Jesus Devotionals.org John 3:16 For God so Loved the World that He Gave His Only Begotten Son that Whosoever Believes in Him Shall Not Perish but Have Everlasting Life


August 16, 2007

The Nine Fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

The nine fruits of the Spirit are:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness/meekness
Temperance/self control


These fruits are produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we walk in Him. These fruits are not of ourselves but of the inner work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is why they are the fruit of the Spirit and not the flesh.

John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."

The only thing we are capable of producing are the works of the flesh (Gal.5:19-21).

Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Those practicing the works of the flesh (natural man) can not inherit the kingdom of God, which is peace, joy and righteousness (righteous living) through the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

But as we walk in Him and put on the new man created in Christ, we become victorious over the work of the flesh and the old lifestyle formerly known. We enter into the glorious kingdom as we are delivered from past sin and struggles and as we are transformed to be more like Him. This is the inner working of the Holy Spirit in the believers life (2 Cor. 3:18).

The ways of the Spirit filled life are contrary to the work of the flesh (Galatians 5:17). Galatians 5:16 says that as we walk by the Spirit, we will not fulfil the desires of our flesh! The Spirit will deliver us from any of old ways and will produce the blessed fruit of Jesus Christ in us (the term Christian means "Christ in them"). This is all the doing on His part, and none of our own. If we remain in Him, we shall bear this blessed fruit, and our old ways shall be put away. Just as a tree or a plant produces fruit naturally, so do we as we remain in Him. We shall put off the old man and put on the new man created in Christ Jesus (Col. 3:9-10). For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto His glory! Amen.

Related Devotionals:
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Why We Need the Holy Spirit
They Shall Know us By Our Fruit

God Bless!