THE HOLY SPIRIT - Part. 6

By Joseph Akinola

Fruit of The Spirit - 2
Galatians 5:22, John 15:1-17

1. GOODNESS: Romans 15:1. This is Benevolence, Giving. This fruit of the Spirit enables a believer to always show the readiness to do good to all as he/she has the opportunity. Matthew 12:33 says, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” If the tree in you is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is good, then, everything about you must also be good.  

Further Reading: Ephesians 5:9, 2nd Thessalonians 1:11, Romans 15:14.


2. FAITH: This is Reliability. Romans 12:3b. Romans 10:17. Growing greatly in faith demands you consider and watch what you hear. Faith-Building thrives on the wings of studying and listening to the Word of God. The more of God’s Word you hear, the more measure of faith that is released to you. Note that you credit your Faith-Account each time you add to / increase your Word – intake. Your faith in God makes you Buoyant and Bold to stand before and face any challenge that comes your way. Your Faith-Status makes you Unshakable and Immovable in any circumstances of life; it also makes you see every case/issue/situation as possible with GOD Matthew 17:20. 

Further Reading: Mark 16:16, 1st Timothy 4:12


3. MEEKNESS: This is Mildness, an Even Balance of all Tempers and Passions; this is the entire opposite of anger. Total Submission, not pride or arrogance. Matthew 5:5. This is the ability to govern one self’s passions and resentments, so as not to be easily provoked, and, when he is so (provoked), to be soon pacified. Meekness was the spirit of the Saviour Himself Matthew 11:29. Meekness presupposes humility in a believer’s life and makes him/her find expression in Moderation. 

Further Reading: Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 16:14; Proverbs 25:15; Ecclesiastes 10:4, 2nd Corinthians 10:1, Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; 1Timothy 6:11; Titus 3:2.


4. Temperance: Another word is Self-Control, Continence, Self-Government, Moderation. Moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping, sex, talking, etc. Tip: Check your fasting life – If you cannot control your food appetite, you will not be able to control other appetites. As a believer filled with the Holy Spirit, you should be able to control yourself, your anger, etc. 

Further Readings: Acts 24:25; 1st Corinthians 9:25; Titus 1:8, Titus 2:2


Against such, there is no law: Those, whose lives are adorned by the above virtues, cannot be condemned by any law, for the whole purpose & design of the moral law of God is fulfilled in those who have the Spirit of God, producing in their hearts and lives the Preceding Fruits.

John 15:5 – When you Stay / Remain CONNECTED to the Holy Spirit, you will bear all the above fruits in QUALITY.

Further Readings: John 15:1-8

Highlight

Staying Connected Leads To Total Consecration And An Ever-Fresh Blossoming in the Spirit 

THE HOLY SPIRIT - Part. 5

By Joseph Akinola

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22, John 15:1-17

The Fruits of the Spirit are as follows: Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance. In this lesson, we shall be looking at the Fruits one after the other and the category each falls.

Fruit is defined as the yielding, product of a plant grown. The Fruit of the Spirit is the product of the Holy Spirit; where the Holy Spirit is the Tree / Vine and the believer is likened to the branch which, if he remains connected to the Holy Spirit will bear Fruits and without Him (the Holy Spirit) he (the believer), can literally do nothing John 15:5.

The nine (9) Fruits of the Spirit are categorized into 3:

Love, Joy and Peace -- Character as an Inward State

Long-Suffering, Gentleness and Goodness -- Character in Expression Toward Man

Faith, Meekness and Temperance -- Character in Expression Toward God

Tip: All these fruits present a moral Portrait of Christ.

1. LOVE: This is an act of denoting an inner inclination to persons or things. Lack of love in a believer’s life gets a believer disconnected from the Holy Spirit 1st Corinthians 13:1. The Holy Spirit helps the believer to possess a large heart. When the Holy Spirit enlarges your heart, you increase in quality, your love for others. Note that you can not really love without the Holy Spirit.

Further Readings: 1st John 4:7,8,12, 16; John 13:35

2. JOY: This is defined as mirth, internal gladness. Nehemiah 8:10 When you posses the joy of the Lord as the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, you become strong from within (spiritually). This joy Rejuvenates, Revitalizes and Refreshes you.  

Further Readings: Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 61:3a; 1st Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; 2nd Corinthians 6:10; 1Peter 1:8

3. PEACE: This is a form of calmness, quiet and order which takes place in a justified soul; instead of doubts, fear, and anxiety. Peace is described as the first sensible fruit of the pardon of sin Romans 5:1. Peace is a sign of Reconciliation with God Romans 5:1. Peace means, calmness of the heart Philippians 4:7. Further Readings: Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 2nd Thessalonians 3:16

4. LONG-SUFFERING: This is the patience to defer anger, and a contentedness to bear injuries of life without murmuring; submitting cheerfully to every dispensation of God’s providence, and thus deriving benefits from every occurrence such as in affliction, trial and when injured by others 1Corinthians 13:4a. Note that Long-Suffering goes hand in hand with Love because Love Suffers Long. This word is sometimes translated Patience.

Further Readings: Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22; 2Peter 3:9, Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 1:11; Colossians 3:12.

5. GENTLENESS: This is a very rare grace, often wanting/lacking in many who have a considerable share of Christian excellence. A good educated and polished manners, when brought under the influence of the grace of God, will bring out this grace with great effect. Another word for Gentleness is Kindness 2Corinthians 6:6; Courtesy; Being Polite.

Further Readings: 2nd Samuel 22:36, Psalm 18:35, Luke 6:35.

Bible Verse:  

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Highlight
A life lived without the Holy Spirit is a life lived in Darkness!