What are the Fruits of the Spirit: Faith Soaking Season 4 Episode 5

Alisa Hope Wagner explains the Fruits of the Spirit and how they protect us from judgment and release mercy, so our lives can be filled with peace and joy. #fruitsoftheSpirit #God #faith #Bible #Jesus #HolySpirit

Transcript

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, recognizing that He exchanged His righteousness for our sin on the Cross, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God with us on Earth. The Holy Spirit comes with the Fruit of the Spirit. He resides in our own spirits that have been perfected by Christ, and we inherit all of God’s goodness. God gives us time on Earth, so we can work the Fruit of the Spirit into the rest of our being, including our soul (mind, heart and will) and body. We want to be led by the Spirit and not our flesh, so God can help us to produce the Fruit of the Spirit in all areas of our lives (Philippians 2.12-13). 

The Apostle Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.22-23. They include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And according to the Bible, “There is no law against these things [Fruit]” (Galatians 5:23 NLT). 

As we read the Bible and listen to the Holy Spirit in prayer, we start recognizing the Fruit of the Spirit. Once we identify them, we can begin to incorporate them into our thinking, decisions and actions. Then, our entire belief system will be transformed by the Fruit of the Spirit. We can capture every thought and see if it is rooted in a Fruit of the Spirit. If not, we take that thought and demolish it or make it obey the Holy Spirit’s Fruit (2 Corinthians 10.5). 

For example, we may feel jealousy because a friend has something we don’t – a great marriage, a thriving career, a healthy lifestyle, etc. We can compare our jealousy to the Fruit of the Spirit and realize that we are not showing love toward that person. We can instantly rebuke the feeling of jealousy and transform it into gratefulness that our friend is blessed in that area. We can also thank God for all our blessings and have faith in His continued blessings for us. 

When we align our thoughts, decisions and actions with the Fruit of the Spirit, the Apostle Paul says that the law of judgment can’t be held against us. We will be free of judgment and given mercy as we choose God’s Fruit over our fleshly impulses (Luke 6.36-37). The Fruit of the Spirit releases us from their negative opposites. Instead of being burdened by hate, depression, anxiety, impatience, meanness, malice, falsehood, unkindness and self-indulgence, which all lead to an unhappy life, we can walk freely in the full goodness of God by allowing His Fruit to grow in us and nourish our lives.  

Our lives will overflow with joy and peace as we allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate His Fruit in our minds, hearts and wills. Not only will we benefit, but those we love will benefit from the powerful presence of God in our lives. We can be an example to others who desperately need hope of a good God Who loves them and wants to bless them. We can’t give what we don’t have, so knowing and claiming the Fruit of the Spirit every day will begin the journey to our best life in Christ and being a blessing to others. 

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of theLord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1.1-3 NLT).