THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT GROW FROM THE ROOTS OF OBEDIENCE

“My people have committed two sins:

They have forsaken me, the spring of living water,

And have dug their own cisterns,

Broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Jeremiah 2:13

Broken cisterns that cannot hold water…One way that manifests itself is by taking the Word of God and the things of God and manipulating and adapting them so that they become what works for us.  One of the most obvious examples of this is the attention to the Spirit and how that works out in the spiritual life. 

The qualities of the Spirit that are highlighted most are love, joy, and peace; as long as those qualities are there, anything goes.  So to speak against something that is not in alignment with God’s Word of His ways is not acceptable and is seen as being intolerant, or as some would put it ‘politically incorrect’.  Admonishing or correcting becomes unloving and therefore

mean- spirited.

The Holy Spirit, just like Jesus, God’s Son, came with intention and was sent with purpose, actually two purposes.  “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me” (John 16: 13,14).  The Holy Spirit comes as the Spirit of Truth.  “And when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness because I go to the Father, and you will not see me no longer; concerning judgment because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11).

The main sin is not believing in Jesus, therefore forsaking God; what makes us righteous in the eyes of God is following Jesus and the way he lived; judgment is measured by not living to the standards of the world.

The tendency today is to separate Spirit from Truth; but it can’t be done and remain True.   Spirit without Truth becomes sloppy sentimentality and loose liberalism.  Truth without Spirit becomes lifeless legalism and uncompassionate understanding.  God loves the world but it is not a lawless love.  He does not love us because we keep his laws but we should keep his laws because we love him and trust him to know what is best for us.

The fruits of the Spirit grow from the roots of obedience to God.  As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.  Amen