Tag: fruit-of-the-spirit

  • The Way of Fruitfulness

    You cannot operate in the Gifts of the Spirit before you first operate in the Fruits of the Spirit.  Fruits are for the good of all the Church.  Everything God created was created to give forth fruit.

    Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth”; and it was so.  And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind and trees bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind, and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)

    And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:22, 28)

    Likewise, my brothers, you have undergone death as to the law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another – to Him who was raised from the dead – in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)

    Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain, it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone.  But if it dies, it produces many other seeds and yields a rich harvest (John 12:24).

    And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit – some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some [even] a hundred times as much (Mark 4:20).

    As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty (Matthew 13:23).

    But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).

    And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. (Psalm 1:3)

    The (uncompromisingly) righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].  Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.  [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [trust, love, and contentment]. (Psalm 92:12-14)

    Say to the righteous it shall be well with them, for they shall enjoy the fruit of their deeds (Isaiah 3:10).

  • A Study on Fruits

    Every child of God has the same identity in Christ Jesus and opportunity to grow.  When our identity is firmly established and we have matured to the point where the fruit of the Spirit is evident, we will feel fulfilled when we use our gifts and talents to edify others.  God has not distributed gifts and talents equally and for that reason alone we can be assured that our sense of worth isn’t based on what we do.  God has known us from the foundation of the world.  He has entrusted us with certain life endowments.  He will certainly lead us in a way that makes use of those gifts and talents.  It is our responsibility to take advantage of every opportunity as it arises.

    The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then … full of mercy and good fruit (James 3:17-18).

    You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit… fruit that will last (John 15:16).

    This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples (John 15:8).

    I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.  However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5).

    He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so it will be more fruitful…  You cannot bear fruit unless you remain in Me (John 15:2, 4).

    Now [God] who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity] (2 Corinthians 9:10).

    May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11)

    And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10).

    Through Him therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name (Hebrews 13:15).

    The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence).  Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (Galatians 5:22-23)

    For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.  And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].  Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness… (Ephesians 5:9-11)

  • Fruits of the Spirit

    The Fruits of the Spirit should be our main concern:

    • Love – affection, unconditional concern, benevolence
    • Joy – cheerfulness in all situations
    • Peace – worry-less-ness, quietness with confidence
    • Patience – not with things as to endure, but with people as interruptions; for handling interruptions is life
    • Kindness – attitude, disposition, tenderness
    • Goodness – not attitude but energized nature towards good works and godly deeds
    • Faithfulness – trust, fidelity, assurance, belief, loyalty
    • Gentleness – responsibility with power, inward grace
    • Self-control – wall of protection to reduce vulnerability

    Because all the Fruits of the Spirit are God’s by nature.  Since we are of God’s nature, these fruits belong to each one of us all the time.

    What would you accept in trade for the fruit of the Spirit?  What material possession, or amount of money, or position on the ladder of success would you exchange for Love, Joy, Peace, or any of them? 

    How can you know if you are being led by the Spirit?  If you respond to any situation by exercising any one of these gifts, then you are following the Spirit’s lead.  Walking by the Spirit is a moment-by-moment / day-by-day experience.  If you are trying to keep up a front of Christian Perfection in order to encourage saints and win sinners – forget it!  That will never happen.  But when you openly admit and ask for forgiveness for fleshly choices, you model the kind of spiritual growth which will touch both saints and sinners alike.

     How do we walk by the Spirit?  If I answered by giving a rigid formula, you would be back under another law.  Walking by the Spirit is a relationship issue, not a legal issue or a ritualistic exercise.  Relationships are more important to God than achievements.  After all, Jesus declared the two greatest commandments are to love God and people.  We can actually stand our ground on moral issues without violate Spirit fruits!  If you cannot do something with love and self-control, maybe it is better left undone.  Don’t lose control over the only person you can control!

    The following sections contain God’s words on the various fruits of the Spirit.  Where applicable, I used the Amplified Bible version of the verse to clarify some of the wordage used in hopes that it would help in the study.  In other places, the Amplified seemed to muddy the waters instead, so I used a simplified version in those instances.  And I tried to place the verses in an orderly fashion, after praying for wisdom of course.  Now I pray that these verses and choices and sections provide some comfort and peace and, if possible, zeal for those reading them.  May our God bless you on your journey to understand His Word and His ways.