Truth Streams – Lmci.Org
This guest post comes to us from Dale Sides at Liberating Ministries for Christ International.
Fruit of the Spirit: Producing Christ-like Character for a Lifetime
Dale Sides
In 1972, as a junior at North Carolina State University, I was asked to teach the Bible at a small group meeting that we held in our dormitory. My major was forestry and I had been studying fruit at the time, so I decided to do a teaching on the fruit of the Spirit. I had recently received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I knew the verses on the fruit of the Spirit were found in Galatians 5, so with great zeal I set forth to prepare myself. I learned something then that is still true 35 years later—producing fruit takes time.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5: 22–23 KJV
Combining what I had learned in the natural realm and the spiritual realm about fruit, I came to the following conclusions:
• Fruit begins with a seed.
• The seed of God is the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:9).
• The seed germinates due to the tropisms of the light and heat of God’s love, because of the life within it (Genesis 3:11).
• A fruitful plant or tree will shoot its leaves up to reach for more light (of the Spirit) and deeper depth of the soil (the Bible).
• The process of producing fruit is just beginning at the time of germination; it usually takes years to develop the structure of the trunk, branches, and twigs before substantial fruit can be produced.
• Fruit is produce, and since it is a seed of the fruit it is from, it is “re-produce.”
• Producing fruit takes a lot of patience.
The Greek word for fruit is karpos. It simply and literally means “fruit,” but notice that it is in the singular, indicating that all these attributes are wrapped up together. In other words, they are all in one and inseparable. Fruit is also commonly referred to as “produce,” meaning it is a product or result of the labor or energy that was put out to bring it forth. Therefore, we could call the fruit of the Spirit the produce or result of the Spirit.
Galatians was written as a reproof to believers who were allowing their flesh to run wild instead of faithfully disciplining themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. The leading of the Holy Spirit is what produces the fruit of the Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to subdue our flesh with its passions and to bring forth the good character that is inherent within the seed. Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convict the world of sin (John 16:8). The errors of our way and the strength of our flesh can only be overcome as we yield to His conviction and rely upon His strength. It takes time and patience to develop our faithful dependency upon Him. If a plant only received its nourishment sporadically, it would not develop properly. Consistent, perpetual nourishment is necessary to produce a healthy plant with healthy fruit.
But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it [cultivate it] and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15
In the natural realm, we know that it takes more than pulling weeds to produce good fruit; likewise, in the spiritual realm, it takes more than denying the flesh to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. While we still need to pull the “weeds” out by putting off the flesh and dedicating ourselves to holiness and purity, I believe it’s possible for some fruit of the Spirit to be produced even in the midst of weeds. Years ago, I had a garden that was overgrown with weeds, yet I still discovered beans and tomatoes existing amongst them. However, they were hard to see and certainly not thriving. This is what happens to the witness of our Christ-like character—it will be obscured from view when weeds are allowed to overshadow it.
I once knew a man who was a dedicated drunk, and yet he was probably the best-hearted person I had ever met. However, those who knew him did not mention his good heartedness first and foremost when they spoke of him; they simply referred to him as a drunk. People generally will focus on what they can easily see; when the weeds are wild and overgrown, they are what will stand out in a person’s character. In other words, even though our garden may be producing fruit, if we do not weed it, that Christ-like character will be less visible. The Holy Spirit is faithful to point out the weeds to us as we yield ourselves to His conviction.
The fruit of the Spirit displays the character of Jesus Christ. I must confess that in my years of teaching on the subject of the Holy Spirit, I have committed the error of overemphasizing the gifts over the fruit of the Spirit. As I have matured spiritually, I can bear witness that the Holy Spirit is not only the provider of power for miracles, but He is also our inner witness and strength—urging and empowering us to become good people. We become good people as we produce good fruit. (Remember that goodness is a part of the fruit of the spirit.)
All the potential qualities for fruit lie resident within the seed God implanted within us at the time of our new birth. The Holy Spirit provides all the necessary factors to produce the character of Christ in an evident manner, and as we follow His leading these qualities will begin to manifest themselves in our lives: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Each one is a character trait of Jesus that will grow and mature and make us more and more like Him. Jesus said that when a tree does not bear fruit, it would be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 3:10). When a tree ceases to bear fruit, its worth is over. This should serve as an incentive to produce more fruit in our lives!
If we feel we have been slack in this area of our lives, we know we can repent and that God will be faithful to forgive us. However, we need to begin now to patiently and faithfully discipline ourselves to pull the weeds out by yielding to the inner convictions of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to prune and nourish us (John 15:2 and 5).
It takes the faithful work of the Holy Spirit working on us day by day, week by week, and year by year to produce a man or woman who looks like Jesus. It requires our submission to the working of the Holy Spirit—to pull out the weeds He reveals to us and walk in obedience to His leadings.
He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6
These were some of the truths that even as a junior in college I was able to share in that little home group in my dorm. All these years later, I can say that the depths of these truths have become more of a reality as I have endeavored to tend my garden throughout my life. I know now from experience that it truly does require diligence and persistence to produce fruit that remains and to possess that Christ-like character for a lifetime.
When I ended my sharing in that college dorm many years ago, I left them with these words from Jesus, as I do now:
By their fruits you shall know them. Luke 6:44
Add Your Comment