Title: The fruit of the Spirit

Scripture: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26

The book of Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The fruit of the Spirit is not a collection of unrelated fruits which can either be selected or neglected according to our personal preference, our situation or circumstance, or our agenda; it comes as a whole package that can only be cultivated and matured by a pursued and maintained relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible confirms this in John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Each of the nine fruits or character traits can be seen in the life of Christ. Not only is He our pattern and example for a fruitful fruit filled life, He is also our source for leading a fruitful, fruit filled life. In John 15:4 – “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

[pullquote] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? – Matthew 7:16[/pullquote] The fruit of the Spirit deals directly with our character. Character deals directly with our integrity, and our integrity speaks of who we are when no one else is looking. Our integrity shouts to the heavens as to what is really inside us. I can tell what kind of tree you are by fruit you produced. Apple tree don’t produce mangoes, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit is to make us more like Christ for His glory, not for the praise of men. If we fail to bear fruit, we fail to bring glory to God. Since the ultimate goal of every believer is to bring glory to God (Isaiah 43:7). Bearing fruit is something that has to be worked out and worked at. However, nothing is more fulfilling to a Christian than to know that he/she is living a life pleasing to God (Col 1:10).

Prayer Point

• Father, thank you for maturing the fruit of the Spirit in me in Jesus name
• Father, let every hardness in my spirit be broken in Jesus name
• Father, let my life be fruitful to your glory in Jesus name
• Father, keep me in tune with your Holy Spirit at all times in Jesus name