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Presented by Lisa Bishop
Is your life a testimony to the power of God at work in you? How do you know if your life is aligned with God’s Spirit? By asking this simple question: Is your life bearing fruit?
In his discourse about living life in the Spirit, Paul speaks these words in Galatians 5:16-17a, 19-25,
… walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.…The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17a, 19-25).
If our lives are marked by selfish ambition, impatience, unforgiveness, arrogance at work, or infighting with fellow followers of Jesus, we aren’t producing the fruit we are called to cultivate. We need to resist being overpowered by our fleshly actions and resolve to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Not too long ago I felt very wounded by a friend. I could sense the bitterness welling up in my heart as I rehearsed the hurt I felt. But I was determined not to let ill feelings put me in bondage. Romans 8:26 says, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
I prayed fervently and daily and asked the Holy Spirit to help my mind and heart. And you know what, he did. The Holy Spirit helped me to release the offense. The word help in Greek means to “take hold with another.” In the weakness of your flesh, when you ask him, the Holy Spirit helps you by taking hold of you and intervening, changing your heart, and impacting your actions. I’m so grateful, aren’t you?
The next time you find yourself tempted to lash out, be impatient, hold a grudge, or react with indifference, resentment, or rage, ask the Holy Spirit for help. Pray that he will take over and that the fruit of his Spirit will be evident in your life. As your life bears fruit, you become a strong witness to the power of the Gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit.