🍒 THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (1) 🍒

[The moral impact of the Holy Spirit]

A tree is known by its fruits. If we are the plantings of God, then we must be identified by the fruits that we bear.

These fruits are called fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does a lot in us as Believers.

In the previous editions of this series, we have discovered the personality, ministry and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the most recent edition, we discussed the oneness of the Holy Spirit in personality and message.

In this 6th edition, we shall consider Paul's teachings on the fruits of the Spirit, the moral output of God's presence in us.

Many Fruits, One Source

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such, there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

From a Linguistic perspective, these are nine fruits, but spiritually, they are all one. They come from the same source.

These fruits are one because you cannot have one and lack the other. If it seems so, then it doesn't indicate unavailability, rather, it reveals your resistance against its manifestations, through disobedience. Below are some nuggets from Bishop John Ekong on this subject.

Nuggets From Bishop John Ekong

• These fruits are the products of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you.

• You cannot fake fruits. If you do not have the fruit of the Spirit, then you will manifest the works of the flesh. (Gal. 5:19-21)

• The fruits shows or confirms your growth and maturity in the things of the Spirit. For example, trees bear fruit when they are mature.

• Our fruits identify who we are. If you are of God, you will manifest the fruits of the Spirit. So we have to bear the fruits to keep our identity.

• The consequence of not bearing good fruits is destruction. (John 15:2)

• If we must conquer the lust of the flesh, then we must walk in the Spirit.

The Fruits of the Flesh

This is the binary of the fruit of the Spirit. According to Paul in Galatians 5:19, they are: adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, and revelings.

It also include other habits or acts that are not supported by the Word of God. Flesh here refers to the totality of human, inordinate, carnal desires, mostly sponsored by the wrong spirits.

Apostle Paul noted in verse 17 of Galatians 5 that the flesh always war against the Spirit. These two are never in terms. They never agree. This information is vital, to let us know that if we must manifest the fruits of the Spirit, then we have to ignore the flesh. In verse 16, Apostle Paul admonished, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

The flesh wants immediate gratification. The Spirit desires a righteous/godly approach. The one with the higher influence at the time prevails. (The Spirit's influence can be raised in prayers and the Word.)

Flesh brings shame and death, while the Spirit brings and replenishes life. Stay tuned as we discuss the nine fruits in details in subsequent editions.

Read similar article "Sin, Flesh, Death; Righteousness, Spirit, Life" on Goodlife Writes. God bless you.

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