Chapter 6: The Heart of an Apostle

Page 4

Four contentious young men who claimed to be filled with the Holy

Spirit also attended Thursday night’s public Bible study. Their insulting behavior and divisiveness illustrated the words of Jesus when he said: “You will know them by their fruits.” What are the fruits of the Spirit?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” Galatians 5:22 KJV

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” Ephesians. 5:9 KJV

The Bible also contrasts the fruits of the flesh. Consider the following Bible verses:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness,

revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

Among the fruits of the flesh exhibited by the truth squad on Thursday night were idolatry, wrath, strife and heresies. There was also a lack of peace and goodness. Gentleness was not in their arsenal as they insisted

repeatedly it was their right to “contend for their faith.” Not in a new group of people without taking the time to know them and what they stand for! To this apostle, it was witnessing sheer arrogance and ungodly behavior.

I am mindful of the gentleness of Jesus when he dealt with sinners. Jesus never beat people into submission from Scripture with strong rhetoric. That is something to think about. Why didn’t he? It is all about free will. In direct contrast to those modern day teachings about beating people into

salvation, God is the One who calls us unto Him.