“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness, temperance: against such, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is the true nature of Christ, produced by the Spirit of Christ in the lives of Christ’s followers. It takes Christ to be totally established in the believer before Christ-like virtues can be produced in him. The difference between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit is quite obvious. The flesh produces works; Spirit produces fruit. The works of the flesh are dead the fruit of the Spirit is alive. The one in the flesh, the other is Spirit. Therefore, for anyone to possess and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, he must have left human effort for the indwelling of Christ.
The necessity of conversion in the life of every believer before he/she can be enlisted in the work of the ministry is not negotiable. It is fundamental to His ministry. In the book of Isaiah chapter fifty-two verse eleven, it stated; “ Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord”. Genuine salvation experience is mandatory for any minister of God in particular. Paul’s conversion (in Acts 9:1-9, 21) preceding his ministerial calling and engagement typifies God’s process of engaging anyone in the ministry. One cannot explicitly expound on the experience he does not have practical knowledge of. Penitence, humility, mournful, and sorrowful repentance that leads to genuine salvation, are required from every guilty sinner. Forgiveness is certain and sure from God to every sincere sinner who without delay prays with fervency for his soul’s redemption. “Fruit of the Spirit” will immediately emerge in clear replacement of the works of the flesh in the life of every genuinely saved soul. Any minister that fails to have this experience will fall short of God’s standard of calling and become unfit for ministry as his life will betray his ministration.
The fruit of the Spirit comprising the nine Christian virtues is the evidence of the minister’s experience of the new birth. These nine-fold virtues are bound together and manifested in love which is the central controlling quality required in Christian living and service. The redemptive work is conceived, delivered, and operated in love. Love, therefore, is the totality of the ministry. Every other virtue in the fruit of the spirit revolves around love. Joy is love exulting. Peace is love reposing. Long-suffering is love untiring. Gentleness is love enduring. Goodness is love in action. Faith is love believing. Meekness is love under discipline, while Temperance is love in training. Possessing the “fruit of the Spirit” is making heaven out of the ministry here on earth.
For every believer to keep the “fruit of the Spirit” however, he must abide in the Vine and be pruned (John 15:1-8) regularly. He must ensure the unbroken relationship with Christ the fountain of his fruitfulness; He should always allow the Lord to reproof and chasten him when necessary and ensure chastening as a true child of God (Hebrews 12:11). He should ensure unbroken prayer fellowship and devotion. The Bible should constantly and regularly be his companion and guide through constant meaningful study with a willingness to obey. He must distance himself from sin, every appearance of evil and the world, why keeping involved in the work of the Lord without delighting in the bread of idleness. Daily self-examination and prompt correction where necessary will make him reputable, waiting for the Lord.