Devo, Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit: The Fruit Of The Spirit

The Holy Spirit: The Fruit Of The Spirit

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Today, we are expanding on the thoughts in yesterday's devotional. We learned how to walk in the Spirit by taking deliberate daily steps, turning away from sin, submitting to the Spirit's lead, making his desires ours, and guarding against threats to slip back into sin. If you missed those steps, go back and read them. When we do this, something happens. Fruit is produced. Fruit is an outcome. Let's read a single text from yesterday's verse.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. — Galatians 5:22-26

Here are some clarifiers about this fruit.

Fruit is an outcome. Just like an orange is an outcome, or produce, of an orange tree, so is the fruit of the Spirit. Spirit fruit is a production of the activity of walking, being led by, living by, and keeping in step with the Spirit.

Fruit is an outcome of the Spirit. It's not your fruit. It's the Spirit's fruit that is being produced through you. You can take no credit for this. All glory goes to the Spirit, who happens to lead and produce through you. This is why Paul says in Galatians 5:26, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." It's tempting to think we produced the outcomes. We didn't. The Spirit did.

Fruit is proof of the Spirit's passions. When others see the Spirit's fruit in you, they see evidence of the Spirit's passions and desires acting on you. But this is also evidence of the crucifixion and killing of your passions and desires. This is good because your desires and passions always compete with his.

Fruit is evidence of freedom. In another letter, Paul said, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17). In this text, Paul says the same thing a little from another direction. "Against such things, there is no law" (Galatians 5:22). This is the pleasure of a man who walks in the Spirit. He knows the love, joy, and all the pleasures of God. When we walk in the Spirit, we are evidencing over and over the liberating power of God over slavery to sin. The Spirit is a bondage breaker. He is freedom and provides freedom from everything in this world, and people can see it.

Remember, as you walk in the Spirit today, any and all fruit is only an outcome. It's a visible manifestation of the Spirit and his passions acting on and in your life. You are merely a vessel through which the Spirit's passions and desires flow. So go walk it out and then speak about it so when others see it, they can find their way to the same freedom you enjoy that comes from the Spirit.

ASK THIS:

  1. How can you intentionally align your daily choices and actions with the Spirit's leading, allowing His fruit to manifest more vibrantly in your life?
  2. Reflect on a recent situation where you saw the fruit of the Spirit at work in your interactions. How did this experience testify to the Spirit's influence and your willingness to surrender to His guidance?

DO THIS: Let the outcomes be evidence of the Spirit's work in you and give him glory.

PRAY THIS: Heavenly Father, grant me the strength and wisdom to walk in alignment with Your Spirit, overcoming the conflict between my fleshly desires and Your promptings. May I find liberation through Jesus and embrace the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, as I journey in step with Your will. Amen.

PLAY THIS: Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is.

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32 thoughts on “The Holy Spirit: The Fruit Of The Spirit”

  1. Chris Caliguire says:

    Hmmmmm. Interesting sermon I heard latley…..so if you were raised in a kind, patient environment, is that fruit that you’re kind and patient or your environment. If you’re generally nice to people, without mentioning Jesus to them, are you REALLY witnessing by your actions, or just being nice. I had mentioned this sermon to a friend and came up with the only reason that we’re at all nice, EVER is because God is written on our hearts and it is up to us to realize it. Although it was some deep discussion…..we had gotten into MN nice vs fruit. Haha…..

    Reply
  5. Duane McPheeters says:

    Thanks it’s always good to hear about men’s that have special memories with family. Blessings

    Reply
    • Duane McPheeters says:

      Hi Franklin: My favorite event of the year is the little league World Series. Have you been to the event? I played little league as a kid. Blessings Duane McPheeters Loomis, Ca.

      Reply
      • Franklin Lovell II says:

        I have been to that event many times since I was a child. I loved going there with family and friends. I am more into books then sports lol. May God bless you today Duane.

        Reply
  14. Mark Becker says:

    Worland WY

    To begin to feel the pulling of the Holy Spirit I have to be able to completely clear my mind from everything else.
    On my own I cannot do that….my mind wanders….unless the Holy Spirit is already there to clear my thoughts

    Reply
  18. Randy Lancaster says:

    I really like the “pray this” portion or the devotionals. They are concise and speak to the subject. This series on the Holy Spirit has really been speaking to me. Thanks for sharing! Buffalo, MN

    Reply
  19. Mark Bosler says:

    Good morning,
    I have been so inspired by your teachings on the Holy Spirit that I would love to do a teaching to the men at our church. Would it be possible to get the outlines that were under each day’s teaching on the Holy Spirit? specifically referencing the outlines that had Ask This, Do This, Play This in the outline.
    Thank you for making a difference in the lives of men in this world! Mark Bosler

    Reply
  20. Laurance says:

    The Fruits 4/27/18

    Love makes us honor each other
    More than our self
    Can make an acquaintance
    A sister or a brother

    Joy overflows our heart
    As it takes the pain of the past
    And can bring light
    From something dark

    Peace is a chance to be still
    During a storm
    God has a plan
    He will fulfill

    Patience is in the wait
    Endurance and perseverance
    Through hard times
    It’s never too late

    Kindness is a chance to understand
    The struggles of those around
    An opportunity for action
    Extending a hand

    Goodness is purity of soul
    Grow not weary
    Give it away
    A thousand fold

    Faithfulness is holding true
    Knowing He goes before
    To accomplish miracles
    For me and you

    Gentleness is the soft word to a friend
    Whose days are heavy
    Understanding their struggles
    That they pray would end

    Self control is taking a breath
    Staying composed
    Proverbs 15:1
    In times of stress

    Reply
  27. Sean Dahlquist says:

    For me to align my choices with the Spirit’s, I have to be in an almost constant state of prayer, always communicating and talking to him throughout my day and letting HIS spirit and not mine lead and guide my actions. And for me it’s not hard to think of how I can see the fruits of the Holy Spirit influencing and guiding me especially in traffic or even the way I treat people in my daily interactions.

    Sean Dahlquist
    Bradenton, Florida

    Reply

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