The Promise and the Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 6:22-26
“22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26) Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26
When the Holy Spirit fills a person, He comes in with the full array of His character and personality. He pours out much more than just agape love within the new believer. He pour out the full spectrum of what is called “the fruit of the Spirit.”
Look at this amazing list recorded for us in Galatians 5:22-23; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” These are the things the world longs but doesn’t know where to find. They come as a full package deal with the Holy Spirit. They are part of the Promise!
Here is the key point to understand, the Old Covenant and The Ten Commandments had the right view of holiness, but it didn’t offer the inner help to change. That provision comes with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
According to the context, the believer now has a choice between the deeds of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit. When we walk in the flesh, the temperament of the flesh floods into our heart. But when we yield to and walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit floods into our heart.
Here is the beautiful truth, according to Colossians 3:12-15, these fruits are present in every believer. All we need to do is let them “rule” in our hearts. We don’t have to artificially create them. They are present in the believer because of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is a matter of denying the flesh and yielding to the inner Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is in control, the fruit of the Spirit is manifest. When the flesh is in control our negative temperament steps up again.
As a Christian, I determine if the Spirit or the flesh is going to control my life. Walking consistently in the Spirit is a growth and maturing process.
The more I yield to the Lordship of Jesus, the more the fruit of the Spirit shows up in my relationships. The more I am self centered and self focused, the more the flesh steps in and takes control of my emotions.
The byproduct of the flesh being in control is inner tension, anger, jealousy of others, tension and conflict. Inner peace is gone and replaced by inner turmoil. If not dealt with quickly, it spills over into my relationships with others.
I share this because I am not alone in this battle. The most difficult battle every Christian will fight is with self. It is not a one and done battle. Crucifying the flesh is a constant battle.
The good news is that Gods grace is there and the Holy Spirit is our helper in this battle. The fruit of the Spirit can become your inner nature. The flesh can be defeated. You can put on the new self that is more and more like Jesus. This is part of the Promise and Provision Jesus had in mind when He poured out His Spirit on believers.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26) Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26
When the Holy Spirit fills a person, He comes in with the full array of His character and personality. He pours out much more than just agape love within the new believer. He pour out the full spectrum of what is called “the fruit of the Spirit.”
Look at this amazing list recorded for us in Galatians 5:22-23; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” These are the things the world longs but doesn’t know where to find. They come as a full package deal with the Holy Spirit. They are part of the Promise!
Here is the key point to understand, the Old Covenant and The Ten Commandments had the right view of holiness, but it didn’t offer the inner help to change. That provision comes with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
According to the context, the believer now has a choice between the deeds of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit. When we walk in the flesh, the temperament of the flesh floods into our heart. But when we yield to and walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit floods into our heart.
Here is the beautiful truth, according to Colossians 3:12-15, these fruits are present in every believer. All we need to do is let them “rule” in our hearts. We don’t have to artificially create them. They are present in the believer because of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is a matter of denying the flesh and yielding to the inner Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is in control, the fruit of the Spirit is manifest. When the flesh is in control our negative temperament steps up again.
As a Christian, I determine if the Spirit or the flesh is going to control my life. Walking consistently in the Spirit is a growth and maturing process.
The more I yield to the Lordship of Jesus, the more the fruit of the Spirit shows up in my relationships. The more I am self centered and self focused, the more the flesh steps in and takes control of my emotions.
The byproduct of the flesh being in control is inner tension, anger, jealousy of others, tension and conflict. Inner peace is gone and replaced by inner turmoil. If not dealt with quickly, it spills over into my relationships with others.
I share this because I am not alone in this battle. The most difficult battle every Christian will fight is with self. It is not a one and done battle. Crucifying the flesh is a constant battle.
The good news is that Gods grace is there and the Holy Spirit is our helper in this battle. The fruit of the Spirit can become your inner nature. The flesh can be defeated. You can put on the new self that is more and more like Jesus. This is part of the Promise and Provision Jesus had in mind when He poured out His Spirit on believers.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
