Fruit of the Spirit. If you’ve been in any Holy Ghost congregation, church, or otherwise, you have likely heard about the Fruit of the Spirit explained in Galatians 5:22-23.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
These verses paint a wonderful picture of what a true Holy Ghost filled believer (one who is submitted to the Holy Ghost) is, the qualities they possess – the ones that make them like Yeshua. The problem is, many people are very quick to check the fruit of others but don’t bother to check their own.
You see this a lot among people who still have the churchianity mindset. They may not attend Sunday church, many even claim they don’t “do” church, yet they still hold to their old churchy ways.
It has to stop.
That’s how so many believers, especially those just coming in, are driven off.
Sure, it is good, biblical, to check the fruit of others. Scripture tells us that bad company ruins good morals. However, the focus should be on ourselves FIRST.
Because, you know, David.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Psalm 139:23-24
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
While you are busy examining everyone else’s fruit, make sure to take a long, hard look at your own.
Because while you were busy examining everyone else’s fruit, yours could have very well gone rotten.
Churchianity with a Torah Façade
Some people who come out of churchianity don’t really put all the “church stuff” down. They keep that one foot in the church, which is essentially the world.
This fruit examination to see who can pass the muster in order to join their fellowship is a huge one.
And the failure to examine their own fruit, to ask Yehovah to examine their heart, is a HUGE one.
No one is perfect. NO ONE. Not your friends, family, pastor, not even YOU.
We should all be examining our fruit daily. More importantly, we must be HONEST about the condition of our fruit.
Churchianity likes to sweep a lot under the rug. It is commonplace for partakers to hold up their rotten fruit yet only show the “good side.”
That churchianity mindset says that you can look at the fruit of others and judge them for it, but you don’t really need to examine your own because you have been in church longer, memorize verses, say the right things, dress the right way, do all the things that make you a “good Christian,” blah, blah, blah.
But they have no love in their heart. It has waxed cold. They may seek the word. They may memorize scripture. They may try to follow the word, but they miss one of the most important parts – loving others.
All the Bible knowledge in the world, all the memorized verses, all the “obedience” doesn’t make up for the one command that is above them all – the command to love others and lead them to truth.
It is not to scrutinize their fruit and determine whether or not they are worthy of joining your church or fellowship or Bible study group.
It is not to see them through critical eyes that only see what they are doing wrong – and not what they are doing right.
It is not lead them to truth and beat them into submission, but instead LOVE them and show them the face of Yeshua so that they will fall in love with Him too.
And if you aren’t doing that, you are failing.
Why? Because if you don’t love others, then you don’t love Yehovah.
20 If someone says, “I love Yehovah,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love Yehovah whom he has not seen?
1 John 4:20
And if you don’t love Him (by loving souls), you can’t walk in true obedience to Him.
The truth is, some people love the “stuff,” the obedience to Acts 2:38, keeping the Feast Days, and keeping the Sabbath, but they fail at the most vital part of it all, the Commandment to worship Yehovah first, put NOTHING before Him, and obey Him.
By putting those things above His command to love others and lead them to His truth, those things become idols.
They worship the things of Yehovah while putting Yehovah (and reflecting Him in their walk) in second place.
Now, I am not saying that keeping the weekly Sabbath and feast days is not important. I am not saying that Acts 2:38 isn’t essential for salvation. What I am saying is that those things are parts of loving Yehovah and devoting yourself to Him, but you can’t choose some parts and ignore others.
Loving souls and drawing people in is a really big deal.
Yes, on Judgement Day, we will all be judged according to scripture. You just have to remember that loving people and leading them to truth (not just the people you like or approve of) is one of those things, and you will be judged for that as well.
So, maybe it’s time to inspect some fruit – YOURS.
The Fruit of the Spirit Explained
Many people read the scripture and sort of glaze over the Fruits of the Spirit, taking the words into account but not the deeper meanings. They may read them, but they don’t study them. They don’t analyze them. They don’t apply them to themselves.
So, let’s take a look and see what this fruit is all about.
Love
Interesting that this is the first one mentioned. Perhaps because it is the most important? Think about it. If you don’t have love for others, then you don’t love Yehovah, and that means you are incapable of true love because you don’t even know Him (1 John 4:8).
In the Greek text, the word used is agape, which means love (affection or benevolence). It is the love that Yehovah has for us and the love we should have for others.
Joy
You can have happiness from the people around you, circumstances, or your environment, but joy can only come from Yehovah. It is more than just being happy; it is contentment in whatever your circumstances are, good or bad. It is an attitude of gratefulness in everything, and it is faith in Yehovah’s provision.
In the Greek text, the word used is chara, which means gladness, cheerfulness, and calm delight. It also means “the awareness of Yehovah’s grace and favor.” And when we experience that joy because of Yehovah’s grace and favor, we need to make sure that we extend grace and favor to others.
Peace
Throughout scripture, Yehovah promises peace for those who trust in Him and are faithful to Him. When you rest in His peace, you don’t have fear or worry. But you do have love and a desire to lead others to His truth.
In the Greek text, the word used is eirēnē, which means one, peace, quietness, rest, and wholeness. Many people miss this one because the world has convinced them that anxiety and worry are just normal parts of life. They are not.
But the person who seeks to be in control and will not submit to Yehovah will always have anxiety, fear, and worry. They will never find the peace of Yehovah until they surrender to Him.
Longsuffering
Many simply state that this means patience – and it does. But there’s a lot more to it, and it is important to understand exactly what it is in order to be able to identify it as a Fruit of the Spirit in others or yourself.
In the Greek text, the word used is makrothymia, which means patience, forbearance, and longanimity (a disposition to bear injuries patiently). It also means the ability to wait a sufficient time before expressing anger. In other words, not acting on emotion or chasing your feelings, and acting in a manner that is calm and in order. It is knowing the right time to discuss offenses and when to table them until the appropriate time.
Kindness
“Be Kind” has become a buzzword lately, and that’s not a bad thing. However, there’s more to it than just being nice to someone (or typically only certain people). Biblical kindness, the Fruit of the Spirit, is a whole different animal.
In the Greek text, the word used is chrēstotēs, which means kindness, moral excellence (sans the arrogance), goodness, and gentleness. It is a humble kindness that is gentle and rooted in love.
Goodness
We can look to Yehovah to get the true meaning of goodness. He sets the perfect example. It isn’t about doing good works, although that is part of it. It is really a goodness that comes from a humble, loving heart. It is natural and does not seek recognition or praise.
In the Greek text, the word used is beneficence, which means goodness, virtue, or beneficience (the doing of good). It means doing good always, even when it inconveniences you or requires sacrifice.
Faithfulness
Commitment is sorely lacking in our society today, which makes this even more vital.
In the Greek text, the word used is pistis, which means faith, belief, trust, confidence, and fidelity (honest or lasting support, loyalty). It means having faith that Yehovah is always with you and trusting Him, but it also means that you are loyal to Him and are submitted to Him so that the Fruit of His Spirit can flow through you.
Gentleness
There’s a lot of talk about being gentle and the gentleness of Yeshua, but there aren’t a lot of people who try to reflect that type of true gentleness. Yet it is one of the Fruits of the Spirit, and there’s more to it than you might not realize.
In the Greek text, the word used is prautēs, which means gentleness and meekness. It also means humility, mildness, and consideration for others.
It is worth noting here that many believe that meekness means being humble. That is somewhat true, but the full meaning of meekness is far deeper. It means having an awareness of who and what you are in relation to Yehovah. That’s powerful.
Self-control
Discipline and self-control are so important in your walk. He tells us to come out of the world, to put away the things of the world, and follow Him.
Self-control affects how you interact with others. It is what keeps you from following your emotions, from acting rashly, and from striking out in anger. It keeps you from getting into your flesh and keeps you grounded in the Spirit – submitted to it.
In the Greek text, the word used is enkrateia, which means self-control and temperance. It means mastering your desires and passions, especially regarding sensuality. It is a virtue that serves you on many different levels of your spiritual growth.
Examining Your OWN Fruit
Stop looking at what everyone else is doing and focus on yourself. Examine your own fruit.
Are you showing the Fruit of the Spirit? Or are you showing the works of the flesh?
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
It’s HARD to look in the mirror and admit your faults, but it is necessary.
It is time to put away your pride and arrogance, your Pharisaical attitude, and your criticism and judgment.
You may have more knowledge than some people, but there will always be someone who knows more.
And knowledge does not make you holy. The way you love and treat others does. Put others before yourself. THINK about what you are doing, how you are treating others BEFORE you act. CONSIDER their feelings instead of only your own.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
And treat others how you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).
Remember, you are NOT always right.
Make sure that you are not out of order and that you are not in error – And be flexible and humble enough to accept correction and rebuke.
Make Psalms 139:23-24 a regular part of your prayer.
23 Search me, O Yehovah, and know my heart;
Psalms 139:23-24
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Then listen for the answer. Let Yehovah have His way with you. Submit to Him. Allow Him to grow you and change you. Ask Him to plow your heart so that you can truly love others and walk fully in the Fruits of His Spirit.
Humble yourself, let Him mold you and shape you.
And He will.
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