One day, while I was contemplating some topics to write about, the Lord placed on my heart to begin a series. The following is a small introduction of what God has placed into my heart to share.
If we claim to be Christians, then what do we have to showcase to others so that they will know we are Christians? If we say we are the light shining through this dark world, how then, can someone in this dark world notice our light? How can we display that intimacy that we share with God? - By the fruits that we bear!
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
It
has been placed on my heart to begin a series of posts dealing with
and speaking on the fruits of the spirit – what they are, what is
meant by it, how does it apply to us; do we have fruitful thinking?
In Romans 8:5, it says, “Those who live according to the flesh have
their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit
desires.”
But
is this always the case? Sometimes its our nature to long and go
after the Carnal things in this world but then that leads to a war. A
war between our Flesh and The spirit. Hence if we practice and attain
the fruits of the spirit listed in Galations, we can overcome most
temptations or even all temptations that this world wiill throw at
us. Every obstacle, every speed hump in our journey to that fulfilled
life can be overcome once we instill in us these fruits of the
Spirit.
The
fruits of the Spirit, is a physical record of the Visible growth in
Jesus Christ. It's a term that puts together the visible attributes
of a True Christian Life. We do not pick and choose which fruits we
would like to consume to enhance our journey. They are not individual
fruits but they are bundled together to characterize who truly walks
in the Holy Spirit. These are qualities and attributes that we should
be producing in our walk with Christ.
The
following is an excert by Dr Richard Krejcir (What is the fruit of
the spirit) that really puts the topic into perspective:
“The
Fruit of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit, God's active love and work
within and through us so we bear and convey His Fruit. This means we
add to as in supplement His Fruit, God's love for us, which we are
given and then we are to build by faith so we are able to bear this
to others. This is a cooperative endeavor that happens by our
relationship with Christ as we grow by faith in Him. What we add too
and what He then multiplies. This is that active pursuit of Love as a
spiritual Fruit that is built from our collaboration that we have
with God to produce real godly character and commitment. It gives us
the fiber of our moral center that stretches throughout our being,
embracing and holding together our relationships and opportunities
when it is sealed as a choice and commitment, and not just a feeling.
The Fruit of the Spirit will synergistically combines with the other
godly characters of our Lord to promote our ability to relate and
grow in our faith, relations, to be better to and for Him as well as
others as well as ourselves.
The
Fruit of the Spirit is described as a fruit, because it is made up of
more than one substance; it has juice, pulp, peal, core, segments,
and seeds, all held together by a skin or rind, and attached to the
tree by a stem where its nutrients flow in. If you just eat of the
pulp or juice and throw out the rest, how can you use the seeds to
grow more? If you take the fruit off the vine, it will wither and
rot; if the vine is not cared for, the tree will die. So it is with
the Fruit of the Spirit. God makes it and it requires our growth of
faith that necessitates our tending, and it is more than just one
substance; all of its substances combined are greater than the sum of
its parts.”
I
hope you all have enjoyed this little nugget, and are blessed and
looking forward to the upcoming posts dealing with the fruits of the
spirit individually!
Be
blessed! Be encouraged! Be inspired!
Reference
Welcome
to Discipleshiptools.org. "Introduction to the Fruit of the
Spirit." Accessed December 2, 2014.
http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=36737&columnid=4166
