Thinking out loud.....

"On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name (or speak in tongues?), and cast out demons in Your name, and DO many mighty works in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:21-23 

The fruit of the Spirit--evidence of Christ in our lives is => love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23 also read 1 Cor.13--"if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I AM NOTHING." The fruit of the Spirit can be counterfeit too, many are deemed to be filled with the spirit b/c they are nice and appear to love others and be generous, good, moral and so on...but this is also referenced in Matt.5:46 and also more extensively in Luke 6:27-36 =>


"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." 


Right after this passage, Jesus goes on to speak of ""Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."" (vs.37,38)

Many use this as an offering slogan but it is speaking if the way we treat others...this is evidence of our BELIEF in Jesus Christ. We are not kind b/c someone "deserves" it. We are kind b/c we see and understand that Jesus was kind to us when WE did not deserve it. We love others b/c He loves us and we are unworthy, undeserving recipients. These are the true evidences of the Spirit. Believing what Christ has done and acting in that toward others. The gifts of the Spirit will vary but the fruit of the spirit WILL NOT.