The FRUIT of the SPIRIT…

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Just a few reminders before we go to the nine characteristics of the fruit – first, we’re talking about the fruit, NOT fruits, of the Spirit.  In other words those nine characteristics we see in verse 22 are a “packaged deal”, all in one.  We’re not supposed to choose which ones we want.

Many Christians make the mistake of making their lives a result of a “multiple choice” test.  They look at God’s word, His commands, and choose what they like.

If we claim the Spirit is in us, then His character, His life, will be worked out in us.  All of it.  There’s no choice.

Then, Galatians 5 speaks of the fruit OF the Spirit.  In other words these characteristics come out as a result of the working of the Spirit in us.  These do not come from self effort, from trying hard.  These characteristics come from the Holy Spirit Himself. 

One of the “wrongest” (ok, there’s no such word…but if it’s worse than wrong, it must be wrongest!) understandings in life is that “God helps those who help themselves”.  No.  God helps those who realize they are helpless, and can only do things out of the working of God in their lives.  Look what Jesus said:

John 15:5 (NIV)
5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

It is only because Jesus lives in us, and we abide in Him that we are able to bear fruit.  It’s not about trying hard to bear fruit.  It’s about having God indwell us.

The same thing is said of the Holy Spirit:

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

We were born with hard hearts, hearts of stone, that just naturally went against what God desired from us.  This is why we need to be born again, where God gives us a new heart and places His Spirit in us to move us to follow and keep His laws.

This is the only way that any man can bear fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, in his life – by having the Spirit in him.

The only reason we are able to work out our salvation is because God is working in us.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

So stop trusting in yourself! Stop trying hard to be who Christ wants you to be!  This is not what God is asking from you.  All He asks is that you know that Christ is in you, and that the Holy Spirit is there to fill your heart with the power and strength you need to follow His ways.  All He desires is that you abide with Him, always.  Let the Spirit bring out the fruit God looks for in us.