By Evangelist Obakeng
Fruit of the Spirit – Visible Growth in Jesus Christ “Fruit of the
Spirit” is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a
true Christian life. Galatians 5:22-23, these attributes are: love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and
temperance. We learn from scripture that these are not individual
“fruits” from which we pick and choose. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit
is one ninefold “fruit” that characterizes all who truly walk in the
Holy Spirit. Collectively, these are the fruits that all Christians
should be producing in their new lives with Jesus Christ.
Fruit of the Spirit – The Nine Biblical Attributes The fruit of the
Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian’s transformed life. In
order to mature as believers, we should study and understand the
attributes of the ninefold fruit:
Love – “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).
Through Jesus Christ, our greatest goal is to do all things in love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Joy – “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “Let us
fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Peace – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). “May the God
of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you
may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Longsuffering (patience) –We are “strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering
with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). “With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
Gentleness (kindness) — We should live “in purity, understanding,
patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in
truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness
in the right hand and in the left” (2 Corinthians 6:6-7).
Goodness – “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would
count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of
his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth” (Ephesians 5:9).
Faith (faithfulness) – “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I
will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels
of old are faithfulness and truth” (Isaiah 25:1). “I pray that out of
his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit
in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17).
Meekness – “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). “With all lowliness
and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”
(Ephesians 4:2).
Temperance (self-control) -“But also for this very reason, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge
self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2
Peter 1:5-7).
Evangelist Obakeng