Before we dive into the first "fruit" in our spiritual fruit bowl, I want to cover why these aspects of a Christian life are called "the fruit of the Spirit." What's so special about the Spirit? Last week, we understood that the fruit of the Spirit is actions that must be present in a Christian's life. By why must they be present?
When you see apples on an apple tree, what does it show? It demonstrates that the tree is alive. In the same way, when you see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in a Christian's life, it proves that the Spirit is in them, producing fruit, and that the Christian is alive in Christ. In the same vein, if you don't see the fruit of the Spirit in a "Christian's", or non-Christians,' life, it's sadly obvious that they do not have the Spirit in them.
Before we take a deeper look into each of the fruits of the Spirit, let's take a time to examine ourselves and make sure that we first have the Spirit inside of us. Then, and only then, can we start working on bearing fruit.
When you see apples on an apple tree, what does it show? It demonstrates that the tree is alive. In the same way, when you see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in a Christian's life, it proves that the Spirit is in them, producing fruit, and that the Christian is alive in Christ. In the same vein, if you don't see the fruit of the Spirit in a "Christian's", or non-Christians,' life, it's sadly obvious that they do not have the Spirit in them.
Before we take a deeper look into each of the fruits of the Spirit, let's take a time to examine ourselves and make sure that we first have the Spirit inside of us. Then, and only then, can we start working on bearing fruit.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23