the greenest grass around

Fruits of the Spirit: Part 2

So why is it called Fruit of the Spirit?

We, as Christians, are told several times in the Bible to be fruitful and grow the kingdom of God. The NIV uses the word fruit 198 times, and Jesus discusses being fruitful (John 15: 1-17).

The word Fruit in this passage refers to what you produce with your life. In Galatians, Paul’s “Fruit of the Spirit” refers to fruit bared with the Spirit of God.

In Galatians, Paul discusses the characteristics of living in the flesh without God.

It gets a little lengthy here, but bear with me:

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; instead, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now everyone has what Paul calls “acts of the flesh.” You may not be participating in debauchery or orgies, but we can also throw other characteristics in there. Anything that isn’t Spirit-filled could be envy, greed, gluttony, false witness, and the list could go on. If it isn’t an act that will bring glory and honor to God, you can put it into this category. Paul was warning the people of Galatia. (My auto-correct wanted to type Galactica, go ahead and put a head slap there.) Paul was concerned for his brothers and sisters in Christ and wanted them to be warned. He did not want them to fall back into a life like they had before becoming Christians.

If people are not living a life of Christ, what kind of fruit are they bearing? This is one of the reasons I believe Paul was warning them against these “acts of the flesh” and urging them to go into Fruits of the Spirit.

At this point, they, the people of Galacia, were not bearing fruit that glorified God.

One of these brings death, and the other brings life. Paul wants his brothers and sisters to have life in Christ. He wants them to return to God and produce fruit for the kingdom of heaven.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentlenesses, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.” Galatians 5:22-26

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Meaning following the Spirit by showing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If these characteristics are in our lives, we are producing good fruit.

You are known by the fruit you produce. In Matthew, we are warned to watch and know people by their fruits.

“¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:17-20.

What kind of fruit are you bearing right now? Let’s say you are just now feeling God’s pull on your heart. Sowing a good harvest takes time and planning (reading the Bible and praying). How will you plan to plant and produce good fruit?