Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

This is the last of the series on fake fruits of the spirit. If you had not noticed I never spoke once of what fake fruit looked like. That comes from an understanding of spotting counterfeits. Tellers are never shown counterfeit bills. There are too many varieties to identify all the flaws to look for. What they do is show the tellers the real deal over and over and over again. Once they know what the real thing looks like it is obvious when a counterfeit is place in front of them.

The same thing can be said of fruits of the spirit. Knowing Christ and knowing the Holy Spirit, you will know the real deal when you see it. There are many anti-christs out there. Too many to tell you of all the flaws. But to know Christ and have a close personal relationship with Him, do you think you will need someone to point Him out to you at His coming?

Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

His faith, His work, His fruit, His grace, His salvation, all is His and we are nothing more than the object of His affection, His bride, His friend, His helpmate. Know Him.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In other translations temperance is called self-control. It seems that if we were to exhibit self-control, we should have done so before now. Doesn’t self-control take place in gentleness, goodness and meekness?

Having received my training within a charismatic church, I have a little different take on self-control that goes a step beyond the resistance to temptation. I’ve seen the giftings in a different light than some, both within and without the administration.

Having laid hands on the ill and seen healing does not mean I have a healing ministry. Having the gift of prophecy, I am not a prophet. Having a gift of discernment does not make me a counselor.

Galatians 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Self-control is given so that we do not seek glory for ourselves. God be glorified. I am sure that you have seen, as have I, that some that have momentary attention get “caught up in the spirit”. That may be what they chose to call it, but I think it is more likely to be a loss of self-control.

The gifts of service and the fruits of the spirit, as well as wisdom, need maturing. None of these characteristics of Christ come naturally, nor do they come instantly. Maturity takes time, patience and attention to detail.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;