Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Living Fruit

Let's go ahead and turn to Ephesians. We want to continue along on the subject matter here. The Spirit of God has been speaking to us of proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. We've been talking about the things that are unacceptable. Those things that are called darkness: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness. "Don't let it once be named among you as becomes saints, neither filthiness." That's talking about attitudes; light, association with the kingdom of darkness, the world. We talked about foolish talking and jesting, "...but rather give thanks." He goes on and administers this admonishment to us, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, and of God" (Ephesians 5:5). We're going to be talking about those topics a little later on in the study.

We did a teaching a year or so ago on covetousness. We're so, so under attack of that spirit on a daily basis. We want to take a look at it again, not tonight, but how we have to protect ourselves from that spirit in this world that we're living in today. All of this abundance, in the midst of a society that has so much and is so discontent; that's contributed so little, and thinks that it should have more. How many of us need to move into that spirit that he speaks of here, of disciplining ourselves to be thankful? Giving thanks to God-for all that He's blessed us with in the midst of a generation that's truly unthankful-for what God's done in our midst. As Paul went on to the Ephesians, the topic that we were really dealing with, he said, "Don't let these things be named in your midst even once. Be not partakers with those people who are under the judgment of God; those who would deceive you with vain words, and bring God's judgment upon the children of disobedience. [Don't get under that judgment. Don't be a part of that thing, withdraw yourself, protect yourself.] Don't be partakers with them. For you [verse 8] were sometimes darkness but now are you light in the Lord, [say it with me], walk as children of light."

How do we walk as children of light? Verse 10, how do we prove what is acceptable unto the Lord? We saw that what was acceptable was that verse that is sandwiched in between those two, that parenthetical statement, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." We were saying what's acceptable of the Lord is the fruit of the spirit. We were talking about judging ourselves and saying, "Okay, how am I doing spiritually, really?" We talked about so many that were wanting to live on the fringes, so many that were wanting to justify different aspects of darkness. "How close can I get to that side of the spectrum, still be right with God, and not bring the wrath or the judgment of God upon me?" We said that's the wrong question! The right question is, "Am I drunk in the Spirit?" "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). We're asking ourselves, "Am I full of the Spirit?" We're not talking about how zealous you are. We're not talking about whether you speak in tongues, though that's the initial, physical evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Let me just share something with you, by the way. If you're not filled with the Spirit, you need to be, because things are getting tough. Those that pray in the Spirit don't speak to men, but speak unto God, and edify, or build, themselves up. I want to encourage you; get filled with the Spirit, to where you can pray in the Spirit, and constantly build yourself up. I can pray in the Spirit. The Spirit prays through me and I can do that while I'm talking to you. I can do that while I'm driving-not on a cell-I talk to God. You're able to be conscious. You're not necessarily even bringing in the cognizant aspects of your mind, but you're able to pray in the Spirit, commune with God, and be built up by praying without ceasing. Are you full of the Spirit? Some of you were filled with the Spirit, but I'm asking, "Are you full of the Spirit?" If you spoke in tongues you were filled with Spirit. If you're evidencing the fruit of the spirit, you're full of the Spirit. These things are not natural to us. They're not part of the natural being. These are spiritual aspects. As they manifest themselves in abundance, and we exhibit the character of Christ, we exhibit a life that's full of the fruit of the spirit. This is a life that's seeking to bless others, seeking the good of others, and seeking to edify those that are around us.

Part of the edification we were looking at here in Ephesians, is bringing reproof to darkness, or exposing it. We saw that the Lord chastens those that He, what...loves. It's very important. If we're going to move in the fruit of the spirit we're going to have to move in love, aren't we? Because the fruit of the spirit is... The fruit of the spirit is...love, okay? God chastens because God is...love. He brings about correction; reproving, instruction, testing our lives constantly so we can remember what manner of man we are. The fruit of the spirit is love. Love reproves. Love brings light into our relationships. "No greater love has any man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends," Jesus said. We've looked at that many times over the years. But, I just want to refresh your thinking. We seem to think of love as some great act, like during 9/11 where somebody runs into the building to rescue others. That's heroism, but it's not necessarily love. The man that throws himself on the hand grenade that comes into the fox hole, we see that on some of our old war movies; an act of heroism, seemingly selfless action, not natural, but not necessarily the type of love that we're talking about. The same person that might run into the building, the same person that might, on the spur of the moment, throw himself on that grenade, isn't always making a conscious decision based upon the worth of that person, the relationship. It's a momentary action. But, genuine love is a patient, long-suffering action of dying constantly for that other person; dying over, and over. You know, dying and getting it over with is not that big a deal, but dying continually gets old, doesn't it?

I had the pleasure of passing another kidney stone yesterday. That's a bummer. It's so nice when it stops-the pain. If you've never had the privilege, pass it if you get opportunity; the stone or the opportunity! Janet had kidney stones and she had two babies. She said the stone was worse. It is really not a pleasant thing, but it is so nice when it stops! You know what? Love, and the consequence of love, laying your life down, dying, never stops. It just gets old, being patient with people, doesn't it; being long-suffering, being gentle, being kind so many times? But, it's the natural fruit of being full of the Spirit. It's the consequence of being loved. Freely we've been loved, freely we love, the Scripture says. We are to love as we have been loved. The flesh says, "No, I'll love up to this point, no more. They don't deserve this love anymore. I'm fed up with that person." We've talked about forgiveness and love; how it expresses itself without measure, seven times seventy. I want to apply that to the subject we've been talking about, bringing reproof, or bringing things to the light; not once every ten occurrences. "I'm going to let it slide today. I don't want them to think that I'm always on their case. It seems like every time we get together I have to get on them after something." That's love, amen? Light reproves darkness! There is no fellowship between light and darkness. There is no communion between Christ and Belial.

Love just manifests truth. Look what it says, "The fruit of the Spirit [verse 9], is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." It's constant. It's truth without ceasing. It's the goodness of God constantly being held to the forefront. Now, remember what we're talking about, when we're talking about goodness. We're not talking about what's good for you. We're talking about what's good for God, amen? See, we get this thing backwards. You've got to understand. This not may be "good" for that person at the moment, but it's going to work in them the peaceable fruit of righteousness. The Scripture very clearly says that when you and I are being reproved, it's what? It's grievous for the moment, but it works the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Be good to one another; bring reproof without ceasing every time. "Can't we let it slide? I mean, it gets old, maybe just this one time?" Every time. God is consistently good, and just, loving, merciful, and kind. God is immutable. He doesn't change. Every time you encounter Him, He's going to respond exactly the same way. When you come enveloped in darkness, God is going to reprove you with light. It doesn't change.

What do you think the real motivation behind wanting to "let it slide this one time" is? "I just want to be kind and show mercy." No, you're being selfish; amen? Say it for what it is. "I want to give them a break because they deserve it." No, what they deserve is the goodness of God. They deserve chastisement. They deserve to be put to the test. They need instruction. They need correction. You don't want to do it because you're selfish. You just don't want to spend the time. You don't want the grief. You don't want to lay your life down for your friends. This "walking in light" thing isn't as easy as we'd like to make it. It's not just every-once-in-a-while shooting from the hip at somebody who you seem to think is doing something wrong. It's getting involved for life; in bringing them to the production of life in the spirit. As we read on here, we're going to see that it's one thing to bring a rebuke; it's another thing to bring reproof and instruction into righteousness. When we're talking about walking in the light, we're not talking about just saying what they're doing wrong; we're talking about getting involved to make it right. "No greater love has any man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends."

In this study, many times, we've looked and we've seen what that is. There are two different Greek words for life, we know that. The one is Zoë the other is psyche or psuche, for soul life. This Zoë, as opposed to the soul or life, the psuche of man, the psyche, that aspect of man we talked about is comprised of emotion, intellect, and will. I think when it comes to this aspect of living in light; the thing that most of us battle with is the emotional part, because in this chastisement aspect there's the emotional feeling. Stop and think about it: with your children, when you have to discipline your children, and you have to bring corporal punishment. We've all heard it said by parents, "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you." The guy getting swatted doesn't believe that. The child doesn't believe that until they have a child. Then, the light goes off and they say, "This is what they meant! I thought they were out to get me. They really care, they really do love. It does hurt to bring reproof, discipline!" Are you able to lay your emotions aside and administer, what's it say, verse 9, goodness, [justice], that word righteousness, and truth? When we're talking about bringing justice to every situation, just choosing to do what's right, habitually, is what God's calling us to; the fruit of the Spirit.

Let's take our eyes off all those people we know need to be squared away. Just slip your list into your Bibles now, because we have all those names on there; the people that really need to be rebuked. Those of you that shared your lists around, agreed, and had the same guy on the top of every list; we all know who he is, right? Who do you think should be number one on your list: you, right? You thought I was going to say somebody else, didn't you? We're "the man." Let's talk about "us" for just a moment. Why can't we realize that to make this statement, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. It's no longer I that live, but Christ that liveth in me," pertains to this aspect of living within the corporate body? It pertains to producing that glory that belongs to God, that jealousy for God's glory and His goodness, through the edifying of ourselves in, say it, love. Love doesn't just mean patting each other on the back. Love isn't the little squeeze, "How you doing, brother? I love you!" We're talking about a jealousy for the glory of God. "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Don't let these things be once named among you." If we don't consistently choose to lay our lives down, it's going to be named more than once in our midst. "I'm going to let it slide just this one time." Don't let it be named, say it, once.

Are you ready to put yourself on the line to where you'll die to your own emotions? How about your own intellect? How about how you have it all figured out, what's best? Now, none of us, I hope, go to this extreme, but let's say our intellect does get involved. Let's say we've read a little bit of Dr. Spock. And, let's say that we listen to a little bit of these child psychologists. Our intellect says, "You know, maybe this would be a kinder, gentler America if we would administer it this way." Because in America today, we don't believe that we should teach our children "violence" by bringing about corporal punishment. "That teaches children to be violent." You don't need to teach a kid to smack another kid, they're born with it! There's only one way to stop it.

Steve's not here right now, but here's a Garrett story. They come to church, and on the way Garrett would take his shoes and socks off. They'd tell him, "Don't take your shoes, and socks off," and he would. So, different aspects of correction have taken place. They got here the other day and, lo and behold, they get ready to get out of the car and there's Garrett, barefooted. So, Steve proceeded to take him out of the car and put him on the ice cold ground. It was that real cold morning. He's going, "Cold, cold, cold." Steve said, "That's why you're supposed to keep your shoes and socks on!" So, Garrett walked barefooted all the way up into the building and got his little toes all frozen. They got his shoes and socks on. After church, they put him in the car and drove him home. They get in the driveway, turn around; he's barefooted. So, you take him out and set him barefooted on the cold sidewalk and leave him in the garage on the cold sidewalk. "Cold!" Dawn wanted to pick him up and Steve said, "No." There are consequences. There's your little baby and he's looking at you saying, "Cold, cold." You say, "Yes, that's what I told you, cold." Which way are your emotions going to go? What are you going to do in bringing reproof and instruction? See, the rod is important, the swats are important, but there's also a training process that has to take place. It's more than just training; it's more than just instruction. There have to be consequences. There's a payment; the pain, nerve endings, the rod and reproof. The rod for the fool's back. There has to be a consequence to our disobedience or we'll never learn. The swats are a consequence, cold feet are a consequence. Next day, time to go get him in bed; he's got his shoes and socks on. No, not really, but he didn't take them off this time, amen?

Are you going to keep the pressure on? Are you going to bring your emotions under control? Your intellect might say, "Well, he's only this old... It's not really that big a deal. Besides, we're on our way to church. We can't have him go to children's church with dirty feet." We can think of a thousand reasons why not to be consistent, immutable, the same every time. That's the God that we serve. That's patience. That's long-suffering, that's justice. The fruit of the spirit is righteous; it's right, it's just. It's the right thing to do every time. You don't spare for their crying. How many times for a fool's back? A hundred times. The problem with our society today is we cave. It's happened to our judicial system. It's happened in our educational system. It's happened in our homes. It's because we love ourselves more than the people that we're supposed to be instructing and leading.

What are you going to contribute to the body of Christ? What are you going to contribute to your own household? How does your word hold up? How many times have you gone back on your word? We're creating in our children-we're talking about us. I could get off on the world, and I'm not interested in what they're doing. Let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay, and anything outside of that proceeds of evil. Your children ought to know that when you say something it's as good as gold, bless God, it is done! When it happens that way and you're bringing about instruction, and righteousness, then it doesn't have to be, "No, no I told you. I'm going to; I told you. This is the last time, the last time of these last fifty times, this is the last time." The kid's not going to believe you. Then, finally, you lose your temper. You correct out of anger instead of love, and you've not taught your child anything. You make a decision for the course of the family. Your wife begins to whine. Your kids begin to whine, and you cave. You've taught them nothing but that you love yourself more than you love them, and more than you love the Lord. So, this is the principle that we've got to come to see. If we're going to walk in the spirit, and not fulfill the lust of the flesh, the fruit of the spirit is in goodness, and righteousness, and truth. You do it because it's right. It's righteousness, justice. It's goodness. It's what's good for us because it's of God, its origin is God. It's truth because it measures up to the Word. This is our standard. Let God be true, and everyone else a liar.

There's something here that's more important, something that we're more jealous for; the image of Jesus Christ, the confrontation with an immutable, holy God. We need to come back. Oh, beloved, we need to refresh ourselves! As much as most of us in our doctrine have it, we have got to come back to a true fear of God that would understand how holy He is, and how immutable He is. He doesn't change. We're living in a society where there's always change. Everything's in flux. There are no absolutes. Everybody gets a break. We deserve this and we deserve that. God doesn't spare for our crying. We need to train ourselves back in this way. We need to realize that there's going to always be opposition from the flesh contrary to walking in the spirit. But, if you're led of the Spirit you're not under the law of sin and death, you're not under the law of the flesh. Then, he talks about the works of the flesh and what they are. If you do those you will not inherit the kingdom of God; and the list is endless with the phrase "such things."

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, in such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts." The lust aspect, presumptuous sins, those moments that we're overcome; we all deal with those things. You know, my main concern is the affection that people have for sin; the affections. I like that phrase. "No, that's right. I should be able to do that. I like that. That's what I want." That's what concerns me. That needs to be crucified. We need to begin to identify what's of the world, what's of the flesh, what is not the fruit of the spirit, what is of darkness. We need to begin to hate it, not justify it; not see how close we can get to it, not try to get it over into the "disputable matter" category. (Sometimes I wish I'd never taught on that, but it is Scriptural.) And, because of our tendency as a people, and because of the stand we take for holiness, and righteousness, we have a tendency to be legalistic. To try to bring that balance, as we taught on these different aspects, and people that are carnal have the tendency to grab it and run, and try to swing the pendulum that way.

The love that we're trying to share with you is this: You're going to kill yourself out there. The very people that demand their rights and talk about their liberties are usually adolescents. You're fools. You're going to destroy yourselves when you start trying to justify your position. When's the last time you had to justify why you were praying too much? When's the last time you had to justify that you were studying the Word too much? When's the last time you had to justify being up here in fellowship too much? When's the last time you had to justify witnessing so much? When's the last time you had to justify being so unselfish that you were giving so much away that it was threatening your own livelihood? When have you been accused of those things? What is it that you keep arguing for and trying to defend as your rights? Your rights are to die. Your rights are to give everything, to have no life for self. "Yes, but I should have this to myself." If you'll seek the kingdom first, He'll give you those things, amen?

Beloved, we need to come to that place! We're trying to hold onto our rights, and protect ourselves; just seek God with all of your heart! Seek to pour out your total life. Seek to give yourself twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week toward spiritual, eternal things, and God will bring you to the proper balance. But, start seeking that first and all of these other things will be added to you. He will give you richly all things to enjoy. But no, we're seeking the things that are temporal. We're seeking the things that are the wisdom of man. We're seeking what appears to us to be proper balance. Basically, many of us interpret "proper balance" by how much spiritual things interfere with our real treasures. It's so important that we come back and understand that we're at war. These two things are contrary, the one to the other, so that you can not do the things that you would do. In other words, whatever you make as prominent, dominant, the treasure, will keep you from doing the other. What's the stronger force in your life? That's where your heart is, that's where your treasure is. What do you defend? What position do you take? When it comes to "What rights do I have?" Do you decide to live in the spirit and produce the fruit of the spirit, or to justify the works of the flesh? That begins to be a real eye-opener to us. As we begin to love and people begin to bring this to us, and begin to encounter us with, "Why is it that you're trying to defend this?" whatever might be the uncleanness.

When was the last time you were accused of being too clean? You know, some people hate it. They'll hate you for being too clean. You'll get a lot of criticism for being too clean. When's the last time you were criticized? Oh, there will be self-righteousness that will arise in people that are pursuing that. There will be the wrong motives. There will be people that are doing good things for their own gain, and for their own ego, and for their own self-righteousness. Don't you worry about them. What are you doing in your pursuit? Look what he goes on to say. "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit let us, say it, walk in the spirit." See, that's what we're talking about here. It's got to get out of the doctrine and get into the practical experience of our lives. What is abundant in your life, gentleness? Or, do you find yourself being so often harsh, and hard, and critical? You know, we talked about these different things, and we get so common. You hear comments every once in awhile that are made among friends. Guys are worse than the girls, as a rule. They'll be cutting on each other and stuff. That's the flesh. What's wrong with being kind and gentle? Now, we're not talking about the sociologists and psychologists. I'm not talking about you men going home and putting your aprons on and taking care of the babies; that's your wife's job.

You know, we're planning on having a baby. Somebody said, "That's great!" I'll guarantee you one thing: I will not lose a night's sleep. It's a good thing she's young, because I'm not doing anything. It's not my job. My job is to kindly and gently tell her that's her job. I'll be kind. When you're ragged out, I'll kindly feel sorry for you. I'll tell you, "Good job." It's not my job. But, I'm not going to be anything other than kind and gentle. I'm going to move in a spirit of meekness and temperance, the self control. We're not talking about absenteeism. Except, one place I do think there should be absenteeism is in the delivery room. Whatever happened to men being able to sit out and watch the ball game and have somebody come say, "It's a boy?" That's the good old days! What is all this getting involved in this? That's why God invented doctors! I've been at the birth of my grandkids. I mean, now grandparents are getting sucked into it! I wasn't even at the birth of my own kids! That was the good old days, man! I'm for going back. We've come to a fork in the road, choose the old paths. I'm just fooling around, that's not true. I did say, though, if we had twins I'm going racing for a year. "I'll see you..."

The fruit of the spirit; we'll finish with this. As we relate to one another-when he starts off and he gives this, "...fruit of the spirit is love." Love is so broad in its scope of bringing good to the other person. See, that's what love is. Love is just bringing good to the other person, not only thinking good, but doing everything for good. The person that you love-you're doing everything in your capacity to cause them to experience goodness; the goodness of God, good things for their lives, it's so broad in its scope. We see, then, that what is the implement of that goodness is the wisdom of God, the justice of God, the truth of God, that it brings with it instruction, it brings with it correction. He goes on in the fruit of the spirit and says, "Since love is the primary thing, considering the goodness of the whole body, the edification of the body or this person, it needs to be administered in these ways. There needs to be a character about you."

You know, I like one of the things-I won't get into it tonight-but one of the things I like about the fruit of the spirit is joy. Can I ask you something? Are you having a good time? Are you having a good time in the kingdom? Are you having a good time serving God? Are you having a good time around the body of Christ, around the Word of God? Do you enjoy it? Joy is that expression of satisfaction, gratification, contentment, solace, joy; that feeling of well being. Or, is this whole thing a drudgery to you? "The fruit of the spirit is love, it's joy. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Is the Word of God a joy to you, or is a drudgery? "I've got to go hear what God has to say." This thing is life, it's health to those that find it. Does it bring joy to your heart? Do you delight in the Word of God? Do you delight in hearing the Word of God? Do you delight in doing the Word of God? How full of the Spirit are you? Is the thing that brings the most gratification to you in any given day that you brought this Word to pass in deed in your life, in your children? You brought this counsel to your wife, to your children, to your coworkers, to the body of Christ. "I found your Word and I ate it, and it became to me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart." You see, being filled with the Spirit isn't talking in tongues. It's laying our lives down, the emotions, the intellect, thinking we know better. "This is the truth, amen?" Laying your life down for your friends is not giving them your opinion; it's giving them the Word of God. It's not choosing your preferences; it's choosing the will of God. That's what it means to lay your life down. But I want to tell you something, last statement for tonight. You can't lay your emotions down, you can't lay your intellect down, until you've (what's the third one?) laid your will down. What are you choosing tonight? Are you going to live for yourself or live for the glory of God?

We've gone a little bit late so I won't go into it. But, when it really becomes truth to you and you embrace spiritual perfection or maturity, then it's just as real for every person in here as it is for your natural family. Not only the desire for their well being but the awareness of the responsibility for their souls. The investment of ourselves is not just for "us four and no more," it's for this community; it's for the eternal kingdom of God. That's what walking in the light is really all about. It's not just about a doctrinal thing, because God is light, in Him is no darkness. It's a jealousy for what is just. What's the right thing to do for everybody? There's only one standard. We're all responsible to live by it. We're all responsible to keep each other to it, amen? That's what walking in the light is all about.

Father, we thank You for Your Word tonight. We ask that we would be jealous for your glory, for these standards. That we would do whatever is necessary to get the beam out of our eye so we could see clearly to help those that are around us; that men would be able to look upon us and say, "Behold how they love one another. By this shall all men know that you're My disciples." That's the only thing that will distinguish us. There have been futile attempts in the natural. There are all kinds of clubs. There are all kinds of cults, but only one that boasts its source as the resurrected Christ. "I can't do this in my own strength. What you're seeing is the fact that God has raised Jesus from the dead. He dwells in me. It's no longer I that live, but Christ that liveth in me. That's why I don't live for myself. That's why I care about them more than myself. I'll tell them the truth to my own hurt because I love as I've been loved." Father, make that a reality, we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

Before you go, turn to somebody next to you, and say, "We ought to love one another." Amen! Go in peace. God's love go with you.

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