I am moving in the power and revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit, and do not have love, then I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Deut. 7:13: He will love you, and bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your land, your corn, and your wine, and your oil, the increase of your cattle, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land which he swore unto your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all people…
John 15:2: Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:16: you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Eph. 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX