Everybody likes some good fruit, especially on a hot summer day. When we go to the market to buy fruit, we are careful to look it over good, making sure to avoid any pieces that are bruised or are otherwise marred. No one wants to bite into a piece of bad fruit! It is the same with our spiritual life. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. As we yield our lives to Him, He will produce fruit in us. In our passage of Scripture today, the Apostle Paul describes the Fruit of the Spirit, and also the works of the flesh which are the opposite, just like a piece of bad fruit. Let’s take a look at them, and see what is being produced in our life.
One of the goals of God in His children is to make us more like Christ. This happens as we yield our life to the control of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us to respond to circumstances in our life with love and kindness, and helping us to resist bad habits and wrong thinking. When we let Him guide us, we won’t allow our old sinful nature control us (vs. 16).
The fruit of the Spirit is not something we do. It is who we are. Fruitful believers are not controlled by their environment. God will produce His fruit in us no matter what the circumstances are, if we allow Him to. Fruitful Christians recover quickly after a fall. They are sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and are quick to return to the Lord in repentance.
Let’s take a very quick look at what the fruits of the Spirit are, as listed in verses 22 - 23. The first is Love. This is agape love, love that is unconditional, love that gives without expecting or demanding anything in return. It is self-sacrificing, not emotional or physical. The second fruit listed is Joy. Joy is the great delight and pleasure we have based on and believing God’s unchanging promises. It is a sense of well-being in those who know that all is well between themselves and the Lord. It is not the same as happiness. Happiness is usually related to one's circumstances, where joy is not.
The third fruit is Peace. The peace that the Holy Spirit brings is an inner calm, resulting from a saving relationship with Jesus. We can feel at peace no matter what trials or circumstances are happening around us. The fourth fruit is Longsuffering. This is patience. The ability to endure injuries inflicted by others, or painful situations with a Christ-like attitude. They overlook the inconveniences of the world.
The fifth fruit is Kindness. This is a tender concern for others. Treating others gently, as the Lord treats us. The sixth fruit is Goodness. When someone has the fruit of goodness in their life, they are showing moral and spiritual excellence. The seventh fruit is Faithfulness. Faithfulness is loyalty and trustworthiness in one’s character. Their word is true, they keep their promises, and they show integrity.
The eighth fruit is Gentleness. This can also be translated as meekness. It is having a humble or gentle attitude that is patiently submissive. They have no desire for revenge. They are submissive to God’s will, teachable, and considerate of others. The ninth fruit is Self-control. One that shows this fruit in their life restrains their passions and appetites in all areas. They don’t let the temporal, what won’t last, rule the eternal.
The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. These are all character traits found in the nature of Jesus. We cannot obtain them by trying to get them without His help. We must join our lives to Jesus. When we are completely reliant upon the Lord and obey the Holy Spirit, they will flow from us freely.
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