Focus: The Spirit's Fruit In The Believer's Life (Pt.2)

Text: Gal.5:22-23

"But the FRUIT of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

The Spirit of God in the believer makes it possible for him to produce fruit. The flesh produces works, but the Spirit produces fruit. Fruit is a quality of life that leaves a divine taste in the mouths of others. The Spirit makes the believer's faith so 'tasty.' As you know, fruit is healthy, delicious and beneficial. When we let the Spirit do His work in us, tasty fruit will be the result.

The measure of our growth and maturity lies in the fruit we produce. We can't afford to be fruitless, no, not when the Spirit of God lives and works in us - the garden and tillage of God. It is written in Scripture, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, THAT WE SHOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD" (Rom.7:4). Yes, we should! Paul underscores a point here, "Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the FRUIT thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?" (1Cor.9:7).

As God's field, farmland or garden, God is entitled to getting fruit out of lives. We can't afford to disappoint the Lord Jesus Christ.

He says, "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth MORE fruit" (Jh.15:2). He wants us to move from no fruit to more fruit. He knows how to apply the knife of Scripture and of the Spirit to ensure that we are bearing fruit. 

Jesus Christ goes on to give us the secret of fruit-bearing. He says, "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" (Jh.15:4). He continues, "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" (Jh.15:5). By remaining in Christ and letting the Spirit to do His work in us, we move from no fruit to more fruit to much fruit. The Lord Jesus Christ says again, "Herein is my Father GLORIFIED, that ye bear MUCH fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (Jh.15:8). The Father is glorified by our fruitfulness, and it is by being fruitful that we can prove to others that we are indeed Jesus' disciples. We are marked and remarked by our fruit. Jesus finally says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain…" (Jh.15:16). We are chosen and destined to bear fruit, even lasting fruit.

Let us consider the fruit the Spirit helps us to produce.

*Fruit of a changed life

John the Baptist says, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance… And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Mt.3:8,10). The Spirit in us makes us repentant and to manifest the proof of a changed life.

*Fruit of the lips

The Scripture exhorts us, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our LIPS giving thanks to his name" (Heb.13:15). With our lips we give God the sacrifices of praise and worship. Solomon tells us a lot about the tongue. He says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the FRUIT thereof" (Prov.18:21). Our mouths produce fruit of good taste to God, others, and ourselves. We speak forth life. Again, he says, "A man shall eat good by the FRUIT of his mouth…" (Prov.13:2). He continues, "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the FRUIT of his MOUTH; and with the increase of his LIPS shall he be filled" (Prov.18:20). Our tongue reveals and reflects the change that is taking place in our lives.

*Fruit of a holy life

Paul says, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS, and the end everlasting life" (Rom.6:22). Holy life is a fruit that the Holy Spirit helps us grow. The Holy Spirit produces in us a life of holiness.

*Fruit of labor

Paul says, "But if I live in the flesh, this is the FRUIT OF MY LABOUR…" (Phil.1:22). The Spirit makes our labor productive and fruitful.

*Fruit of generosity

Paul says, "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire FRUIT that may ABOUND to your account" (Phil.4:17). Through giving the believer grows his heavenly account. You are not depleted by what you give. Generosity impoverishes no one. Rather, by being generous we build up our account with God. Our tithes and offerings go into the future to wait for us. They produce for us a lasting fruit. Paul says again, "When therefore I have PERFORMED this, and have SEALED to them this FRUIT, I will come by you into Spain" (Rom.15:28). The financial commitment you make towards God and man is a fruit, and it yields fruit back into your life.

*Fruit of discipline

The Scripture says, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the PEACEABLE FRUIT of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb.12:11). Divine discipline improves the believer's character. Here it is called "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Divine discipline yields the fruit of solid and sweet-smelling character.

*Fruit of peace-making

James says, "And the FRUIT of righteousness is sown in peace of them that MAKE PEACE" (Jam.3:18). Peace-making is a fruit produced in us by the Spirit. When we reconcile people we sow the seed of peace and reap the fruit of righteousness. Paul says, "Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth FRUIT, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth" (Col.1:6). The word of truth of the gospel is a seed planted in us by the Spirit, and it yields fruit from us.

*Fruit of patience

James says, "Be PATIENT therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman WAITETH for the PRECIOUS FRUIT of the earth, and hath long PATIENCE for it, until he receive the early and latter rain" (Jam.5:7). The same way a farmer awaits his harvest, so is the believer in Christ. As we patiently wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will never be disappointed. Patience pays. It is rewarding. Keep your hope alive! Be patient with God, with others, and with yourself! The fruit of patience is sweet.

*Fruit of prayer

James says, "And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her FRUIT" (Jam.5:18). Prayer is fruit-producing. Our prayers get answers from God. God attends to the needs of His people through their prayers. Through our prayer the earth will yield its fruits.

It's time to yield the ripe fruit of our faith, made possible by the Holy Spirit.

(To be continued)

by Bishop Moses E. Peter