The Fruit of the Spirit
IN THE STUDY:
It is impossible to complete a study of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit without considering the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The nine fruit are the character evidences of God’s presence in the life of the Christian as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. The nine fruit form three groups, each of three Christian graces. The mature Christian, balanced and Christ-like, will grow in these qualities and characteristics.
In our relationship with God we will demonstrate LOVE, JOY AND PEACE. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us God’s love, joy and peace. These qualities show to all the presence of God within the Christian. Love is our motive in all we do, joy is the sign of the in-dwelling presence of God, and peace is the rest within the heart that is in line with God’s will.
In our relationship with other people we demonstrate PATIENCE, KINDNESS and goodness. Patience is the capacity to put up with other people’s rudeness and harshness with understanding and consideration. Kindness is the virtue of possessing a positive goodwill towards the welfare of others. Goodness is that characteristic which puts the kind wish into action and constructively helps others. These qualities are ascending steps in our relationship towards other people.
In our relationship with ourselves, we will demonstrate FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL. The emphasis is upon our trustworthiness. People find in us that we are faithful in all our dealings. Gentleness is the mark of strong and confident character. Those who are strong can afford to be gentle. They have no need for aggressiveness. Self-control is personal mastery over our passions, thoughts, emotions, speech and behaviour.
These fruit of the Holy Spirit show to the world by the quality of our character that we are mature in Christ. They affect our spiritual relationships with God, with other people and ourselves.
FROM THE PULPIT:
Through the Holy Spirit God gives gifts to every Christian. These gifts differ and some are gifted greater than others. But all Christians should produce evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the mark of our maturity.
The Church at Corinth had all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but they were divided, fighting among each other, sensual, and neglecting the true graces of Christian living. They failed to grow in grace as mature Christians. They had special gifts, but they needed spiritual character which only comes from the fruit of the spirit. When Christ dwells within, then our character should show evidence of his presence.
John speaks of the qualities of Christian character (1 John 3:9). Peter encourages Christians to grow like Christ (2 Peter 1:5-7). Paul urged the early Christians to change their nature by God’s power and to grow in Christian grace (Col. 3:9-12).
The early Christians, who were known most for their work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God, were people who possessed both the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Their Christian character guided them to maturity and effective service. Note both the gifts and the graces mentioned in Barnabas, Stephen and Philip. Christian character must govern our spiritual gifts. Whenever some Christians claim special gifts of the Holy Spirit and yet are spiritually snobs and divisive, there is an indication that they lack the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus indicated that it was by our fruit that we would be known. Nothing can be more important to the individual Christian than he show forth the qualities of character associated with Christ.
AMONG THE PEOPLE:
As I look back over forty years of ministry, the people I remember with the greatest affection are those who showed the fruits of the Holy Spirit. I have met many talented and gifted people but those who possessed the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their life are those who have always meant much to us. As a teenager, the encouragement and care of Eric and Elsie Hammond helped our young lives develop. As a student minister, the patience and hospitality of David and Ethel Moncur guided our early ministry. In the rural church, Loy and Nellie Fleming showed those graces, which transcended denominational barriers and party strife. In Denominational Leadership, Miss Marjorie Job showed forth calmness and devotion that epitomised Christ like character. In a long city ministry with national and international ramifications the grace demonstrated in Professor Alf Pollard AO and Dr. Jim Pendlebury OAM helped me immensely.
In our lives we all know forceful people, successful people, talented people, but as years go by we remember most the graceful people.
