Text: Galatians 5:22-23 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.

 

Monday, 13^th May 2024 

THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THE FRUIT IN US

 Text: Galatians 5:22-23 

Memory verse: John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so, shall ye be my disciples.

The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to bear fruit. Jesus said in John 15:2 that “Every branch in me that bear not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that bear fruit, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit”. Jesus expects His followers to bear much fruit:

Apostle Paul said, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.” The fruit of the Spirit must be produced by all Christians. In fact, if one is a Christian, he will bear this fruit. This fruit-bearing is not always easy. Sometimes we find it hard to do. What makes this fruit so important is that it makes us different from other people. Customs and culture sometimes make it hard for us to do things differently. We are laughed at if we do things differently. Sometimes we may break a “taboo” that affects others. But, when we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we are following God’s instructions. God gave us these instructions to make us happier and more fruitful for Him. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we make the world a better place to live. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, we become like Christ.

How do we bear the fruit of the Spirit? Apostle Paul says the word is the “sword of the spirit”. The Word of God is the Bible. The Bible is how the Spirit causes Christians to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Spirit revealed the Word of God to us through the apostles and prophets. We bear the fruit of the Spirit when we “live in the Spirit”. When we live in the Spirit, we then “walk in the Spirit”. The Spirit does not “live in us” by some miraculous means. Just because some jump up and down, shout at the top of their voices, or roll on the ground, that does not mean they have the Holy Spirit. They might have a spirit, but it is not the Holy Spirit.

For us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, we must live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. For the Spirit to “live in us” is the same as for Him to “dwell in us.” The Spirit lives (or dwells) in us through the Word of God, the Bible. Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Jesus said in John 6:63, “...the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” How do the words of the Christ dwell in us? It is through the Word of God, the Bible. Where do we learn about the words of Christ? In the Bible. Who revealed the words of Christ to us? The Holy Spirit through the apostles and prophets. From this we can clearly see that when we obey the Bible, we are (1) walking by the Spirit, (2) that the Spirit lives in us and (3) that Christ’s words dwell in us.

 

CGDS HYMN 4; SS&S 281:

COME, FOR THE FEAST IS SPREAD

1. Come, for the feast is spread;

Hark to the call!

Come to the living Bread,

Broken for all;

Come to His “house of wine,”

Low on His breast recline;

All that He hath is thine;

Come, sinner, come.

2. Come where the fountain flows-

River of life-

Healing for all thy woes,

Doubting, and strife;

Millions have been supplied,

No one was e’er denied;

Come to the crimson tide,

Come, sinner, come.

3. Come to the throne of grace,

Boldly draw near;

He who would win the race

Must tarry here;

Whate’er thy want may be

Here is the grace for thee,

Jesus thy only plea:

Come, Christian, come.

4. Come to the Better Land,

Pilgrim, make haste!

Earth is a foreign strand-

Wilderness waste!

Here are the harps of gold,

Here are the joys untold-

Crowns for the young and old:

Come, pilgrim, come.

5. Jesus, we come to Thee,

Oh, take us in!

Set Thou our spirits free;

Cleanse us from sin!

Then, in yon land of light,

Clothed in our robes of white,

Resting not day nor night,

Thee will we sing.

 

   Prayers:

1.  Holy Spirit, let Your fruits shape my character, as a child God in Jesus’ name. Amen.

2.  LORD God Almighty, let your love, joy, peace, and patient grow in me as the fruits of Your Spirit in me in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.