How the Holy Spirit Bears Fruit
The Bible clearly teaches that Christians are to bear fruit. Jesus said, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit" (John 15:2). Jesus expects His followers to bear much fruit: "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).
In (Galatians 5:22-23), Paul said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, 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 in which to live. When we bear the "fruit of the Spirit," we become like Christ.
How do we bear the "fruit of the Spirit?" Paul says that “the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.” "..And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). The Word of God is the Bible. The Bible is the means by which 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" (Galatians 5:25). When we "live in the Spirit," we are then “walking in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). 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 by 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. Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. . . .” (Colossians 3:16). Jesus said, "…the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63). 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 Spirit through the apostles and prophets.
From this we can clearly see that when we obey the Bible, we are
- walking by the Spirit,
- that the Spirit lives in us and
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that Christ's words dwell in us.
May we all work hard to learn the Word of God better. May we then put into practice the things that it says, such as bearing the "fruit of the Spirit." Remember, there is no law against bearing the "fruit of the Spirit." God has laws against the "works of the flesh," but not against the "fruit of the Spirit." When we bear the "fruit of the Spirit," we are walking and living in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit teaches us how to become a Christian in the New Testament which He revealed to inspired men in the first century. The New Testament is “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The New Testament contains ALL that is necessary for us to know and do in order to be saved (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It tells us that we must hear he Gospel, believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son, repent of all our sins, confess that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and be immersed (baptized) in water for the forgiveness of sins (Romans 10:17); (Mark 16:16); (Acts 2:38); (Acts 8:37); (Romans 6:4).
Are you a Christian? Obey the Gospel today!!