“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”- Gal. 5:22-23
Read that again. Think about each of these nine things. In them we find exactly what we need– what the world needs! Can you imagine what a difference it would make if we all manifested these graces? It would change everything! But how is that possible? Should we start a campaign and crusade for it? Shall we conduct classes and try to teach it? Shall we make a law demanding it? Perhaps we can just find a good example and resolve to follow it. If none of those work, how is it then even possible? Our text gives us the answer.
Notice the source mentioned– “the Spirit“. What we need can only be produced by the Holy Spirit. No amount of education and effort can provide these virtues. Only as believers are filled with the Spirit can they be experienced and expressed. The only way for these things to become a reality in our lives is for us to live under the control of God’s Spirit. He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. And it is amazing! He is the change agent ( 2 Cor. 3:18).
Notice also that this speaks of a cluster- “fruit” singular. It’s not some but all of the nine virtues that make up the “fruit of the Spirit”. If we are truly filled with the Spirit we will possess all of them. Imagine what a difference that would make in our lives and the impact it would have on others. How then can we be satisfied with any less? Why would we think God is satisfied with less? God want us to experience and express all that He has for us– to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. And the only thing standing between us and that is our stubborn selfishness – the desire to do as we please rather than that which pleases God. The Spirit filled life is the norm for Christians, not the exception reserved for only a few super saints. Any Christian can and every Christian should be filled with the Spirit. The good news is that you don’t have to leave your chair for that to happen. It isn’t something we achieve, but something we receive. It is a command (Eph. 5:18) to be obeyed.–HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
