MISSING FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Newsletter 200  July 4, 2010
Bob Mills

Shortly before his returning to heaven Jesus promised that he would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would guide believers in all truth. (John 16:13) Prior to that God had sent John the Baptist who preached repentance and salvation through Jesus. John was preparing the way for Jesus, but did not mention the Spirit, for his is not a ministry of evangelism, but of nurture and support for believers. John completed his ministry, but that of the Spirit was just beginning among Christians. It continues until this day, and will continue until Jesus returns. The book of Galatians tells us how to see the difference between Christians and non believers. Christians show the fruit of the Spirit that entered into them at their new birth, baptism. If this fruit is not there, then the Spirit is not there either. Truly, “By their fruits, you shall know them.”

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS:
Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Matthew 7:16, Ephesians 6:9, Romans 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Colossians 3:12-15)
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Acts 24:25, Galatians 5:18)
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Galatians 3:26, Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 6:14)
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16)

APOLLOS AN ELOQUENT MAN

Apollos heard the preaching of John the Baptist, realized the truth of what he said and knowing the scriptures available to him, became an eloquent messenger of what he knew. The problem was, that he did not know the Lord Jesus and that he was the Messiah the fulfillment of those prophecies. This is where Aquila and Priscilla entered into his life. They listened to his preaching, recognized his sincerity and knowledge, and took action. They invited this young preacher to their home for a “chicken dinner” and taught him the rest of the message. (Acts 18:26)

Acts 18:24-28 (King James Version)

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Acts 19:1, 1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 6:22, 1 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 16:12, Titus 3:13, Acts 6:9, Acts 18:19)
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. (Acts 9:2, Acts 18:26, Luke 7:29, Acts 19:3)
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:25)
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:12, Acts 18:19, Acts 18:18, Acts 11:26)
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 8:35, Acts 18:5)

LEARNERS WHO KNEW NOT JESUS

Acts 19:1-5

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:15, Acts 11:16, John 7:39)
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (Luke 7:29, Acts 18:25)
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, John 1:26, John 1:27, Acts 13:24, John 1:7)
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(Acts 8:12, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48)

Paul, on his arrival at Ephesus, was delighted to find believers there also, but also recognized a lack of the fruit of the Spirit. Upon enquiry, he also found that they knew only the baptism of John, which did not result in the gift of the Spirit. John had been beheaded before Pentecost and the establishment of the church and the gift of the Spirit.

Do all things in the right order. I remember reading an “ABC” plan of salvation. That is in alphabetical order, but it is not God’s order. At Pentecost, Peter answered the cry of, “what shall we do” (Acts 2:37) with the answer, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ fir the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38) God is still calling lost sinners with the same answer. (Acts 2:39). The first step is always to hear, that is where we come in. We have to hear before we cam believe and repent. The same order was used by Philip later. (Acts 8:35-38)

Don’t miss the fruit of the Spirit. His presence in you will bear fruit!
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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010

JULY

4th. Sunday – 2 Kings 4, Acts 24, Psalm 80:1-7
5th. Monday – 2 Kings 5, Acts 25, Psalm 80:8-19
6th. Tuesday – 2 Kings 6, Acts 26, Psalm 81:1-7
7th. Wednesday – 2 Kings 7, 8, Acts 27:1-20, Proverbs 16:16-24
8th. Thursday – 2 Kings 9, Acts 27:21-40, Psalm 81:8-16
9th. Friday - 2 Kings 10, Acts 28, Psalm 82
10th. Saturday – 2 Kings 11, 12, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 83
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Romans 1:16

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Can I Get A Rim Shot

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Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with... stalking.

We'll never run out of math teachers because they will.... always multiply.

What do you see when the smog lifts in Los Angeles..... U C L A.

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The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was..... on shaky ground.

The dead batteries were given out..... free of charge.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could...... jog your memory.

A dentist and a manicurist fought..... tooth and nail.

What's the definition of a will?..... It's a dead giveaway