Works of The Spirit of God
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Feb 21, 2021
- 10 min read
Recently we discussed the word “works” as it is found in the Holy Bible pertaining to mankind. During this, it was mentioned that there are basically two different categories of “works” found in God’s Word. In order to differentiate between the two, we classified the two groups as works that bring glory to God, and then the works that do not bring glory to God; but that otherwise bring glory to man.
Today, I would like to talk about the works that do bring glory to God. Hopefully we all know and understand that, in order for anything to bring glory to God, it must be “good” in His sight. That said, it must therefore be authored by God Himself. Who else could possibly ‘create’ something within themselves that would be found good in His eyes, unless if His hand were in it?
Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
…this, my Friends, is the carnal state of mankind without God’s intervention in their lives. Paul was rehearsing here what it was like, before the Spirit of God had entered into His inner being, but when He wanted to do good on his own, within his own power.
Good news to us though:
Romans 8:8-9 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. (However) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
Who can judge what is good in the sight of God, and what is evil? Before we answer, let’s look at these scriptures:
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
In many times past, we have studied together, and it has been pointed out that we must search and seek for God in His way if we are to find Him. Where can a person find God? Within His Word are the instructions. How do we search? Well, again, it starts with a repentant heart that is willing to turn from our old sinful ways and begin to have respect to the things that we find within God’s Holy Word as we seek Him. The more “Word” that we get in us, the more work He will perform within us. You see, His Word itself is “Spirit”.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.
What is really happening if we “believe” or “accept” what His Word is revealing to us as we absorb it? We become more and more hopeful in finding Him in the depth of the Truth of The Gospel we are reading. If we continue, we learn to love Him more and more…
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
If we submit and dedicate our lives to knowing the real God of this universe, His love will grow in us through this learning process in His Word. What does He tell us concerning this?
John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments.16And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
So, here is says: The Spirit of Truth dwells with us, and shall be in us. What did Jesus mean by “for He dwelleth with you”? Well, (concerning the disciples that He was talking to there) Jesus Christ who represented the fulness of God dwelling in the flesh of man, was walking, eating, sharing; and basically, living alongside them. Concerning us: the Holy Bible, is the most published book in the world, with more than 6 billion copies, according to https://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/the-bible/. Almost every person has (or has had) at least one in their home. If not, we definitely all have access to one!
Now, Jesus also said that this same Spirit “shall be in you.” What did He mean by this? Well, the Spirit of God was given on the Day of Pentecost, there in the Book of Acts, as the indwelling Spirit of God. Thus, God’s Spirit is now not only ‘with’ men and women, but is given to some as a “gift”, concentrated within their inner being. This happens when God sees our sincere and unwavering search for Him. No matter the consequences or failures that we see during our time seeking Him from a place of repentance, if we believe His Word, that He is capable of delivering us from our sin in this lifetime here on earth, He is bound by His Word to do just that!
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.
Psalms 119:2-3 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. 3They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
And, if The Spirit of God dwells in us, what kind of “works” will we have? These will be works that bring Glory to God, of course! -Works of The Spirit! How can we recognize these?
Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
When anyone performs “work” it yields what we call “profit”, right? If we are talking about a vineyard, that “profit” would be in the form of “fruit”, correct? So then, how does God define what “fruit” is worthy of His blessing? Remember near the beginning of this discussion how we said, “Hopefully we all know and understand that, in order for anything to bring glory to God, it must be “good” in His sight. That said, it must therefore be authored by God Himself”?
Knowing this, mankind is only therefore capable of producing the fruit of God if He is in the arrangement. We can easily ‘claim’ to have the Power of God, but the proof is in our walk. None of us can force God to give us this power – it is a gift that only He can give! If God then chooses to be in a person’s life, the way that He has authored to do this is through and by His Grace. Once He has determined that we are ready, He imparts grace toward us as individuals by placing His Spirit within our heart, giving us the ability to grow in this Grace toward the perfection of His plan of salvation for our lives. Part of this “growing” involves taking care of the other two parts of our being: the mind and body.
Acts 15:8-9 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
As our mind is “transformed” to line up with God’s Spirit, our thoughts will being to line up with His thoughts.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
As we grow in Grace, we will begin to produce “fruit”. This “fruit” is authored by God’s Spirit that now dwells within us, if we have truly received Him. Thus, “Fruits of The Spirit” are being perfected in our lives here in our lives while upon this earth!
Here are the fruits of the Spirit, as defined by God’s Word:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When our thoughts line up with The Lord’s, we now have a heart and mind to perform God’s will. Thus, we will begin to produce these fruits and continue to do so as we walk in The Spirit. In doing this, our flesh is forced into subjection (kind of like two against one; our heart and mind overrules our body), and these fruits are eventually perfected in our mortal lives, preparing us for life everlasting that is to come.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:24-25 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Folks let’s not deceive ourselves. Have we submitted completely to God? Has He given us this gift of His indwelling Spirit? If so, we are without excuse here… if God is in us, who will prevail in the end? Will it be His Spirit, or our own sinful nature? Which is stronger?
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God
Titus 3:1-8 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
1 Peter 1:9-10 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you
2 John 1:1-5 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the Truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the Truth; 2For the Truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in Truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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