Flourishing in Fruit – The Fruit of the Spirit

    So far in our study of ‘Flourishing in Fruit’ we have learned about the need to bear good fruit – by which God is glorified and we show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus (John 15:5, 8) – and that we need to work to keep our hearts pure because that is where our fruit develops (please read and consider Matthew 12:33-37). We have also taken a closer look at the fruit we bear: our conduct (fruit of repentance: Matthew 3:8, fruit of righteousness: Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:10, and fruit of good works/generosity: Colossians 1:9-11) and our words (Hebrews 13:15, Matthew 12:33-37). These two areas of our lives – what we do and what we say – reveal our heart to others.

    Now, I would like you to open your Bible to Galatians 5:16-26 and take the time to read this passage and consider the fruit that the Spirit bears in us. 

    There are two types of fruit depicted here: the fruit of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the flesh is developed by serving self in selfish pursuits and the fruit of the Spirit is developed by serving God in godly* pursuits

*godly = worthy (Colossians 1:9-11), profitable (Titus 3:8, 14), kind (Philippians 2:3-4; 4:5), pious (2 Timothy 2:22), reverent (Hebrews 12:28)

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24 NKJV)

    Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24-26 that we are to deny self, take up our cross, and follow Him. The apostle Paul echoes this when he gave instruction to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1, and think on his statement in Galatians 2:20). When we are baptized we bury the old man of sin and we rise to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4), we “put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24); it is not about us and our selfish wants and desires anymore, we devote ourselves to God and serving Him acceptably (Hebrews 12:28, Ephesians 5:15-17). This is a daily endeavour, a determination we make from the moment we open our eyes each morning, and one that we remind ourselves of throughout our day.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10 NKJV)

    When we live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit (allowing God’s word to transform us, Romans 12:2, James 1:21-25, 1 John 2:15-17), and when we work continually to identify and remove the debris of selfishness/selfish ambitions/lusts (Hebrews 5:14), then our hearts will be a good soil (Matthew 13:23) in which the Spirit can develop and bear His fruit.

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)  

• Love: 1 John 3:16-23; 4:7-5:5, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Joy: Philippians 4:4 (the whole letter to the Philippians is filled with joy), John 15:9-17
• Peace: Philippians 4:6-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 12:18
• Longsuffering: James 1:2-4, Colossians 1:9-11, 1 Peter 8-11
• Kindness: John 15:14, Romans 12:9-21, Philippians 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:7-8, Ephesians 4:29-32
• Goodness: Psalm 16:2, Galatians 6:9-10, Ephesians 2:10
• Faithfulness: Matthew 24:12-13, Hebrews 10:35-39
• Gentleness: Philippians 4:5, Colossians 3:6, 1 Peter 3:1-4, James 1:21
• Self-Control: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 13:4, James 1:19, 2 Peter 1:5-11

    Please reread Galatians 5:16-26. Are these fruit developing in your heart and visible/becoming visible in your life? Or are you allowing selfishness and selfish desires to impede the development of the Spirit’s fruit? We need to be clearing the soil of our hearts, allowing it to be nourished by the Light (John 1:1-14; 3:19-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) and the living water (John 4:14, Matthew 5:6) so that the Spirit can bear His fruit in our lives! Are you preparing your heart for His fruit? 

It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!!