The Fruit of the Spirit by Jimmy R. Price www.jimmyrprice.com The tremendous work of the Holy Spirit is so vital to the life of every born-again believer. In fact, Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.”(John 3:5) Even to get saved, we must be “born-again” by the Holy Spirit! At conversion, the Spirit takes up residence in us and continues His work. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Comforter. He even speaks to the Father on our behalf when we don’t know what to say. Perhaps the greatest miracle the Spirit does in our life as a Christian is to produce “fruit” through us and in us. Jesus taught (actually commanded) that His disciples bear fruit. Sometime after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul wrote to believers at Galatia, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22) While “differing” spiritual gifts are given to individuals according to God’s plans for the ministry (teaching, preaching, prophecy, etc.), the “fruit of the Spirit” is produced in the Life of every believer. LOVE: Love for God and for each other. Jesus taught that we must Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind…and to Love our neighbor as our self! Love is the greatest of all commandments, but it takes the Holy Spirit to produce it in us! JOY: the Joy of salvation…the Joy of being forgiven…the Joy of being a child of God…the Joy of knowing Heaven is awaiting us …J.O.Y…Jesus…Others…Yourself. Real Joy is a fruit that comes from within! PEACE: Peace with God…Sin separated us from God, but Jesus (the Prince of Peace) took our sins and nailed them to the cross so that we could be reconciled to God! Now we have “the peace of God that passes all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) LONGSUFFERING: also known as patience or endurance. The Bible says for us to “wait on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). “Wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37:7) Patience does not come naturally for us. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us endure! GENTLENESS: or Kindness is something that seems to be rare in the world we live in, but our Lord is “A God of great Kindness.” (Nehemiah 9:17) Kindness towards others demonstrates that God is working in us. The Bible says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…” (Ephesians 4:32) GOODNESS: The Holy Spirit does good things in us and through us! None of us are “good” on our own, but God is good all the time! With the Spirit’s help, we can and should, have a good attitude, and a good outlook and a desire to do good works! FAITH: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) It means we believe God and take Him at His word! God said it, that settles it! Believe it! MEEKNESS: Humble…submissive to God’s will…the absence of pride…the opposite of rebellion. Meekness is not weakness, but power under control. Jesus was meek and lowly…the lamb of God. TEMPERANCE: (self-control) is Impossible… apart from the Holy Spirit! But with God, Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) Not willpower…but God’s Power…Not my weakness…God’s strength! Each and every one of these “fruit” are accomplished in the life of believers, but only as a result of being: born of the Spirit…filled with the Spirit…walking in the Spirit…submissive to the Spirit! “Quench not the Spirit.” (Thessalonians 5:19)
The result: Much Needed…Awesome Fruit! Christian Servant Magazine - Edition IV, 2017 - Page 9