The Fruit Of The Spirit In Your Life

The Fruit Of The Spirit In Your Life

Galatians 5:22-23

We often talk about the fruit of the Spirit in our discussions. We aspire to have them actuated in our lives. We say we want know the Lord and are working at conforming ourselves to the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, but are we? Oh, you can have a wonderful experience in the worship service, but does His presence remain with you when you leave church? The word of God says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). You’re experience with God can be heightened if you will spend time seeking Him in His Word. As the Lord manifests His Spirit in you, you’ll begin to experience positive changes in your outlook and your life. The more time you spend in His Word and in prayer the more heightened your experience will be.

1. “The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Love.” We can find a broad description of what love is in 1Corinthians 13:4-7 and 13NLT. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. Love rejoices. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love is unshakable. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love is permanent. God’s word tells us “There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. Do you understand this kind of love? This is not sexual love or desire which is for the most part lust. This is a quiet and abiding love for each other and every creature God created. It’s the purist form of unselfish caring one for another.

2. “The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy.” When Jesus was born the angel told the shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Jesus’ birth heralded God’s desire for mans salvation. It’s the best news ever and a great reason for joy that God took our salvation into His own hands and made a way for us to be set free from sin and guilt. When Jesus read from the scroll in Nazareth He was announcing His earthly purpose, but the towns-people rejected Him (see Luke 4:14-30). Jesus offered healing, forgiveness, and joy to all who would receive Him, just like He does today, but the results are the same. Many hear, but few believe, and for those who believe they enter into the joy of the Lord.

3. “The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Peace.” Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). Jesus had just revealed that His time on earth was about over and that it would be one of the disciples who would betray Him, but He knew complete peace within Himself as He spoke because He knew He was in the Father’s will. The revelation of Christ’s impending sacrifice brought sorrow to the hearts of His companions; yet at that very time He declared to them how glorious a peace would soon be theirs. When you’re in harmony with God’s will for your life, you’ll know the peace that surpasses human understanding.

4. “The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Patience.” This is a hard one. In order for us to be patient we need to reign in our need for self-rule and turn our will and life over to God Himself and trust Him for the results. The Christian who has patience, is like the quiet still waters of a pool in the park. We’re no longer the frantic, worried, chaotic control freaks we were. We are able to weather the storms of life because we’ve learned that we’re not alone. God is always with us and when God is with us, we can learn to be patient.

5. “The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Gentleness.” In every age there have been those who exemplified the kind of gentleness and kindness toward others I’m talking about. In the book of Genesis we read of Joseph who forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery and exposed him to danger (see Gen. 50:18-24). If we look at the life of David we see another example of kindness. David was heartbroken over his son Absalom who conspired to steal the kingdom. David did more than could be expected of a man who had been wronged as he gave orders to his soldiers not to harm his son (see 2Sam. 18:5). Jesus Christ on the cross prayed that God would forgive the very people who were responsible for His crucifixion (see Luke 23:34). Christians pray for those who harm them and even for those who abuse them. Life is too short for us to carry hate or seek revenge. One of the great revelations we’ve received from God’s word is that when we seek harm for others, invariably we are the ones who get hurt.