But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit…For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:9). The Lord is concerned about the life and character of every believer. There is a great different between the work of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
Works are produced by human energy; why fruit is grown as a branch abides in the vine. The Christ likes qualities or virtues seen in new creatures are referred to in the bible as the fruit of the Spirit. God is glorified when the believer brings forth fruits. He derives joy and happiness in seeing Christ’s life in His Children. Fruit bearing is a mark of true discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Believers are known by the kind of fruit they bear; Love tops the list which means there is a single fruit of the spirit -Love, is the very basic essential life of the living Christ which expresses itself in all the nine fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23, the other eight are anchored in Love. The single-minded lifestyle called “The fruit of the Spirit”. This produced in God’s children as they allow the spirit to direct and influence their lives and work in the fellowship with God. Christ commends fruit bearing Christians and condemns the fruitless ones. The branch that does not abide in the true vine cannot bear fruit, such is cast forth, withered, branch cast into the fire and burnt (John 15:1-7).
A Christian who does not bring forth the fruit of the fruit is rejected, while the fruit bearings are replenished to bring forth more fruit. The bearing of the fruit of the fruit is conditioned upon the possession of the salvation experience. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). In addition to this, Apostle Peter counselled, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). The fruit of the Spirit is the product of the Spirit. It is a gift from God the true vine.
A real living relationship and union with Christ is the only condition and qualification for fruit bearing. Church membership, tithing, good morals and water baptism are good, nut not good enough to qualify anyone for heaven or to bear the fruit of the Spirit; the bible declares: “All our righteousness are as filthy rags”. And Jesus said “Abide in me for without me ye can do nothing”. Have you be struggling to live a holy life., making resolution every time, yet living a defeat life, today you can make up your mind to come to Jesus the source of life and the gate into fruitful life. As you keep contact with Jesus and fellowship with people of like precious faith, your life will never remain the same. Have you been depending on the energy of the flesh? Today I tell you the grace of God is available for you. Abide in Christ constantly that is the secret of fruit bearing.
Meekness: The meek is gentle, plain, flexible but firm and frank. The meek is submissive, quiet, kind, soft and patience especially with the weak (Matthew 11:29).
Temperance: This is referred to as self-control, moderation or self -restraint. Temperance is the outward sign of a well-discipline life. It means bringing the total man (body, spirit, and soul); control.
Love (Charity): A caring for and seeking the highest good of another person without motive of personal gain.
Joy: The feelings of gladness based on the love, grave, blessing, promises and nearness of God that belong to those who believe in Christ.
Peace: Peace is the selfless, self-giving, self-loosing, self-sacrifice love that in manifest in spite of all adverse of life; Jesus the Prince of peace is the source of peace, it is calm in crisis, untroubled in trial and determined in disaster. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Longsuffering: This is also referred to as enduring or patience. It is the strong ability of selfless love to bear all things and continue in adverse situations. It is a ungrudging willingness to understand an unwelcome difficult people disturbing events situation that God allows to come your way (Hebrew 12:2). The benefits of longsuffering are disciple, development and direction.
Gentleness: It is the fruit that comes from the life that has received God’s abundant grace.
A Christian whose life reflects goodness is one with noble purpose, strong character, reliable conduct and trustworthy lifestyle. He is good, gracious and generous, always in the business of making others happy (Acts 10:38).
Faith: (Hebrew 11:6), faith is our basis for belief. It is the divinely implanted principle of inward and whole-hearted confidence, trust and reliance in God and His word. The Christian who is full of faith loves to the point of trusting and yielding himself faithfully to the service of other follow men, and the church. There will be no demonstration of God’s love where there is no faith.