THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ripe or Rotten Fruit?
 
GALATIANS 5: 22 - 23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is -
"Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"

The Fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us... The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. The Fruit of the Spirit is the picture of the CHARACTER and NATURE of Jesus Christ on earth… When the Fruit of the Spirit is seen in your life and in the church then the world will see the real character and nature of Christ. The POWER of Jesus Christ is seen in the GIFTS, the AUTHORITY of Jesus Christ is seen in the FIVEFOLD MINISTRY and the CHARACTER of Jesus Christ is seen in the FRUIT - they are the by-products of Christ's control - we can't obtain them by trying to get them without His help…

Looking at the Spiritual GIFTS of the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor 12, we find NINE  GIFTS and in Gal 5 we find NINE Spiritual FRUIT. It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament times the High Priest had a garment and at the bottom of the garment there were BELLS and POMEGRANATES. Some scholars say that the NINE GIFTS alternated with the NINE POMEGRANATES. The bells were a type of the GIFTS while the pomegranates were a type of the FRUIT, which we as New Testament priests are to wear… The Gifts must operate by the Fruit of the Spirit or else they are ugly and filled with pride and they will come out harsh and unloving… God designed the Gifts to be "mixed" with the Fruit…

The difference between a FRUIT TREE and a CHRISTMAS TREE is that the gifts are PLACED on the Christmas tree while the fruit GROWS from a fruit tree… GIFTS have nothing to do with age, growth or maturity - they are freely given and placed on the believer fully developed and complete…Where Spiritual Gifts require no maturity, Spiritual Fruit does require maturity… The Fruit of the Spirit is dependant on the spiritual growth of the believer…If we want the Fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must abide in Christ … John 15: 4, 5 - "Abide in Me, and I in you… He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…"  We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him… As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law - to love God and to love people…

The Bible mentions many specific actions and attitudes that are either right or wrong… Let's look at the following list:

 ROTTEN FRUIT...                                                                                 RIPE FRUIT...
 Sexual Immorality (Gal 5:19)                                                Love (Gal 5:22) 
 Impurity (Gal 5:19)                                                                  Joy (Gal 5:22)
 Lust (Col 3:5)                                                                          Peace (Gal 5:22) 
 Hatred (Gal 5:20)                                                                   Patience (Gal 5:22)
 Discord (Gal 5:20)                                                                 Kindness (Gal 5:22)                                                                               
 Jealousy (Gal 5:20)                                                               Goodness (Gal 5:22)
 Anger (Gal 5:20)                                                                     Faithfulness (Gal 5:22)
 Selfish Ambition (Gal 5:20)                                                  Gentleness (Gal 5:23)
 Dissension (Gal 5:20)                                                          Self-Control (Gal 5:23)
 Arrogance (2 Cor 12:20/ Gal 5:20)
 Envy (Gal 5:21)
 Murder (Rev 22:12-16)
 Idolatry (Gal 5:20/ Eph 5:5)
 Witchcraft (Gal 5:20)
 Drunkenness (Gal 5:21)
 Wild Living (Luke 15:13/ Gal 5: 21)
 Cheating (1 Cor 6:8)
 Adultery (1 Cor 6:9, 10)
 Homosexuality (1 Cor 6:9, 10)
 Greed (1 Cor 6:9, 10)
 Stealing (1 Cor 6: 9, 10)
 Lying (Rev 22:12 - 16)

Are there perhaps a number of characteristics from the left column that are still influencing your Spiritual Fruit…?