the fruit of the spirit by w. v. grant, sr

8/2/2019 The Fruit of the Spirit by W. V. Grant, Sr

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CHAPTER IWE ARE CHOSEN FOR FRUIT

IOnce there were two men going to town. They were

from the farm, and were on a wagon with a bale ofcotton.They were discussing which church was right.A wise man spoke thus:"When we get to town, the merchant will not be

concerned on which road we came, whether it was thenew-cut road, upper road, or lower road. They willwant to know if we have good cotton."

So it is with us:When we seek admittance into heaven the Lord will

not be so concerned about the organization to whichwe have belonged. He will want to know whether ornot we have the goods.

The fruit of the Spirit is the goods.Weare here to produce fruit.God is going to send for fruit.Weare ordained to bear fruit.

"1 came three years seeking fruit on this fig tree ... t.(Luke 13:7).

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Life Produces FruitWhere there is no life there is no fruit."... I am the way, the truth and the life ... " (John

1 4 : 6 )Sunshine produces fruit; first"the bud, then the blos-

som; the green fruit; the full grown and then the ripefruit.

With it organism is more important than organiza-tion. A dead tree is organized .

A dead church may have pulpit, pews and preacher,and still be putrefied, petrified, and paralyzed!

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The church is likened to a vine tree. A vine treegrows and sends forth new branches. It brings forthfruit in its season. It has roots as long as the vine.It is well established.

It stands the winds and storms. Some brings threeor four crops of fruit in one year. While the ripe fruitis yet on the vine the green fruit is coming on.

The vine tree is not good for wood. About the onlything it is good for is to bear fruit."What is the vine tree more than any other ... ?Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? ... Is itmeet for any work?" (Ezek. 15).

Sometimes we must be pruned in order to have thenew life in us.

The new life is the divine nature, the resurrection,the virtue.

We must be born from above to have this nature.All our old dead nature must be cut off. We must

stay connected.A broken communion destroys life. A continual com-

munion supplies life.All branches with no fruit must be cut off. Every

branch that bears fruit must be purged so it will bearmore fruit.

The pruning destroys the dead, worthless wood. It ishard on self; it kills out the self nature.

Weare pruned through trials and tests.From the outward appearance it may seem that ourbeauty is ruined. But during that time the roots are

spreading far and near. Then when we are loaded downwith fruit the roots will be strong enough to hold us up.

During our testing time it may seem to the onlookerthere is not much left of us, but wait until the spring-time comes. We are rooted and grounded in the Word.We can stand the winds and storms. We can be strongenough to hold up precious fruit!

The cutting off of the dead wood may not seem pleas-ant. It is hard on self, but finally it yields fruit!

We Must Be PrunedAs we are purged we bring forth fruit, more fruit,and much fruit. (John 15.)If we hear the word we are on good ground. We then

bear fruit; some thirty fold, some sixty fold, and someone hundred fold.Thirty fold is three thousand per cent increase.Sixty fold is six. thousand per cent increase.One hundred fold is ten thousand per cent increase.We are in a big business for God. The very least we

can yield is thirty fold, which is three thousand percent increase!

Every Christian must be willing to be purged."... and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth

it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2.)Christ is the source of all fruit.Christ dwells within us after we are baptized with

the Holy Spirit.Holy Ghost Christians yield more fruit.Christ is our life.All Christians that are right yield fruit."There is not one barren among them."Those who are rooted and grounded in Christ are

healthy, like a tree by the rivers of water. The rootsreach out as far as the branches.

We must bear fruit to be worthy to be called a Chris-tian."That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleas-ing, being fruitful ... " (Col. 1:10). "Every branch inme that beareth not fruit he taketh away ... " (John15:2).

Perfect Christians, All of us are commanded to be perfect. (Matt. 5:48.)

There are different stages of perfection.All true fruit is perfect.A young apple is perfect, but it is green .A young Christian is perfect, but fruit needs to be-

come ripe and mellow.

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Sin will break the abiding presence of Christ. Whenthe communion is broken the fruit withers.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannotbear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no morecan ye, except ye abide in me ... He that abideth inme, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit"... (John 15).

Continual communion with Christ means we are liv-.ing in Him, in His name. The righteous run into it andare safe. If we live in the name, stay in the name, thenwe can pray in the name. All that we do in word or indeed will all be done in His name.

If we abide in Christ we are protected from alldanger.

If we are disconnected one minute from the divinenature we are exposed to disease and sickness."He that dwelleth in the secret place of the mostHigh shall ABIDE under the shadow of the Almighty.

... There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall anyplague come nigh thy dwelling" (Ps. 91). Continual Communion ,

It is possible to pray without ceasing, in everythinggive thanks, and to be led by the Spirit.

We cannot pull off this experience and put it on as aman does a coat.

When we are full of His nature there is no room forsin in us. We have fellowship with Him and with peo-ple. It is a continual cleansing, just as the water inyour eye continually washes your eye all day.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light the bloodof Jesus Christ clean seth us from ALL SIN.

He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself alsoto walk even as He walked. He set us an example thatwe should follow His steps."Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not ... "

Even spiritual gifts cannot take the place of un-.broken fellowship.

Fruit grows. It does not come by laying on of hands.

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We cannot tie fruit on our lives with the strings ofeducation, science, psychology, culture and training.One preacher said he was going to get a big job andmake a lot of money. Then he would go home and growspiritual. Fruits don't grow over night.

Fruits do not come with the Baptism of the HolyGhost. The Holy Ghost brings power, supplies powerto stay separated from the world, and furnishes goodsoil in which fruit grows.

We receive holiness at conversion. We retain holi-ness by obedience. We can't obey God without receiv-ing the Holy Ghost. (Acts 5 :32.)

There is much power in the quiet influence of a spirit-ual life. The quiet influence of the sun produces fruit.In the Bible days the men of power were men whodid not pop off steam in between times. They were menof power who produced fruit.

Jesus had both fruit and power; He is our example.Some follow after charity and fight spiritual gifts,but God says,

"Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts .. "(I Cor. 14:1).

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CHAPTER IITHE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

"B,ut the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffermg, ~entleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temper-ance; agamst such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23),

LoveLove, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is God in us,

for God is love.It Is Not

It is not the result of improving the natural charac-ter, for a man who does not have the Spirit may dothat.It is not mere tender attachment as the dictionarydefines love.It certainly is not "puppy love," for puppy love maylead you a dog's life. It is not the love that breaks anengagement and takes back the ring.

It cannot be natural love that loves its own, or loveswhen it is loved.

This love can't be confused with the love that a manhas for his wife, for this love cannot cool off in a periodof months or years.This is not the kind of love that lets your childrengo without punishment because you love them toomuch to correct them. It is the love of God; and whomthe Lord loveth He chasteneth. This is the chastisementthat "yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness"(Heb. 12:11). Fruit will bring chastisement; chastise-ment brings fruit. Every branch that beareth fruit, Hepurgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.

This love does not preach Christ with contention; itdoes not turn tongues into "sounding brass."

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It is not charity, as charitable organizations areknown today.

It cannot be quenched by many waters.It cannot be the love of the world or anything thatis in the world.

This divine love cannot be found in a sinner.,'''. . . . and everyone that loveth is born of God, andknoweth God" (I John 4:7).

What It IsIt is so large and great that to define it is like trying

to explain the sea to a blind man, or music to the deaf.It goes higher than the heavens and deeper than the

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sea.It is the new spiritual life from above. It is pos-sessed by a person that seems the most unlikely in thenatural.It even goes to our enemies and reaches even to thosewho despitefully use us.

You can curse a man and he is still your enemy . Youcar: fight him and yet he is an enemy to you. Kill himand you have not gained his friendship. Love him andyou will win him.

Love is stronger than death!It prays for all its enemies.It is unchangeable.It will cause you to lay down your life for yourbrother.It will help you to overlook and forget the faults ofothers, for love covers a multitude of sins.It will help us to be a friend to people after we knowall their faults.It is the bond of perfectness.It brings unity in our churches, peace in our com-munities, and harmony in our souls.

Love helps us to esteem our neighbors as ourselves.It caused God to send His Son.It makes us more than conquerors.It works all the time; it never fails.

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It is the charity of I Corinthians thirteen. It showsthat we have eternal life and proves our Christianity.I t is the end of the Law and the new commendmentthat Jesus gave.

It helps you to be neither barren nor unfruitful.It surpasses the love of a brother.It worketh no evil, is not easily provoked, is notpuffed up.Love operates faith, passeth all knowledge, is thebreastplate of a Christian, casteth out fear, and is thegreatest commandment.It knits our hearts together, compacts the joints of

the body of Christ in order to cause them to worksmoothly, presents us to the Lord without blame, andmakes us rooted and grounded in Him." .... because the love of God is shed abroad in ourhearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us"(Rom. 5:5).

JOYJoy, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is that livingwater that floods the soul at the new birth.

ExamplesPaul yet loved Mark and was willing to carry himalong even after he had once failed.Stephen prayed for his enemies in the face of death.Jesus said, "Forgive them, for they know not whatthey do."Love caused me to face brick bats, rocks, knives, andcurses, and not fight back.Iold my wife that I loved her better than I did my

mother, but the love of God caused me to be willing togive up my wife if need be, to go hunt for souls whomIhad never seen! Love for souls will go beyond thelove of home, business, or kinsfolk.After Ireceived the love of God I made friends withmy enemies whom I had never intended to speak toagain.This love can't be quenched by fire, drowned bywater, eaten by lions, stoned to death by men, or dis-

couraged by action!

It Is NotIt is not natural joy that is obtained by natural

means.Natural joy does not last (Eccl. 7.6).It is not as the holiday brings joy, as the dictionarydefines it.It is not gained by going for a joy ride. It is not fun,as the world has fun.It is not the evidence of the Baptism of the HolyGhost. The disciples had "great joy" before they were

baptized with the Holy Spirit. Philip's converts had"great joy" before they received the Holy Ghost.(Acts 8 :8.)

It is not enjoying your work, which also is vanity.(Eccl. 2 :10-11.)

This fruit of the Spirit is not the joy that says, "Letus eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." It is notahe joy of a hypocrite "that is but for a moment." Thisjoy cannot be substituted.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of theSpirit of God ... " (I Cor. 2:14).What It Is

It is always given by the Spirit of God and in noother way.

Each letter stands for something. Jesus first, othersnext, yourself last.

Joy is something everyone wants, even those folkwho do penitence for the sake of future joy.

It causes us to sing .Joy is part of God Himself, for God is really a re-

joicing God (Isa.65:19).Jesus rejoiced even at the grave of Lazarus. He had

joy in the midst of His crucifixion (Jer. 12 :2). He sangjust before He was put to death (Matt. 26 :30).Now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three;but the greatest of these is charity" (I Cor. 13:13).10 11


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We may have joy and long suffering at the sametime. We may have joy in all circumstances (Gal.5 :22).

We may have joy in the midst of sorrow (II Cor.6 :10). Persecutions will cause our joy to increase. Thatproves whether or not we have the fruit of the Spirit.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and whenthey shall separate you from their company, and re-proach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the sonof man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy."

We may have joy when our goods are confiscated(Heb. 10:23).We may have joy in the midst of temptations."My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall intodivers temptations."We may have joy in trials. This is a mystery, but itsprings up within!"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery

trial which is to try you, as though some strange thinghappened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye arepartakers of Christ's sufferings ...

"If ye are reproached for the name of Christ happyare ye : for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth onyou."

The burden and work of a pastor should be with joy(Heb. 13: 17).We must rejoice evermore and in everything givethanks.It is a great mystery. It is joy unspeakable and fullof glory.It remains when ecstasy and feelings are gone. This

puzzles the young convert. It is powerful." ... the joy of the Lord is our strength."A joyful person is a healthy person. It has the op-

posite effect of murmuring. We must let our requestbe made known with thanksgiving and not with mur-

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall givethee the desires of thine heart."

" ... because God answereth him in the joy of hisheart."

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Prov.17:22).A sinner cannot have it. It is the essence of that

heavenly joy. It is a foretaste of heaven itself.It is His joy in us (John 15:11)." ... that they may have my joy fulfilled in them-

selves."We may have the joy that Jesus had!It is to us like a lubrication to a car, oil to a motor,

or sap to a vine. ."For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink ; but

righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost .."We cannot prove our Christianity to the the world If

we do not have joy.If we eat like we are hungry we will cause others to

be hungry.Joy is contagious! (I Cor. 7: 13) .It is the will of the Lord for us to shout aloud for

joy' until the noise is heard afar off (Ezra 3 :12). It isa c~mmandment (Ps. 32 :11). Every pastor should en-courage his saints to shout! (Ps. 150).

"Let the saints shout for joy" (Ps. 132 :19).Like all fruit, joy must be cultivate to grow ..Joy loves God more than His blessings or HIS se~v-

ice. It is never selfish. Delight thyself in the Lord In-stead of in your denomination!

Why do we have crop failures? Why do we have de-t ti ? Why do we have war? Why do the beastsruc IOns. ~ . .

groan? Why is the vine dried up? Why is the ramwithheld?

". . . even all the trees of the field are withered,:,because joy is withered away from the sons of men(Joel 1:12) .murmg.

It helps us receive the answer from God.We need to make half our prayers praises. Examples

Preacher Paul, in the Philippian prison, lifted up a12 13


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Pentecostal palm toward paradise and put praises withhis prayers. This preacher practiced what he preached!"In everything give thanks." "That I may finish mycourse with joy."

Regardless of the condition of the churches Pauldared 'not come to them in heaviness, but with joy.

Paul helped other people to have joy. That was hismission (I Cor. 1:24).

Hundreds of the early Christians even kissed thestake. They were glad for the privilege of being burnedalive.

"And they departed from the presence of the coun-cil, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffershame for his name" (Acts 5 :41).

There is joy in the presence of the angels when onesinner repents. Why shouldn't we rejoice?

Zacchaeus came down and received the Lord joy-fully. All converts have joy. That is the proof of con-version. We know the trees by their fruit. A good treebrings forth good fruit.

All the plagues written in the Book, and all theplagues not written in the Book come on the people ifthey do not serve the Lord with joy.

"Because thou serveth not the Lord thy God withjoyfulness ... " (Deut. 28 :47).

My greatest help has come when Iremembered andobeyed the command, "In everything give thanks." Ihave seen demons, disease, and death driven away byby praises! As Jehoshaphat of old I have seen battleswon as we marched toward the enemy saying "Praisethe Lord!"

My ears burned when someone talked about me be-fore I was saved. Now the Spirit of glory and of Godresteth upon me.

Hard luck stories and graveyard tales did not bringme to the Lord, but when Isaw people enjoying some-thing I did not have I became so hungry that I came tothe Lord.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Re-joice" (Phil. 4:4).

PEACEPeace which is the fruit of the Spirit is a state of

rest and calmness for your soul.t

What It Is NotIt is not peace as the world giveth peace. A sinner

cannot have this fruit of the Spirit.It is not peace as the United Nations make. It is notwritten on paper, but on the tables of our heart ".. The antichrist will come in peaceably, but that IS notthe kind of peace God gives (Dan. 11:24)."When they say peace and safety then sudden de-struction cometh."Jesus came the first time not to bring pea:e on theearth, but in our hearts. There will be no lastIng peaceon the earth until the Prince of Peace comes.There is no peace to the wicked. If you are full ofyouthful lust you have no peace.

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked"(lsa. 57:21).

What It IsIt causes the weary to rest. It is peace that passeth

all understanding. ,It is the peace of God, for that is one of God s names(Rom. 15:13).It is the peace of God imparted." ... My peace I give unto you." It is peace like ariver. . hIt is rest from your labor, the kingdom of G_od~lt In, It is that quietness and confidence which lS ouryou.

strength. . h L d It IPeace means that we are at one with ~ e ?r: ISgodliness, which is great gain. It is Christ within."For He is our peace."It is the wisdom of God from above (James 3 :17).

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It rules out fear, worry, torment, and despair. Itsettles friction within our souls.

This peace works. It keeps us calm in the storms. Wemay ha ve this peace while the world is at war!

The source of this blessed fountain is in the atone-ment (Rom. 5 :1).

It comes in when all strife leaves.This fruit of the Spirit helps us stay out of argu-

ments, controversial subjects, or debates.If we have this fruit of the Spirit we will have unityin our churches, and where there is unity there isstrength.

A peaceful man is a strong man."For God is not the author of confusion, but of

peace."It helps us to know that all things work together for

good to them that love the Lord.It is that peace which comes as we study the Bible.It is the only way we will ever see the Lord (Heb.12:14).

his enemies to be at peace with him."Paul was calm and still even before they started on

on the voyage. Then during the storm, while otherswere afraid, he calmly led them to safety!

We lose peace of mind when we give someone a pieceof mind.

During the storm Jesus rested his head on a pillowin peaceful sleep.

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayerand supplication with thanksgiving let your requestsbe made known unto God. And the peace of God whichpasseth all understanding shall keep your heartsthrough Jesus Christ."

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind isstayed on thee."

"Great peace have they that love thy law: and noth-ing shall offend them."

My Uncle prayer nearly sixty years, "Give us ahappy and a peaceful hour to depart this life." Not longago he went to a peaceful rest in Jesus. He did notsuffer.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mindis stayed on thee." (lsa. 26:3). "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:for the end of that man is peace" (Ps. 37:37).Examples

A martyr was being burned at a stake when an un-believer put his hand to his heart and found it beatingnormally. He was not an unbeliever then! He learnedwhat real peace was as he accepted Christ.

One time as the storms of life surrounded my smallboat, when doubts, fears and sin beat hard at my heartand mind, Jesus came to my rescue and said, "Peacebe still."

There was a great calm! The tempest ceased! Thewind and the waves obeyed his command: It was thefirst time that I had ever experienced this peace!

I went home singing! It seemed that we had a newhome! The trees seemed to clap their hands for joy!The birds sang sweeter. I did not see the hypocritesthen, for I was ahead of them!"When a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even

LONGSUFFERINGLongsuffering, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is

divine strength to suffer long.

It Is NotTo suffer poverty is not the fruit of the Spirit, formany poor people do not have the Spirit of God.

Longsuffering is not to suffer because we are buffetedfor our faults.It is not to suffer fear, torment, despondency, or anykind of obsession or oppression.It is not to suffer as a murderer or an evil doer.

It is not to suffer with a cancer, tumor, tuberculosis,polio, arthritis, or any other kind of sickness or disease.

It is not to suffer persecution for being a backslider.17

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It canot be found in a sinner, for an evil tree cannotbring forth good fruit. It cannot be compared with theglory to follow.Longsuffering cannot be separated from joy andpeace, for a Christian has joy in the midst of suffering.

It is not suffering because your faults have overtakenyou.

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as athief, or as an evildoer, or as a husybody in other men'smatters" (lPeter 4:15).

"Put on therefore as the elect of God ... meeknesslongsuffering." ,It is to suffer afflictions.

Jesus suffered afflictions, but not sickness or dis-ease (Isa. 53).

"Be afflict~d and mourn" (James 4 :9).The Lord IS longsuffering; if he is in us we can suf-

fer long.We all must suffer for the kingdom of God.

d f" d why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to bee rau ed?" (I Cor. 6:7).What It Is Examples

Jon~h despised the longsuffering of the Lord becauseGod did not speedily destroy Nineveh .

God was l~ngsuffering with the Jews for many years.The Lord IS longsuffering to usward."Yhen Paul knew Jesus in the fellowship of His suf-

fen~gs he also knew Him in the power of His resur-rectI~n. Longsuffering brings power (Phil. 3:10).It IS har~ to .have fruit without having power.In my lifetime I have noticed that suffering has

brou~ht me power with God when shouting failed. It~as Just after a long trial, temptation, test, persecu-tion, or fast that I discovered that I had power withGod that delivered others.It took power for me to overcome all these things, soI had power to help others.

It was just after Jesus had gone through temptationsth~t He had the power to open the prison doors anddehver the oppressed.

Gethsemane and the cross precedes the power of theres urrection.It takes the furnace the gold to brighten ; it takes thenighttime to show the stars. It takes the storm cloudsto show the rainbow and to bring forth beautifulflowers.

Check the lives of Joseph, Moses, David, Peter, andall the. rest of God's servants. A big battle precededeach victory!

It is to suffer for well doing (I Peter 2 :20).It is that thing which makes your fruit mellow andripe,It is to suffer for righteousness sake, to suffer shame

for His name.We Christians suffer persecutions, adversity, chas-tisement, temptations, and reproach.We suffer tribulations, defraud, misunderstanding,heartaches, distress, even sometimes unto bonds.

This fruit causes us to suffer with another. We suf-fer with Jesus and with the follow members of Hisbody. It is to weep with them that weep."And whether one member suffer, all the memberssuffer with it."When one of the members of your body is hurt itaffects the whole body.Longsuffering is a pattern for all Christians.It helps us to be patient. "In your patience possessye your souls."Without longsuffering we are not worthy of our call-ing (Eph. 4:2).It proves that we are ministers of God (II Cor. 6.6).

It is a commandment."Reprove, rebuke, with all longsuffering and doc-trine."

If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him.Lt's cultivate this fruit!18 19


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The Captain of our salvation was made perfectthrough suffering.

Anyone who has love has longsuffering."Love suffereth long."

your enemies. It is one of the greatest qualities ofgrace bestowed upon a human being. It is the only truegreatness.

" ... thy gentleness hath made me great" (II Sam.22:36).

It helps one to be a real gentleman or a real lady.It helps a pastor to do work of a very delicate nature.It helps him not to rebuke a babe in Christ for misuse

of a gift.It helps us not to do needless injury to other mem-bers of the body.

It is needed by all who operate spiritual gifts.It helps us care for new born babes, to give them the

"sincere milk of the word."It helps us to demonstrate the gifts of the Spirit in

the right way, so they will not offend those with thetrue fruit of the Spirit.

It makes us an expert in dealing with the lost sick ,diseased and weak. It makes us very skillful in usingthe hammer of God's great Word, and in winning souls.

We may have the gentleness of Christ.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us intohis eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye havesuffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen,settle you" (I Peter 5:10).

GENTLENESSGentleness, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is God

in us, for God is gentle. It is to be tame, mild, kind,friendly, teachable, and calm.

It Is NotIt does not mean that we are a "rubber stamp," to

sanction everything that is done. It does not meanthat we have no back bone.

It does not mean that we must put our approval oneverything in order to get along with people; or to com-promise with sin in order to keep friends.

It must not be confused with weakness.It cannot mean that we must use some smooth trickof psychology, or that we are a smart crook. It does notmean that we are "anyone's dog who will hunt with us."

It does not condone sin in order to save rebuke.No sinner can have this fruit of the Spirit, since sin-

ners do not have the Spirit of God.

It is that grace of God that helps to not do rashthings.It is to have a Spirit like Christ, or to do things as Hewould. It is the Spirit of Christ within us.

It is to be patient and kind to the unkind and the un-lovely. It is to do good to them that hate you; to love

"A bruised reed shall he not break, and a smokingflax shall he not quench ... " (Matt. 12 :20).Examples

I saw a great, strong man gently take hold of a deli-cate lady's arm.

I saw a robust father gently take a tiny baby in hislarge arms.Recently I watched a rough looking man. He was anartist who weighed about two hundred pounds. He re-touched a beautiful picture with a gentle stroke of asmall brush.

Not long ago I watched a four-motor, powerful aero-plane gently land a crew of forty-six men.

I saw a large cat, with very sharp teeth, gently carryher baby in her mouth.I saw a wise pastor, who was strong in the Lord,gently guide an assembly of a thousand people past acrucial hour.

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as abranch, and is withered ... " (John 15:6).

What It Is

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I saw a large steam boat gently come up the docks.Oh, if we only had a leader to manage our meetings justlike that!Isaw a gentle horse in a barnyard. The childrencould walk under him and even rub his legs. They werenot afraid.

Then Isaw a wild bronco. He would bite, kick, andstamp all the children who got around him. Ihen won-dered, "What kind of religion do we have? Do we havegentle religion, or do we have a wild bronco religion?"

All of us by nature are like a wild ass's colt. We allneed to be broken to work for God. We need the Spiritof God. We need our nature changed.

Many times God has helped me to stay gentle whileothers exploded!Although Paul could rebuke sharply, he was verygentle in dealing with converts in the church.Peter was rough and strong, but he tenderly dealtwith Dorcas.David was willing to deal gently with the young manAbsolam, although he had supernatural power to kill agiant.

If that is not our nature we certainly need to changeour nature so we can use the almighty power of God,that is even more powerful than the atom bomb, so wecan gently deal with the weakest one of God's children.

It is not to be good as we hear the word used daily,as "a good horse," a good dog," or "a good house."Since these things do not have the Spirit they cannothave the fruit of the Spirit.

It does not mean one that has a good personality, orone who is a good conversationalist.One who runs a charitable institution does not alwayshave this fruit.It cannot be possessed by an unregenerated man or

woman. One who has lost God's power and presencedoes not have this fruit. After the salt has lost itssavor it is good for nothing.

It is not found in the group, of which it is said,"There is none good, no not one" (Rom. 2: 12-18).Man in his natural state does not have the Fruit of

the Spirit, though good he may seem (Eccl. 7:20)."Neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."Goodness, which is the fruit of the Spirit, does not

make you "good for nothing."" ... all of our righteousnesses a re as filthy rags . . ."(Isa.64:6).

What It Is

,

It is to be good for something. It is to be true,sound, and spiritually robust; to be good within, at alltimes.

It is to produce good works, which man may see andvalue, and yet have the right motive behind them." ... that they may see your good works and glorifyyour Father which is in heaven."

The absence of this fruit proves all mere professorsto be hypocrites.This fruit helps us to be practical."A good man out of the good treasure of his heart

bringeth forth good things."If we are full of the Spirit we are certainly full ofgoodness.We may become more like God by working with God.

"... that by these we might be partakers of thedivine nature ... " (II Peter 1:4).GOODNESS

Goodness, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is to begood, as God is good. It is to have part of God in us.It is the opposite of evil.

It Is NotIt is not that trait which a person possesses which

makes people call him a "goody good" person.I t is certainly not to be sickly sanctimonious.It cannot be hidden.

i

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Goodness is the reward of many who may not haveany apparent gifts.Jesus went about doing good; He set us an examplethat we may follow His steps.This fruit will help us to give a good report and listento only the good news.It causes us to produce works that bring us a reward.

also prove that many people want to justify their sinfullife, by saying no one is good." ... he that doeth righteousness is righteous, evenas he is righteous" (lJohn 3:7).

FAITH, ' Faith, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is to be faith-ful, It is to be loyal, trustworthy, accurate, dependable,

and devoted. It is to live as not to destroy the otherperson's faith in you."And shall come forth: they that have done good tothe resurrection of life; and they that have done evilunto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5 :29). f

ExamplesWe remember Dorcas, not because of her spiritual

gifts, special singing or powerful preaching, but be-cause of her goodness.Some read, "There is none good but one and that is

God!" They say that no one can live right. If we aredead, our lives are hid with Christ in God, then it is nomore us, but Christ that dwells in us. If we are full ofGod, then we are full of good, for God is good.

According to some folk's thinking Jesus was no good.The Word of God declares that He is the Good Shep-herd.

The Bible declared there were good men:"A good man sheweth favor and lendeth.""A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord.""The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.""Well done thou good and faithful servant.""A lover of good men.""Despisers of those that are good.""N ot only to the good.""He is a good man.""A good man leaveth an inheritance.""And he was a good men and just.""And Joseph was a goodly person.""For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost."All the above phrases, and many more, are found in

the Bible. They prove that one can have the fruit ofthe Spirit here in this life and live a good life. They

It Is NotIt is not faith that is one of the gifts of the Spirit.

You can find this gift explained in my book "SpiritualGifts."

Faith, the gift, is God's part toward us; faith, whichis the fruit, is our part toward God.

This is not exactly a saving faith, for this fruit isproduced by those who are already Christians.It cannot be natural traits or talents which naturalman may have. Many of them work for a reward here,but faith, the fruit, is faithful when no one knows.

It is, not being faithful to a creed, doctrine, church,organization, lodge, union, relative or tradition.

I t is not found in any sinner.". '.' the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, exceptit abide in the vine .. ." (John 15:1).

What It IsIt is not merely for our ability, power, talents, edu-

cation or gifts that we receive our reward.Our reward will be given for diligent service.Faithfulness grows like the other fruit of the Spirit,and should be cultivated. If we are faithful to God andHis work in the small things we will also be faithful inthe larger things. If we are not faithful with ten centswe would not be faithful with one million dollars."He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful

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also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is un-just also in much."Therefore, if we are unfaithful we are unjust. If wewillfully steal time we would steal money if we had thechance.Only those folk who have this fruit of faithfulnesswill enter heaven." ... and they that are with him are called, andchosen, and faithful."Jesus is the one who is true and faithful. All Chris-tians have in them the divine nature of Christ.It will be wonderful when this fruit is ripe, mellow,

and is harvested."Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee acrown of life."This fruit of the Spirit will cause us to be trustwor-thy in keeping secrets and to not betray the confidenceof others." ... but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth thematter."It is trustworthiness, loyal, steadfastness andfidelity.Faith, the fruit, helps us to not stop until we receive

the spiritual gifts. Be faithful and you will receive thegift of faith.

"For therein the righteousness of God is revealedfrom faith to faith."

It means for us to have faith, or confidence in Godand man.Nations, states, counties, cities and churches are heldtogether by a group of homes. The home is held to-gether only by faithfulness.It helps us to keep our promises to God and man.

I t also means courage, or self confidence.We must believe that we can do what God says we

can do.Without a certain amount of courage we cannot as

much as put on our shoes in the morning, not to speakof going to our jobs.

I

r

It helps a minister keep his preaching engagements.It helps a man to keep his marriage vows. It helps

the wife to be faithful to her husband.God is faithful. The more of God we have the morefaithful we are.It helps us all to keep our word and to pay our groc-ery bill.If we have the Spirit we have the fruit of the Spirit.

"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is noneof his."This faithfulness will help us to not shun to declarethe whole counsel of God.A man who is faithful will swear to his own hurt andchange not. You can trust him to tell the truth whenunder pressure."A faithful witness will not lie."

It is for this fruit of faithfulness that we receive oureternal reward.

" ... thou hast been faithful over a few things, Iwill make thee ruler over many things: enter thou intothe joy of the Lord" (Matt. 25 :21).

26

ExamplesMoses was faithful during the forty years he was in

the desert. So God trusted him with larger things.Because David was faithful in slaying the lion andthe bear God trusted him in slaying the giant. AfterGod saw he was faithful in the many years of exile Heknew he could be trusted on the throne." ... and who is so faithful among all thy servants asDavid "Vl ...This fruit will help people to be faithful in givingofferings. Some can even be faithful in counting themoney and being a treasurer." ... for they were counted faithful and their officewas to distribute to their brethren."

Daniel was faithful in praying three times each day"beforehand." That is why he could be trusted in thelion's den.

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" ... forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was thereany error or fault found in him."

A preacher was said to have asked a man what hesaid in his sermon that caused him to be saved.

"It was not a thing you said," answered the man,"but a woman's action caused me to give my heart toGod; every Wednesday night, regardless of the weath-er, Isaw her on her way to midweek prayer meeting.Iknew she had something Idid not have."

We wouldn't think of letting anyone become a deaconunless he, his wife, and family are absolutely faithfulin all things. If they are not faithful in their own househow can they be faithful in God's house. If his wifeand children are not faithful in regular church attend-ance he will not be a good example to others.

"Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers,sober, faithful in all things."

We must not put elders over any church unless theirchildren are partakers of this fruit.

One does not have to live in an old house, drive anold car, or wear patched clothes in order to be meek.It does not mean that we must throwaway our toothbrush, razor, comb and necktie. It does not mean thatwe must go by the customs people used one hundredyears ago.True meekness cannot be found in people who do nothave the Spirit of God.

"Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? ... "(James 3:12).What It Is

"If any be blameless, the husband of one wife hav-ing faithful children ... " (Titus 1:6). '

Most of the time men become proud when they thinkthey have wisdom, but true wisdom has with it meek-ness. This is the difference in a true Christian and amere professor."... let him show out of a good conversation hisworks with meekness and wisdom."

Meekness indicates a ripeness of character in Christ.It gives us a victory worth more than all our success.There are many people today who have artificial

beauty, but a beautiful person does not have to try to bebeautiful; he is already beautiful. Of course, some al-most have to try to make themselves pretty. A personfull of the Spirit is always pretty.

"... he will beautify the meek with salvation.""Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning

... but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in thatwhich is not corruptible, even the ornament of a MEEKand quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God a greatprice."God can direct a meek man, but it is very hard for aproud person to receive grace and guidance.

"The meek will he guide ill judgment: and the meekwill he teach his way."We are living in a day when it looks as if the prouddictators are going to take over this world. Sometimesit looks as if the humble people will get thrown out andbe persecuted. But really the meek men will come out

MEEKNESSMeekness, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is that

supernatural something that makes one mild kind,patient, submissive and not easily provoked. '

It Is NotIt is not used in the Bible as being "tamely submis-

sive and serville."Meekness is not to be confused with weakness.It is not exactly gentleness; for gentleness is active

while meekness is passive. "Gentle" is a verb while"meek" is an adjective. A meek spirit causes onesactions to become gentle. We feel meek but act gentle.

Meekness is not to be laughed at or mocked. It is notto be looked down upon or pitied.

Meekness is not to be backward, bashful, or lazy. Itdoes not mean you have an inferiority complex.

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rebuked the proud Pharisees and spoke with authority,yet He was "led as a lamb to the slaughter."

When I was a boy and went to school there weresome strong boys who would push their way into theline, as we would march into the house. We had tostand back, but when the teacher saw them, they hadto hang their head and go to the end of the line.

In this life there are some "pushers" who seem tohave their way right at present. Some of them seem togain for awhile, but very often they are dealt with bythe Lord.All of them will be dealt with some day. We will thenhave what rightfully belongs to us. All "pushers" musthang their heads and go to the foot of the line.

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit theearth" (Matt. 5:5).

winner in the long run."Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit theearth."There is no true rest in this world today for our

souls, unless we come to Him who is meek and lowly inheart.Meekness is the only true Spirit of Christ.With this weapon we can win the troublemakers back

to the church. When they return, meekness will helpus not to remind them of their mistakes." ... restore such a one in the spirit of meekness."Wemust use discipline with meekness.In arguments and debates we are sure to win with

this weapon. People will not only see the truth but theywill feel our spirit.

" ... be ready always to give an answer to every manthat asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you withmeekness and fear."Meekness helps us to be good listeners as well as goodspeakers. If there be no listeners we will need nospeakers.

TEMPERANCETemperance, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is self

control, which covers the whole range of human appe-tite, whether physical, mental, or spiritual.

"... and receive with meekness the engrafted word,which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).It Is Not

Itdoes not mean that you can drink a little whiskey,beer wine or other strong drinks, any more than it, .means that you can just kill a few people, or Just com-mit adultery moderately.Itdoes not mean that you may moderately partake ofa bad habit. Itdoes not condone sin in the least form.The Holy Spirit will not lead a man into sin. Temper-ance is the fruit of the Spirit.Temperance, which is the friuit of the Spirit, is notfound in all "temperance clubs."It does not mean that a man controls himself bynatural means or methods.Itis not possessed by those who have a seared con-science or a constitution that is broken down.

It does not mean that one makes a New Year's reso-lution, "swears off" or turns over a new leaf.

ExamplesWhen Moses was criticized by his own people he fell

on his face and carried it all to God, instead of using hisauthority. He was one of the meekest men on earth.He was one of the greatest leaders in history. He

could rebuke; he could be stern; yet he was meek."Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the

men which were on the face of the earth."This did not say below all the other men; it said

"above."Stephen in the face of an angry mob rebuked the

unbelievers; yet when he was stoned to death unjustlyhe said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple,


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Temperance will help us not to always express ourfeeling.

It makes our inward strength greater than our out-ward strength.

It is His strength within us, helping us to do thatwhich we cannot do ourselves. It is the divine natureof Christ within. It is the strength that controls ourstrength.

" ... against such there is no law" (Gal. 5 :23).What It Is

It is the Spirit of God in you, helping you to controlyourself.

It helps you not to love pleasures more than you doGod. There are many legitimate pleasures, but the dan-ger is in being "lovers of pleasures more than loversof God."

It helps you not to go to the extreme with good habits,such as eating, talking, playing, working, studying ordressing.

It is a sure mark of growth in grace and an import-ant Christian virtue.

It is a result of the help and grace of God.It is given to people who have little strength to con-trol themselves; it is needed by people who have strongnatural powers.It helps you to be a total abstainer from sinful habitsand to be moderate in good habits.It marks us a Christian athlete for Jesus.

It helps us to abstain from fleshly lusts which waragainst the soul.It closes the door to demon possession and oppres-

"And everyone that st.riveth for the mastery istemperate in all things .. .' (I Cor. 10:25).

sion,It furnishes us a balance in work and play.It helps our bodies to be our servants instead of our

masters.It helps us to never do anything that causes a weakbrother to offend, to not let sin reign in our mortalbodies.

It can never be replaced by spiritual gifts, evenstrong they may be.

Temperance in eating between fasts, and just beforechurch, is just as important as fasting.

Temperance will help us to bridle our tongues. Itwillhelp us not give way to popular applause.It will help us not to run a service completely ontongues.

ExamplesDaniel through temperance controlled his appetite.

He only ate the meat that was good for him."And at the end of ten days their countenances ap-

peared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the childrenwhich ate the portion of the king's meat."Sampson was using temperance when he vowed toeat only certain things.

Demons would not obey the Apostles who would notfast.

"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayerand fasting."

Many people who are shocked at the use of tobaccoare not temperate in telling jokes. Some are quick tofly into a rage, while others have a sullen temper.

A blacksmith read that we must be temperate in allthings. He explained it like this:"If the plow is too soft I put it in the water; if it is

too hard I put it in the fire. I put it on the anvil and cutit into shape. I put it from the fire to the water untilit has the right temper. Then it won't break or bend.It will have the right. temper to do work in all kinds ofground and all kind of weather."

We go through fiery trials. We enjoy the water oflife when we receive a big blessing. If we are too softGod puts us into the water. If we are too ha:..d he putsus into the fire. We are cut Into shape on the anvil.When we have the right temper we can be used in all


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kinds of circumstances; regardless of the weather wewill be faithful. We won't bend or break.If we refuse to be tempered, like the plow, we arethrown into the junk pile.

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CHAPTER IIIFRUITS OF THE FLESH

The fruit of the flesh is the product of the carnal, un-regenerate state of man before conversion.

LORD TEACH I ;S TO PRAYTHE MAN WHOSE " 'l iMBER I S b 66SINS wmrn ARE UNPARDONABI.ELET GOD ALONEGOO'S urn,E Fl'lGERNOW ADmITH FAITH

It Is NotIt is not to be looked on lightly, with the least degreeof allowance. It is not to be justified, or be allowed togo unconfessed.It must not be allowed to stay in our life, for no onecan make heaven with the fruit of the flesh.It is not found in an obedient, born again child ofGod."Knowing this that our old man is crucified with

Him, that the old body of sin might be destroyed, thathenceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is deadis freed from sin."

The fruit of the flesh is not found in a man who isproducing fruit of the Spirit."A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neithercan a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."The flesh nature cannot be alive in our life at the

same time we are living for God. A house dividedagainst itself cannot stand. No man can serve twomasters.

W.V. Grant

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"And they that are Christ's have crucified the fleshwith the affections and lusts" (Gal. 5:24).What It Is

The fruit of the flesh is what you have in your lifewhen the old man, or the carnal, sinful, unregeneratenature is alive .

It is to be looked upon as an enemy. It is to be killedout in our life. You must look upon the fruit of the," -~--"


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ance of lawful authority.13. Heresies, to have a contrary doctrine to thetruth.14. Envyings, ill will felt because of the excellence of

another.15. Murderers, to deliberately kill a human being.

One-fourth of all mothers in America are murderers,who murder unborn babes. If you hate your brotheryou are a murderer.16. Drunkenness, to be intoxicated. Many are drunk-en on strong drink. Others are drunken on the cares ofthis world. The Bible speaks more about worldiness,which is the cares of this world, than it does on worldi-ness, which is the way we look and dress.

17. Revellings, uproarings, festivities, etc.18. And such like: This means anything else that is

prompted by the flesh, or sinful nature of man.The people who do these things shall not inherit the

kingdom of God. Paul was talking to Christian people(Gal. 1: 5). This means just anyone who does thesethings, whether they be Jew, Gentile, bond, or free;whether they are sinners who have never been saved,or sinners after they have been saved.

flesh as you would look on a rattle snake in the cribwith your baby.It must be looked upon as you would look on a maddog in the house with your children, as a murderer try-ing to kill your wife.Think of this enemy as you would a wild beast, a can-cer; or tuberculosis that has come to eat away yourlife!The carnal, sinful desire of the old man which is thefruit of the flesh, produces certain works.

1. Adultery is the work of the flesh: This is the act ofbreaking the marriage vow. Adultry, as all other sins,may be committed in the heart, even before the actionis carried out (Matt. 5 :28). The minute one becomeswilling in his heart to do something, it is a sin beforehe has a chance to do it.2. Fornication is the work of the flesh: This is un-lawful sex relations.3. Uncleanness is the work of the flesh: When thisarises in the heart it makes a man crave unclean habitsof the flesh and spirit.4. Hatred is the work of the flesh: This is an extremeabhorrence or dislike for people.. Other works of the flesh are as follows:

5. Lasciviousness, which is to be lewd and lustful.6. Idolatry means the worship of idols or the extre~e

admiration of any person or thing. Covetousness ISidolatry. Stubborness is as idolatry."7. Witchcraft, which means to deal with evil spirits,sorcery or magic. This would include palm reading,witch boards, or any form of fortune telling. "Rebel-lion is as the sin of witchcraft" (I Sam. 15 :23) .

8. Variance is to be at discord with all the rest. Tosow discord among the brethren is an abomination.

9. Emulation, which means to be at rivarly witheach other.10. Wrath, which means a deep indignation, or rage.

11. Strife, which means to have conflct or hostilities.12. Seditions, the stirring up of discontent; resist-

" ... they which rio such things shall not inherit thekingdom of God" (Gal. 5:1.7-21).Examples

SOME .THINK THAT MANIFESTATIONS DE-NOTES FRUIT.

Some folk who have quit bearing fruit, and are al-most ready to be taken away, may get under the powerthat someone else has prayed down, and have some kindof manifestations. That does not prove that they havefruit.

Some folk say, "That is my preacher, because hejumped four feet high. He plays a guitar and singsbeautifully."

Yes, but does he bear fruits? What kind of fruitsdoes he bear'? Does he manufacture strife or unity?Peace or hatred? Gentleness or variance? Goodness or


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covetousness? Longsufiering or rebellion? Temper-ance or resistance? Does he have wrath and strife orthe love of God?

You will know them by their fruit, not manifesta-tions.

When the wind blows through the forest every treethere will have manifestations, even the fruitless onesthat are ready to die.

" ... every tree which bringeth not forth good fruitis hewn down and cast into the fire."After Saul had quit bearing fruit he preached, but

he was not the one who prayed down the power. Davidplayed it down.

Just because a man gets under the power that youpray down, and feels it, does not prove that his life isbearing fruit. A sinner can feel the power of God whenhe comes close to it.

When Jesus comes He will be looking for fruit.--"Lord, let it alone this year also,till I shall dig aboutit, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not,

then after that thou shall cut it down."Many pastors pray for their fruitless members. God

answers prayer and gives the members one morechance, but if they bear no fruit they shall be takenaway.

It was found that the minister had been taughtand trained in the Spirit for sixty years, but he hadnever been baptized with the Holy Spirit. He had ma-tured fruit, but no gifts whatsoever! It was becausehe had not yet heard whether there be a Holy GhostBaptism.

His neighbors had only been saved the week before.They had come out of the gutters of sin. They had notyet been taught and trained in the Spirit as the oldminister. Within a few months their fruits also beganto grow, and came into a mature state, even faster thanthe minister's, who did not have the Baptism of theHoly Spirit.

It takes good ground and time to produce fruit. It isnot given by the laying on of hands.

" ... and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold,some sixty fold, some thirty fold" (Matt. 13 :8).

SOME SEEM TO THINK THEY CAN HAVESPIRITUAL FRUIT AND FIGHT SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he takethaway ... " (John 15:2).SOME DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE

WiTH SEEMINGLY NO FRUIT CAN MANIFESTSPIRITUAL GIFTS OR HAVE TRUE MANIFESTA-TIONS.

It takes a while to produce fruit. Some people justafter they are saved may have green fruit.

A man may be saved, filled with the Spirit, and havea gift manifested through him the same night, but itwill take some time for him to produce fruit.

An old minister who had been preaching for aboutsixty years wondered why his neighbors, who mani-fested gifts, did not have ripe fruit.

If we say that we love Him and do not keep His com-mandments we are a liar and the truth is not in us.

"Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts."If we cease to walk in all the light we walk in sin

(I John 1:7).You may have artificial fruit with no Holy Spirit, but

you don't have spiritual fruit.,There are nine spiritual gifts and nine spiritualfruits. God wants us to be balanced, and not go on ex-treme, or be a half baked cake.

Since it takes the Spirit to produce both gifts andfruit we should be willing for the Spirit to have Hisperfect way in our lives.

If we let the Spirit have His way in our lives, themore fruit we have, the more gifts we will have, andthe more gifts we have the more fruit we will have.

Some say, "I want the fruit, but I don't want thegifts." Others say, "I want the gifts, but I care noth-ing about the fruit." The Holy Spirit is still sovereign.

38 39

He expected fruit before baptism. Confession was not


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enough."0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to

flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth thereforefruits meet for repentance."They had to show they had the fruit before they

joined his church. If they did not have the fruit hecalled them a generation of snakes.

He demanded that they quit their sins before theywere baptized." Exact no more than that which is appointed.

you Do violence to no man, neither accuse anyfalsely; and be content with your wages." He knewthat a good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit.

He did not need to judge them; he knew them bytheir fruits. We know them by their fruits. Therefore,we have no excuse for taking in members who lie, steal,and commit adultery.

They are to .bring forth fruit meet for repentance.Their fruit had to prove that they had repented.Repentance means that we are sorry enough to quit

Let Him work out what He will in our lives. It is notfor us to give Him orders.

" ... 'Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill thelust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:]6).SOME TELL THE PEOPLE TO JUST BELIEVE

AND JOIN A CHURCH AND THEY WILL BESAVED.

Simon the sorcerer believed and was baptized, butwhen Peter came down and discerned that his heartwas not right in the sight of God he said, "Pray forme" (Acts 8 :24).

That proved two things:First: Baptism alone does not save sinners. It does

not put away the fruit of the flesh (I Peter 3 :21).Second: You must have heart faith instead of head

faith in order to be saved."For with the heart man believeth unto righteous-"ess ...Unless you have a change of heart you are not saved.

When you have a change of heart the desire for sinwill be gone, for every sin comes from the heart.

" ... whatsoever thing from without entereth intothe man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth notinto the heart .... For from within, out of the heart ofmen, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications,murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, laci-viousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these things come within and defile the man."

Many people are taken into a church because they be-lieve with their mind that Jesus is the Son of God. Theyonly believe from a historical standpoint, as they be-lieve George Washington was the first president.

These people have no more salvation than the devil,for the devils believed and trembled. They got furtheralong than some people. The devils confessed thatJesus was the Son of God" (Mark 5:7; James 2 :19).We need more preachers like John the Baptist. Herefused to baptize the people unless they first repented.

sms.A man on the wrong road may be sorry that he is on

the wrong road. He may be sorry. He may confess. Hemay cry, but he has not repented until he gets up andgets on the right road!

'Judas was sorry for his actions, but he did notchange his life. Esau was sorry for his actions. Hecried, but did not repent.

Jesus preached repentance. John the Baptist preach-ed repentance. The seventy was commanded to preachthat men should repent. The twelve preached repent ..ance. Paul preached repentance.

"And that repentance and remission of sins shouldbe preached in his name among all nations ... "

Every God-called preacher preaches repentance."Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I

have commanded you ... "If you keep sinning you have not repented.

amine it you see there is no life in the tree. The fruit" ... except ve repent ye shall all likewise perish"


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it not real.On that Christmas tree you also notice there are man

made gifts. They won't last long. Gifts won't stay longafter the tree dies and is gone. There only remains manmade efforts!

(Luke 13:3).SOME PEOPLE TRY TO SUBSTITUTE NATURAL

TALENTS, ETHICS, PRINCIPLES PSYCHOLOGY,OR CULTURE FOR FRUITS.

We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit withoutthe Spirit.

A school teacher, doctor, lawyer, merchant, or sales-man, who has never been saved may be friendly andkind. It is not the true fruit of the Spirit if they donot have the Spirit.

That is as much fruit as many ministers and mem-bers have.

You may have works without the fruit, but if youhave the fruit you will work.

The more of the Holy Spirit we have the more fruitsof the Spirit we have.

"Be filled with the Spirit."Many people have artificial fruit. In speaking of Hispeople the Lord said they brought forth wild grapes.They looked like real grapes, but they were wild. Thatdenotes the fruit of the flesh. We are all born bynature as a wild ass' colt. We need to be reborn. Bynature everyone is sinful.

" ... and he looked that it should bring forth grapes,and it brought forth wild grapes."

These people may fool part of the people part of thetime, but they can't fool all the people all the time.They may be a member of a "meeting house," but ifthey do not have the real fruit they will not hide theirreal nature very long.

"For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of thefields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall,their clusters are bitter: their vine is the poison ofd "agons ...

People who try to put on spiritual fruit without theSpirit are like a Christmas tree, loaded down withartificial fruit. It looks like real fruit, but when you ex-

"Every tree that bringeth not forth fruit is hewndown and cast into the fire" (Matt. 7:19).SOME TEACH THAT PAUL WAS CARNAL SOLDUNDER SIN.Paul said to be carnally minded is death.In the seventh chapter of Romans we see that Paul

was telling his condition as he was under the law. Thefollowing was his state before Jesus Christ came onthe inside:

"But I am carnal, sold under sin.""Sin that dwelleth in me.""I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth nogood thing.""Bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which

is in my members.""For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins,

which .were by the law, did work in our members tobring forth fruit unto death."

He shows plainly that if we are dead to the carnallaw we bring forth spiritual fruit; if we are alive tothe carnal law we bring forth fruits of the flesh (Rom.7: 45) .

" ... do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of this-tles ? . . . A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; orelse make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt."

Look how differently it was after Paul was deliveredfrom "the body of this death." Here it is:

"Who walk not after the law but after the Spirit.""So they that are in the flesh cannot please God.""We are not in the flesh but in the Spirit."

"For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die : but if ye


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know you by yout fruits." ... Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolat-

ers; nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers ofthemselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous,nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall in-herit the kingdom of God."

If you lie you are a liar; if you steal you are a thief;if you kill you are a murderer; if you drink you are adrunkard: if you sin you are a sinner." ... What fellowship hath righteousness with un-righteousness; and what concord hath Christ withBelial ?"

No tree can bear two kinds of fruit at once. Whenwe were saved we put off the fruit of the flesh.

"Putting off the. body of the sins of the flesh by thecircumcision of Christ.""For he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh

reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shallof the Spirit reap life everlasting.""For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye

through the' Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, yeshall live."

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if sobe that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyman have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his."

We cannot be in and out of Christ each day. Wemust abide in Christ if we want His virtue and life toflow through us and keep us alive.

through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, yeshall live.""But if we be led by the Spirit we are not under thelaw.""Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lustof the flesh.""Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him,

that the body of sin might be destroyed, that hence-forth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead isfreed from sin."

"N either yield ye your members as instruments ofunrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves untoGod, as those that are alive from the dead, and yourmembers as instruments of righteousness unto God."

Most folk need to stop living in the seventh chapterof Romans and start living in the eighth chapter, wherethey will have "no condemnation."

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hathmade me free from the law of sin and death.""For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spirit-

ually minded is life and peace"(Rom. 8 :6).We absolutely have to put o ff the old man before wecan 'put on the new man.

" ... seeing that ye have put off the old man with hisdeeds; and have put on the new man ... " (Col. 3:9-10).SOME TEACH THAT CHRISTIANS MAY COM-

MIT ALL KINDS OF SINS AND STAY IN A SAVEDSTATE.Paul, in writing to his members said, "He that doeth

these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."In the same chapter Paul said, "Stand fast therefore

in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, andbe not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Heaven will not be populated with whoremongers,adulterers, drunkards, fornicators, and thieves.

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit."You may confess one thing and live another, but we

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as abranch, and is withered: and men gather them, and castthem into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:6).SOME TEACH THAT THERE ARE TWO PARTS

ABOUT A MAN, THE OLD MAN AND THE NEWMAN.

I have heard some of the best Bible sermons on liv-ing right; then the speaker would say, "I was talkingabout the new man; the old man must sin every day."

. .They read that Paul said he died daily, and concludethat the old man resurrected in his life every day. They

because the law is written upon our hearts.say that Paul would kill. the old man after he commit-


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"He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to himit is sin."

If your heart were cut out you would be throughted all these sins which are the fruits of the flesh.

But that would violate scores of other Scriptures.Any honest seeker after the truth will see by the

context that Paul was talking about his natural bodygradually dying every day. He was speaking about theresurrection of the dead, and followed the statementwith, "If after the manner of men I have fought withbeasts" (lCor. 15:32).

You cannot find that Paul taught that the old man,or the sinful nature, resurrected every day.

" ... for sin condemned sin in the flesh: That therighteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, whowalk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Paul plainly taught that the man is to be dead andmortified. That does not sound like he came alive eachday.

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make notprovisions for the flesh.""They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh andthe affections thereof."

Jesus taught that every sin that we commit createsat the heart.

"... whatsoever thing from without entereth into theman, it cannot defile the man: because it entereth notinto the heart .... For from within, out of the heartof men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries fornications,murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, laci-viousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.All these things come from within and defile the men."

This shows that EVERY SIN that a man commitscomes from the heart. A man is first willing in hisheart before he commits sin. The old body does not sinwithout the consent of the heart.

" ... Every sin that a man doeth is without thebody."

During the old Bible days men could sin throughignorance, because the law was written on tables ofstone. Today it is impossible to sin and not know it,

smmng.After your heart has stopped beating, you are

through sinning.The story goes that a preacher was brought before

the judge for stealing chickens.He said, "That was the old man that stole the chick-ens. My new man is living right."

"We will lock your old man up thirty days," said thejudge, "and let the new man go home."

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new crea-ture: old things are passed away; BEHOLD, ALLTHINGS are become new."

There are three parts about a man: That old man, thenew man and the human. The human only keeps com-.pany with one at a time.

When you get the old man killed out, the new manis alive, which keeps company with the human. If youlet the new man die the old man comes alive and keepscompany with the human.

"But if we be led by the Spirit we are no~ under thelaw."" ... Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill thelust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).". . . trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit,twice dead, plucked up by the' roots" (Jude 12).

Two Classes of PeopleI have only written to two classes of people, those

who have the fruit of the flesh and those who have thefruit of the Spirit.

Noone has both.If you are one who has the fruit of the Spirit, stay

fruitful to God. Let Him purge you that you may bringforth more fruit.

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B O O K S B Y R E V . W . V . G R A N T


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Let no one deceive you into thinking that you canbear both evil and good fruit.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, withoutwhich no man shall see the Lord."

"For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit;neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

If you are one who yields the fruit of the flesh, re-member you are a corrupt tree.

Remember that all have sinned and comeshort of theglory of God."If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a

liar, and his word is not in .us.""If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgiveus our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHT-EOUSNESS" (I John 1:9).

T H E

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