The Cruelty of Giving a Little Boy an Avocado Tree

Welcome to Living Waters, a new podcast hosted by Ray Comfort, Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne, Mark Spence and Oscar Navarro. In each episode, they will guide discussions alongside various special guests to explore pressing questions of our day with sound theology and apologetics!

On today’s episode, the guys are back to talk about the fruit of the spirit. We find references to the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:16-26. The fruit of the spirit is the promise that God is at work through his spirit in us. In order for fruit to grow, it takes time. God at work in us isn’t an overnight thing, but takes time for the fruit of the spirit to grow and mature throughout the rest of your life. The fruit of the spirit possesses love, kindness, peace, forbearance, goodness, gentleness, self control and faithfulness. It can’t have one of these characteristics and not the other, it is all encompassing. 

Temperance is an attribute of the fruit of the spirit which is often overlooked. In the world which says I’m free to do whatever I want, self control is an exercise of Godliness. They discuss the constant realization we all have as Christians that we still have so much to learn from God. The Scripture says to examine yourself and see if you are in the faith, and it’s the fruit we should be looking for. It’s not a measure for comparing ourselves to non-believers, but is a mirror for reflecting our need for a savior. Who you are in private is who you really were. God isn’t commanding you to give your life up, but rather to lay it down to him. Faith produces joy, and joy produces an energy otherwise known as the fruit of the spirit. Happiness is circumstantial, but joy is positional and can carry us through difficult circumstances. Scripture tells us to rejoice because our fate is written in Heaven. Finally, they discuss the attribute of gentleness. The ability to communicate truth in a kind and loving way and having restrained power mimics gentleness. 

In life situations, there are two types of people: those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and those who are controlled by the flesh. Scripture says to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Becoming eternally minded rather than earthly minded is how we change the code. 

Thanks for listening and see you next time!

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Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

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Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro