The Fruit of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, God's active love and work within and through us so we bear and convey His Fruit.
This means we add to as in supplement His Fruit, God's love for us, which we are given and then we are to build by faith so we are able to bear this to others. This is a cooperative endeavor that happens by our relationship with Christ as we grow by faith in Him. What we add too and what He then multiplies. This is that active pursuit of Love as a spiritual Fruit that is built from our collaboration that we have with God to produce real godly character and commitment. It gives us the fiber of our moral center that stretches throughout our being, embracing and holding together our relationships and opportunities when it is sealed as a choice and commitment, and not just a feeling. The Fruit of the Spirit will synergistically combines with the other godly characters of our Lord to promote our ability to relate and grow in our faith, relations, to be better to and for Him as well as others as well as ourselves (John 1:1,14; 14:23; Gal. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 4:8).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
What does the work and empowerment of the Spirit mean to you? The Fruit of the Spirit is described as a fruit, because it is made up of more than one substance; it has juice, pulp, peal, core, segments, and seeds, all held together by a skin or rind, and attached to the tree by a stem where its nutrients flow in. If you just eat of the pulp or juice and throw out the rest, how can you use the seeds to grow more? If you take the fruit off the vine, it will wither and rot; if the vine is not cared for, the tree will die. So it is with the Fruit of the Spirit. God makes it and it requires our growth of faith that necessitates our tending, and it is more than just one substance; all of its substances combined are greater than the sum of its parts.
Christianity is not just the proclamation of the Gospel; it is also the example of the Gospel!
Articles on the Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit Part I
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The Galatian Fruits
Love will enable us to appreciate our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and, of course, our family and others around us.
Joy will allow us to enjoy my relationship with Christ, His creation, others, and our circumstances with an expression of delight and real, authentic happiness from and with harmony with God and others.
Peace is surrendering and yielding ourselves to the Lord to be in His control, for He is our ultimate peace!
Patience is showing tolerance and fortitude toward others, even accepting difficult situations from them, and God, without making demands or conditions.
Kindness is the medium through which Christ's love becomes tangible through us. It is practicing benevolence and a loving attitude towards others.
Goodness is the engagement of love! It displays integrity, honesty and compassion to others and allows us to do the right thing.
Faithfulness is the "gluing" fruit that will preserve our faith and the other characters of the Spirit and identify God's will so we can be dependable and trusting to God and others.
Gentleness is the character that will show calmness, personal care, tenderness and the Love of Christ in meeting the needs of others.
Self-Control is allowing God to be in control of your will and heart and seeking the Spirit to enable us.
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The Fruit of the Spirit is God's love and work in us, the love of Christ flowing in through His Holy Spirit in and out of us! All because we have a personal relationship with Christ, we have God's living presence in us, living in us. The result is we have the ability to reflect His Fruit and character.
The Practice of our Fruit Fruit of the Spirit Part II
The Fruit of the Spirit is the continual and indispensable application of God's work in us that spurs our growing, effectual, spiritual development. This, in turn, assembles the elements we need to further build and live out our faith so we can effectively and graciously relate to others around us.
Walk in the Spirit Fruit of the Spirit Part III
Do you know what it means to be led by the Spirit? We are called to walk in the Spirit. This is not a Charismatic or a Pentecostal endeavor, nor is it some mystic exercise or short-cut to our receiving a "blessing." This is the doorway to spiritual maturity, being spiritually minded and...
How is your "Fertility?" Fruit of the Spirit Part IV
How can I grow in The Fruit of the Spirit? Christ calls us to emulate and put His Fruit into our relationships. These are essential to growing a healthy and lasting relationship. You can examine the descriptions, look up the Scriptures, and then ask yourself these six questions...
Fruitful Thinking! Fruit of the Spirit Part V
Is your Thinking Right? Are your Behaviors are Right? Good theology is our right thinking of God's precepts, including the knowledge of His Fruit. Our mind and thinking must be based on Christ and Scripture through which the Spirit guides us...
Fruit of the Spirit, Part VI
Just before the great passage in Galatians that expounds the Fruit of the Spirit comes a warning and a list of the opposites of the good Fruit, the destroyers of churches, relationships, and self!
The Works of the Flesh! Fruit of the Spirit, Part VII
Here is a list of the vices of sin that abuse others and us and should not have a hold on us. Our beliefs must affect our behaviors; our language must affect and reflect our faith. If not, our faith and thinking are skewed or even absent.
Walk in the Spirit Fruit of the Spirit, Part VIII
The image is to put off sin and embrace righteousness, as we are to be clothed in the Spirit, not in the world or in our desires. This is accomplished by focusing on Christ, right thinking, and faith.
The Lust of the Flesh Fruit of the Spirit, Part IX
What Happens when we Exercise our Rotten Fruit? The call is to serve others as Christ has served us, and to treat others as Christ has treated us. This means the carrying out of love, grace, and understanding in all of our...
Is there Fruit in your Church? Fruit of the Spirit, Part X
Does your church have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control pouring from its leaders and most of its people, on your campus and into the streets where its people are? If not, something is terribly wrong!
We are Called to Emulate Christian Virtues! Fruit of the Spirit, Part XI
The sad fact is that the average Christian does not make the Fruit of the Spirit a priority in his/her life; this should cause us intense concern. And, even worse off are our leaders!
Are you Led by the Spirit? Fruit of the Spirit, Part XII
Being led by the Spirit is not a Pentecostal or charismatic endeavor; it is not about speaking in tongues or some esoteric Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not a special anointing or a blessing or a gift we receive from God or...
How is your Spiritual Fruit? Fruit of the Spirit, Part XIII
When we start to think and believe more biblically, we will have lives that bring about love and goodness. We can have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control flowing in, through, and out of us.
Do not allow your stuff to get in the way of your Fruit Fruit of the Spirit, Part XIV
This is not a popular thing to discuss, but the Christian life comes with a responsibility, so we are not to allow our desires or dilemma or pressures to distract us from it.
Making Fruit of the Spirit is Mutual and Communal Fruit of the Spirit, Part XV
Yes we can-yes, you can! Our full confidence comes from the personal relationship with and full impact we have in Christ. Therefore, it is our duty to exhibit it even when times are uncertain and wearisome.
Expanded Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies in Downloadable PDF Files
...Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...
FruitoftheSpiritFaithfulness.pdf
Articles on the Fruit of the Spirit
More here: Character
So, how is your "fertility?" That is, how is the Fruit of the Spirit growing in you? How should His Fruit be growing in and through you? Keep in mind that it means Christ comes through you in all things and times! Our faith will be tested-not to attack or cause us to fail-but to teach us to be more faithful, stronger, and better so we can be better to those around us. God wants us holy and pure in Him.