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Often we tend to think that our culture today is more corrupt or godless than any other culture ever. But it’s simply not true. The Apostle Paul—and all the Christians in that first century, experienced far more persecution and opposition than we do today. And in the midst of that godless culture, Paul gave them a plan that could never be criticized or demonized, and a plan that would be totally effective. Note this passage in Galatians 5:19-25:
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. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, 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.
There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. That’s what the Apostle is telling us. You can display these characteristics anytime, anywhere, without any impediment. No one can stop you; no one can take you to court for being: loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.
Those are the nine evidences of the fruit of the Spirit—one fruit with nine facets to it. When we are born again, we receive God’s Spirit—that’s how we know we are born again, according to the Bible. Therefore, since this is the fruit of the Spirit, it is only through the Spirit that this fruit can become evident in our lives. However, we have to cooperate with the Spirit, we have to allow the Spirit of God to have control. That means we must be intentional about growing this fruit.
I’m going to give you some very practical suggestions on how to grow this fruit in your life in more abundant ways, and then just see how it affects you and your relationships. It will be a practical plan for spiritual growth, and I have a booklet to offer you with the details. The booklet is our gift to you, if you will indeed become intentional about growing this fruit in your life.
Let’s look at the first evidence given in Galatians 5 that we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and that is:
#1 – Love
This word has a lot of different meanings, doesn’t it? Let’s make sure we understand that the love which is the fruit of the Spirit is God’s kind of love—agape love, unconditional love. This love may or may not be accompanied by nice feelings. This love is not a feeling; it is an action.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, we see what God’s love is like:
- It is patient and kind.
- It does not envy or boast.
- It is not arrogant or rude.
- It is not irritable or resentful.
- It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
- It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The love which is produced by God’s Spirit is an action, a decision to act in these ways, with or without the feelings. In fact, we can love people we may not even like! We’re not told to like their ways, their habits, their lifestyles, but we are told to act toward them in loving ways.
Jesus said it’s not hard to love people who love you back, but it’s hard to love people who aren’t lovable (Matthew 5:46). So, here’s my challenge to you for producing this kind of action love in your life: Pray that God will help you to love those people you’re going to have to deal with today, even those that you really don’t like.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 this week—several times—to get a clear picture of what real love is all about. Ask God to make you aware of anyone who comes across your path that may need a touch of God’s love. Don’t forget that little things show love: Simple courtesy, a big smile while looking them in the eye, a listening ear. Love puts the other person first.
The second fruit is joy.
#2 – Joy
Ann, a regular listener from Florida, relates how she was drawn to Christ by a joyful neighbor. She said, “I was standing at my window and could see my neighbor, Judy, in her yard. As I watched her work, I realized that she had something I didn’t have. Whether it was bright and sunny or cloudy and cold, Judy maintained her spirit of peace and joy. I decided to walk over and talk to her to discover what it was that made her different from most people I knew. Those were my first steps toward new life!”
I love C.S. Lewis’s definition of joy: “Joy is the flag that is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” When King Jesus lives in us, joy is our trademark—right?
Well, it should be, but then why did Paul write to the Galatians 4:15, “What has happened to all your joy?” Maybe he could write that to you, too. Is the flag of joy flying from your face, your life, your words, your heart?
David prayed that God would restore to him the joy of his salvation (Psalm 51:12). He had it once, but he had lost it. The Psalmist tells us over and over again to shout with joy, to give thanks with joy, to praise God with joy, to sing with joy. That’s how you keep Satan from stealing your joy. So, when your joy is starting to run dry and you feel cheerless, start praising God with joy.
Will you make it your goal to let the world around you know that the King is in residence in your life because joy is flying from your life? That means your face will be joyful, your words will be joyful, your attitude will be joyful, and your actions will be joyful. And when you are joyful, believe me, people will notice. It’s the best witness we can have for Jesus.
The third evidence that the fruit of God’s Spirit is alive and healthy in us is peace.
#3 – Peace
Peace in a chaotic world. How do we have that kind of peace? Remember that pressure and peace are not exclusives. We don’t have to give up peace just because there’s some pressure on us. And peace doesn’t mean the absence of telephones or emails or meals to cook or reports to finish. Peace is a state of mind; it begins with our thoughts. We can be peaceful in the midst of a very busy schedule.
Peter tells us that we must pursue peace—work at being peaceful, remember to refocus your mind. Get your mind refocused on the person who is our peace, Jesus Christ. You can do that while you’re talking to people, busily working on something, darting somewhere in your car—whatever. Right in the midst of all that pressure, you can still know God’s incredible peace.
Remember this: Your day is won or lost in the morning hours. Your lack of peace may be because you’ve sacrificed time with the Prince of Peace. It just won’t work. Give God the time you need to be with him, and see how he stretches the rest of your time for you.
One of my Board members came to know Christ because a co-worker was peaceful in the midst of a chaotic work environment. He did his work as well as anyone, but he never seemed to be stressed or out of sorts. Janet finally said to him, “How do you do it?” He shared with her that it was his faith in Christ which made the difference. Then he simply recommended that she read the Bible, and suggested the book of John. She began to do that, and through other conversations with her co-worker, after a couple of months, Janet accepted Christ, and a few months after that, her husband Ray did, too.
And it all started when one person was peaceful in the midst of pressure. What a testimony we could have to our worlds if we consistently displayed this wonderful fruit of God’s Spirit—peace.
Now, this next evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is perhaps my most difficult one, the one I have to be most intentional about, and that is patience.
#4 – Patience
Patience can be defined as the capacity to calmly endure. I have to chuckle when I say that, because if anything is the opposite of me, it is calm endurance. I am not a patient person—with myself or with others. And yet God put it on his list, and he didn’t make any exceptions, not even for me. You know, I’m learning that God can make even me more patient, if I am willing to let him.
First Thessalonians 5:14 says to “be patient with everyone.” Whoa! That’s hard to do, isn’t it?
It might be helpful for you to list those with whom you have the most difficulty being patient. List the situations that test your patience the most. Pray specifically about each of these.
Then, decide what you are going to do when you begin to feel impatient. Be prepared to identify your feelings of impatience quickly, so that you can take quick action to avoid becoming impatient. One sure-fire antidote for those feelings of impatience is to pray a quick prayer and/or quote a verse of scripture. Invoke God’s power; turn on the power of God’s Spirit in your life at these times, because you can’t do this on your own.
I can tell you that it is truly exciting to see how God can change you and give you characteristics and traits which before were foreign to you and your personality! It really is exciting. But remember, it is the work of God’s Spirit in us that produces this fruit. We simply must allow him to do it.
To help you and me become more focused, more intentional about this, I have prepared a booklet, which I’d love you to have. It’s called “Growing Spiritually: A Plan for an Abundant Life.” It focuses on each aspect of the fruit of the Spirit one at a time and gives you practical, easy to do suggestions to help you grow that fruit. You can download your copy of this free booklet here.