Walking in the Fruit- In His Word 6-7-2021
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our
lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians
5:21-23
The Word tells us here that we the
Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives, and then again, we are also told to be
fruitful and multiply. Many times, when I hear this taught, I hear that we get
the fruit, but yesterday when my pastor was sharing about a trip to gather some
cherries from an orchard, I had a thought about this fruit we have been given,
or that has been produced in us. It is not for us! Think about this; the tree
produces the fruit that in turn feeds people but can also grow more trees as
well.
So, if you think about it that way,
we have had the fruit in us cultivated and produced by the Holy Spirit and we
grow. When we grow our fruits, it shows that God is with us, or in us, part of
us, and we are a part of Him. That fruit that is now in us growing with each
time we read the Word or pray, is not there just for us. It is in us so that we
can share the fruit!
It is really easy to become prideful
of the progress we make as we overcome things in life, we can even become self-seeking
as we try to gain more of the fruits of the spirit mentioned above. In face in my newness of Christ back in the
day I thought I was supposed to accumulate this list of fruits. I figured I had
to achieve each one; love-check, joy- check! etc. It is totally not that way,
but it is a fun adventure that we can go on seeking such things. Now that we
have them though, what do we do with them? Do we just sit there and say, “I
have love, joy, peace, etc. I am good now I can do anything, or I am a great
person.”? No. We are to use them each in
the proper situation. Goodness and self-control being some of the hardest
things to reproduce; they are next to impossible without the Lord, but with the
Spirit of the Lord we can do all things.
But this is in your favor: You hate
the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. “Anyone with ears to hear must
listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To
everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the
paradise of God. Revelations 2:6-7
When the fruit ripens on our trees,
we pick it and eat it. Or if there is too many for us to eat ourselves, we pass
it on. It is time to be nourished and to nourish others via the Holy Spirit
Fruit within us. Just as He has brought forth this fruit via the Hoy Spirit in
us, we can share the properties we have now gained with others. How can we do
this? With the help of that very same Spirit, whom we serve in goodness with
self-control.
Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your
question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to
misunderstand this. You know that when
you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping
speechless idols. So, I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of
God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy
Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is
the source of them all. There are
different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:1-3-5
It is kind of like that, we serve
them with kindness, hope, joy, peace, using level-headed forgiveness, admonishing
them with love, kindness, gently sharing the love of Christ with them through
the Spirit within us. The fruit of the Spirit also reminds us that it is not
about us, it being the list, the gifts, the fruits, but they are given to us
that we may help others to grow to know Him, to be loved by Him and to live
with Him in their lives forever as well. In Jesus’ name we can walk in the
Spirit, when the fruits are produced and we reproduce them to give them out,
they can continue to do the same. You know it’s that old adage that you give
something, then they give something etc. Like the mirror of mirrors effect but
that image in the mirror is Jesus.
But how? Did any of the men I sent
to you take advantage of you? When I
urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take
advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s
steps, doing things the same way. Perhaps you think we’re saying these things
just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with
God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 2
Corinthians 12:17-19
So, we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard
about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give
you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor
and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All
the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also
pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have
all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, Colossians
1:9-11
Please the Lord today, produce the fruits, and live a better
life, in Jesus’ name, amen.