"You will know them..."

“You will know them……..” That was the title of the lesson that was shared on Friday, September 28, 2012 in The Sanctuary. 

Matthew 7:18-20 says, 

“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits."

We are in our series “Got Fruit” and we have been going in depth about the “Fruit of the Spirit”. In Galatians 5; 22, Paul provided to us the character traits that each believer should possess and these fruit would signify how you will know them. “Them” refers to the believers of Christ and the fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit. These fruits or traits are parts of one singular fruit but together they make up the fruit (singular) of the Spirit. These are characteristics that originate from God and they are defined by His character. These traits are manifested when we fill ourselves with the Spirit. We must remember that gifts of the Spirit are given, but spiritual fruit is developed.  The fruit of the Spirit comes to us when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior; however, it only comes as a small seed which must be nurtured and developed in our lives (or watered) through prayer, by reading the Word, and by putting faith into action. If Christ is in us, then we should be Christ like and people will know us by our fruits. The fruit of the Spirit is the display of the character of Christ.  And it is His presence within us that enables us to develop the spiritual fruit in our lives. As in our last lesson, we will be educated on the meaning of each fruit, learn practical tools that we can apply to our lives and lastly look at how God can manifest these virtues in our lives.  

Last week we covered Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control, the fruits that deal with the principles for the believer's proper conduct. They reveal how a Christian should be in himself with implications of his spiritual and moral reliability. This week we dealt with Longsuffering, Kindness and Goodness. This group deals with social virtues relating to our thoughts and actions toward our fellow (wo) man. 
 
The first fruit in this category is Longsuffering. Longsuffering is the fourth fruit that Paul named in Galatians 5:22. Longsuffering is a part of God's character, a part of His image and a part of His nature. Therefore it's something He wants us all to learn exponentially.

The definition for the word "suffering" is patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship, patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties, patient endurance, enduring pain, unhappiness, etc., without complaint

Vine Commentary provides the Greek word for Longsuffering as "MAKROTHUMIA. The MAKROS gives us the English prefix macro; means "large" or "long” and THUMOS means 'temper,' and is usually rendered ‘longsuffering,’ Longsuffering is basically having a long temper.

It means it suffers or endures long without allowing itself to be provoked, as opposed to a quick tempered person. It does not retaliate out of anger. Vine describes it as: “Self-restraint”, does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish

Vine's notes that: "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish, it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy. Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; James 1:19 illustrates longsuffering in action,

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Longsuffering enables you to forbear and forgive others doing difficult and challenging circumstances. And this is not something you can do on your own, as with the other manifestations of spiritual fruit. The abilityto be longsuffering comes from the Holy Spirit and by loving God's law.  

Longsuffering is also referred to as patience. Patience is being mild, gentle, and constant in all circumstances.  The real test of patience is not in waiting, but in how one acts while he or she is waiting. A person who has developed patience will be able to put up with things without losing his or her temper. Scripture tells us in James 1:4 

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing." 
 
Reaching this point is definitely a process which takes a lot of practice. However, we can learn to enjoy life where we are while we are waiting for what we desire.

It is important to note that patience is not passive; on the contrary it is active; it is “concentrated strength.” Longsuffering/Patience is a major attribute of God as God is longsuffering toward us. He is our perfect example. He has shown long suffering for us throughout the ages. But God also has promised judgment and salvation. And the Lord is not slack nor does he procrastinate in showing that judgment. Pet. 3:9 says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any perish but that all should come to repentance.”

He is just waiting to give us time to come around, to avoid His wrath. He is showing great longsuffering as He endures our sins, giving us time to repent and turn to Him. The longer God waits, the greater our opportunity for salvation 

But we must understand that His longsuffering has a limit.  Longsuffering is not endless tolerance. Consider Noah and the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah and the Jews' rebellion in the wilderness. It is difficult to understand how God has tolerated the foolishness and the utter nonsense of the human race since the beginning of time: rebellion, idolatry, immorality, perversion and cruelty. And just as God is Longsuffering with us we are required to as believers to exercise this quality to others. We must learn to suffer long with others as God does with us. Colossians 3:12 says,

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God,holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

 The elect means we are chosen by God based on our faith and obedience to the gospel. Such a relationship brings great responsibility. We must put on the character of God which includes longsuffering. Colossians 3:13 tells us how to suffer long with one another.

Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any men have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus gives an interesting twist to the importance of God's patience by connecting it to our forgiveness. (Matthew 18:26-34)

The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, "Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all." Then themaster of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me what you owe!" So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, "Have patience with me and I will pay you all." And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.)

As you can see from the Unforgiving Servant he wanted compassion and forgiveness shown towards him but he did not display that same type of forgiveness and attitude when confronted with the exact same
situation. We are to be forbearing: patient, kind in areas of friction or conflict, forgiving one another: seeking opportunities to put complaints and debts behind. Following this "golden rule" is conducive to the development of longsuffering, that is, be as patient with others as one wants others to be with you.

Patience empowers and protects us Leonardo da Vinci said, "Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will
then be powerless to vex your minds." 
 
How do we manifest this Long-suffering in our lives? It is birthed by communion with God and developed by an appropriate response under trial. It’s not the experiencing of trials that produces patience or long-suffering. If that were true, then every believer would have this fruit in immeasurable abundance. This is a fine point of understanding, but absolutely critical to producing fruit. The degree of benefit from a trial is dependent upon the attitude we exhibit during that trial. Think of it in these terms: it’s not resistance alone that brings growth but controlled resistance does.

Make the right decision; you get the right result. The right decision for Christians is to abide in Christ in good and difficult times that we might then bring forth the fruit and grace of long-suffering. When the world sees someone who can come through his suffering with faith, hope and love; someone who can display the nature and attitude of God despite difficulty; someone who can emerge victorious from every conflict, they will stop, take notice and they will know who you serve from the fruit you bear. 

To be an effective witness it is imperative to manifest His character by His grace and through faith and by making sure we are doing the following:

·Diligently study God's word. 
·Develop a consistent prayer life.
·Be persistent in a desire to develop Longsuffering. It does not come by accident. 
·Consider the ineffectiveness and possible harm that can be done by impatience. The things we say and do out of a lack of longsuffering are seldom good.
·We may need to apologize for the things we say and do out of impatience. 
·Demonstrate longsuffering toward one self. If we are impatient with ourselves, it will be impossible to manifest longsuffering toward others. 
·One must realize that the development of longsuffering is strictly the responsibility of the individual. He who doesn't have it cannot shift the reason for the lack of it to someone else. 

What is the purpose of Long-suffering? 

The purpose is that those who fear Him and keep His commandments might delight in His loving-kindness, even though they have sinned and come to him for salvation, but be led to repentance and for those that are "led by the Spirit" it will produce the fruit longsuffering in their lives.

We than learned about the second and third fruit in this category, Goodness& Kindness. These two fruits are considered the Twin Fruit as they go hand in hand. 

Kindness in Galatians 5:22 is derived from the Greek word chrestotes, which not only means goodness as a quality of purity, but also as a gracious disposition in character and attitudes. It also encompasses
tenderness, compassion, and sweetness. In Matthew 11:30, the word chrestotes (kindness) is used to describe the yoke of Jesus. He said,

"For my yoke is easy [chrestos] and my burden is light.” 

The yoke of Christ speaks of the development of a disciplined life through obedience, submission, companionship, service, and cooperation. It is a relationship that is gracious, sweet, and pleasant and kind
because it is based on commitment and love rather than force and servitude. We have a Master whom we serve because we love Him, and we also serve one another because of our love for Him. To serve without love is unbearable. To serve because of love is the highest privilege. 
 
Goodness as the fruit of the Spirit is translated from a Greek word, agathousune, and it is the practice or expression of kindness, or doing that which is good. Goodness, speaks of service or ministry to one another, a spirit of generosity put into action, of serving and giving. It is the natural result of kindness. It is that inner quality of tenderness, compassion, and sweetness. All of this is summed up to one word LOVE. Love is kind and good, always seeking to minister to the needs of others.

When you love someone you show compassion, tenderness and sweetness and you demonstrate the love you have for that person by being generous, wishing to serve and wanting to meet their needs and desires. Does that not sound like the love that Christ has for us? Are we demonstrating this love in our daily lives?

The following were provided as examples demonstrating Kindness and Goodness:

·Job not only was a patient man, but he is also a vivid example of kindness and goodness. He showed patience and kindness despite the calamity and issues he faced. 

·Stephen is another outstanding example of following his Master in showing kindness. Instead of desiring the death of his persecutors, he prayed for them as he was being stoned to death.

·Jesus demonstrated kindness in His last acts before His death. While hanging on the cross He provided someone to care for His mother. He also asked forgiveness for those who crucified Him. 

So how do we apply this kind patience and kindness into our lives? 

The spiritual dimensions of kindness and goodness involve Christian service and love. This is summed up in a single command:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:13–15).

As we know the times we live in now, there is so much backbiting and bickering that it is slowly deteriorating and destroying relationships, churches,  homes, our community and nation. If we would take heed to scripture and love our neighbors as ourselves we would could truly impact the kindgom.

Serving in love is an expression of goodness, and it should begin in our own family first. Home is the best place to exercise the fruit of the Spirit. Some Christians find it easy to show kindness to outsiders, but in their own home they fail to be kind and good. To serve with love is a demonstration of spiritual fruitfulness you can show to your own family.

These Scriptures sum up the importance of serving with love:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9–10)

Above all, love each other deeply, because lovecovers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:8–10)

To walk in Patience and Kindness we must:
·Crucify our flesh.
·Keep in step with the Spirit. When we get out of step, when we get our eyes off the spirit and on the flesh that’s when we lose our connection with the vine (God).
·Prayer

As stated kindness and goodness are so closely related that sometimes it is not easy to distinguish between them; a kind person is also a good person; a good person innately is a kind person as both of these characteristics stem from love. It's said that patience is suffering love; kindness is compassionate love; and goodness is ministering love.
 
All three of these, Longsuffering, Kindness and Gentleness are produced in us by the Holy Spirit and they instruct us as to how we are to interact in our relationships. It is important to remember that without the Spirit of Christ within us, our nature will not be inclined to demonstrate these traits. However, with the Holy Spirit resting, ruling and abiding in our lives we can develop in us longsuffering (patience), kindness and goodness, helping us to minister to the world with the love of Jesus. As Matthew 7:18-20 stated…”we are to know them by the fruit that they bear”. Those fruit should be the character and image of Jesus—that means kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control; so that as we go about our lives it is very clear that we are them.

John 15:5 (NIV) 
 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

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