Anchor Texts: John 15:1-8, Galatians 5:22-23.
INTRODUCTION
Begin with the character of God as revealed in Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:7 and tell the people the five things man lost in the Garden of Eden.
- The image (nature/resemblance) of God. Genesis 1:26.
- Man began to look like strange creatures. John 8:44.
- The likeness (character) of God. Genesis 1:26.
- Love, peace, unity, oneness, equity, patience, are all attributes of God that makes Him the Supreme Being that He is. E.g. Let Us make man… this wouldn’t have been possible without unity, oneness, and love among the God Heads.
- Due to the fall, instead of love (the nature of God), man began to exhibit demonic characters like lust, hatred, jealousy, malice, wickedness, et al. E.g. Cain & Abel, Joseph & his brothers, Saul & David, et al.
- Dominion (Authority of a god). Genesis 1:26.
- The right to rule over the earth (the things of the earth, not each other)
- The right to rule over the fish of the sea.
- The right to rule over the birds of the air.
NB: Man’s dominion was simply over the visible realm because I believe, that was sufficient to live as a man.
Question: Was God not aware of devil and the fallen angels who already possessed earth? They are spirit beings, why was dominion that was strictly for the natural given to Man? How would man have dominated satan and his cohorts? I am wondering.
- The breathe of God. Genesis 2:7.
- The word “breathe” means Ruhash “the Wind of God”.
- This breathe is responsible to make the soulish (pseuche) life of man to be functional and operational.
NB: This breathe isn’t the Holy Spirit.
- The life of God. (The tree of good and evil).
- Man was to participate in an economy that would sponsor immortality for him.
- It is not God’s intention to create a project that will die. Unfortunately, when sin found expression, God’s project opened the portal for mortality.
- By simply obeying the commandment of God, man would have easily attained immortality.
All these are meant to equip man to become a ruler in this realm.
Jesus came to die for us and to restore all these lost values and essence.
A superior dominion
Not just that, Jesus gave us a superior authority than what was given unto Adam.
When you study Colossians 2:1-15 critically, Paul spoke about believers being the head of principalities and powers. The dominion given unto Adam in Genesis 1 and 2 did not capture these entities. But Jesus Christ defeated Satan and his cohorts. And, He didn’t stop there, He gave us a name that is above every other name (JESUS).
- Jesus is above all the cadres of dominion given in the Old Testament as captured in Genesis 1:26-27.
- Jesus is a name above the demonic hierarchy as captured in Ephesians 6:12.
My goal is to emphasize on the character aspect of what man lost; hence, the fruit of the spirit.
WHAT IS A FRUIT?
- A fruit is an offspring of a tree.
- A fruit is a symbol that a tree is mature. An immature tree cannot bear fruit. So also, any believer who isn’t mature cannot bear fruit.
WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?
- Like physical fruits, it is the proof of maturity that the life of God inside a believer is evident in the fruit he or she bears. So if you find a believer who is still struggling with lies, hatred, jealousy, then know that he or she is still a babe. John 15:5.
- It is a proof that you are born of God. Everyone who claims to be in Christ must bear fruit (take note of singular). John 15:2.
- Is a testimony of your believe (faith) in God. John 1:8.
- It is the evidence that our live is deeply (abides) rooted in Christ Jesus. John 15:5-6.
- It also symbolizes that Jesus Christ is at work in our lives to make us perfect unto every good works.
HOW DOES A BELIEVER BEAR FRUIT?
- By abiding in Christ and Christ in you. John 15:4.
- When the word of the Lord lives in your heart. John 15:7.
PRAYER POINT: Dear Lord, grant me the grace to work in the Spirit at all times. Galatians 5:25.
