This document discusses the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23. It makes three main points: 1. It contrasts the gifts of the Spirit, which are visible tools given to believers, with the fruit of the Spirit, which are invisible character qualities that believers must cultivate. The fruit are a better indicator of spiritual maturity than gifts. 2. It explains that God expects believers to abide in Him in order to bear fruit, through obedience. Fruit is defined not just as souls won, but as Christ-like character developed within believers. 3. It argues that the fruit of the Spirit, which involves sacrificial obedience and following God even to difficult places, is

1. Fruitof the Spirit– 6th
November2015
“But the fruit of the Spirit islove, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness…” (Galatians5:22).
Let usfirstunderstandwhatdoes'Fruitof the Spirit'mean?WhenChristiansspeakof the workof the
"HolySpirit", we are speakingaboutthe operationsof the Spiritof God inthe material worldwe live in,
and withinus.The Spiritisthere tocause ‘thingsto happen’ inpeople’slives andbringthemmore
closely toGod's purposesonearthand beyond.Whenthe Spiritstartschangingsomeone,itshowsasan
improvement/growthincharacter,achange intheirwayof life thatisgoodfor themselvesaswell asfor
the people theylive among.Theystartactually being the personGodcallsusto be.This change in
character and wayof life breeds'fruitof the Spirit',likethe fruitgrownbya tree can feedpeopleand
wildlife.Fromancienttimestotoday,abundantfruitfromanorchard is seenascause for hope and
celebration.Abundantspiritual fruitalsobreedshope andiswell worthcelebrating.
In the gospelswe canread that Paul isone whospeaks more on the subjectof the Fruitof the spirit…As
listedabove the mostfamousBible verseaboutthe fruitsof the SpiritisinGalatians5:22, The spiritual
fruit isclearlygiventohighlightthe fruitsthatPaul wants usto keepinmind.He liststhe followingnine
fruitsof the Spirit: Love (agape);Joy(chara);Peace (eirene);Patience (makrothumia);Kindness
(chrestotes);Goodness (agathosune);Faithfulness (pistis); Gentleness (prautes);andSelf-control
(egkrateia).The truthis that there isno wayto count the waysto describe whatGod does foryouand
throughyou. There is somuch that we cannot listout. These fruitcome fromGod because they are the
way God is,so whereverGodisat work,these fruitare what God worksthroughus.As youlive inthis
fruitful way,you're beingdrawnclosertoGodand integratedmore intoGod'spurposes.And,asyou
grow closertoGod, youwill think,act,and live more like Himandthus fruitfully.
It isthe Spiritthatgivesusthe character of Christ; like treatingothers withloveandrelatingtocreation
as a whole inthe mannerof the Kingdomof God.In the midstof Paul'sdescriptionof the giftsof the
Spirit,there isa sectiononlove.While notdirectlyabout'fruit',itisaboutwhat springsfromlove,and
thusit isin muchthe same vein.Love isthe underpinningof whatthe Spiritisdoing and'why'He is
doing. Paul describes:“Loveispatient,loveis kind.It does notenvy, it does not boast,it is not proud.
5
It does not dishonorothers,it is not self-seeking,itis not easilyangered,it keeps norecord of
wrongs.6
Love doesnot delightin evil butrejoices with the truth. 7
It always protects,alwaystrusts,
alwayshopes,alwaysperseveres. 8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,they will cease;
where there are tongues,they will be stilled;where there isknowledge, it will passaway.(1
Corinthians13:4-8). Therefore we canlearnthat whenlove isdwellingwithinus,itchangesourvery
nature and the way we conductourselvesinlife.
These fruitlistedabove, describewhataChristiangrowsinto,overtime.Thisisthe waya person(or a
community) liveswhenthe Spiritisbeingproductive within.These listsare completelysilentabout
miraculousdeedsorthe giftsof wisdomorknowledge ordiscernmentassignsof the Spirit'srule within
a person.The listsgive nospecial credittoofficial poweroroffice orresponsibility.Itsoundsinsteadlike
a repeatedrefrainfrom Jesus:“Bytheir fruit youwill recognize them. Do people pick grapesfrom
thorn bushes,or figsfrom thistles? (Matthew7:16). Jesuselaboratesfurtherinverse 20“ Thus, by their
fruit you will recognize them”. He is clearlysayingthatone will know God'sfollowers'bytheirfruits'.
We can alsolearnwhenthe apostle Paul urgesthatthe Roman church:“ So, my brothers andsisters,

2. you alsodied to the law throughthe body ofChrist,that you mightbelongto another,to him whowas
raised fromthe dead,in order that we mightbear fruit forGod”. Thenagainwe can learnfrom
James 3:17 “But the wisdomthat comes from heaven isfirst of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate,submissive,full ofmercy and goodfruit,impartial andsincere. These mattersof Christian
character are the elementsthatgive us life.Itis holiness takingrootin us.It is somethingthatwe need
to be and, notjust something one ‘may do’orsimply considersdoing!
We can alsolearnof the otheraspectof fruit. We can leanthat the evil withinuscanalsocome to
fruition.We canread in Jeremiah 6:19, “Hear, you earth: I am bringingdisasteron thispeople, the fruit
of their schemes,because they havenot listened to my words andhave rejected my law”. It speaksof
the disasterwhichisaboutto come,and speaksof itas "the fruitof theirplans"thatwhichcomesfrom
evil scheming.
There has neverbeenatime before where there wasasmuch attention,time,andwritinggiventothe
ideaof success.Many Christianwriterslink,if notmarry,the ideaof successto the fruitof the Holy
Spirit. The two are notstrangers,to be sure.Where the giftsof the Spiritbearthe fruitof the Spirit,
unberievable successoftenoccurs.Buttheyare nonethelesstwodistinctthings."Success",asitisused
by mostof us,isan achievementdone bywayof control,strength,and/orexcellence. Butthe Spirit's
fruitfulnessisshownbydoingespeciallywell at whattheSpirit wantsdoneata given moment.Thus,
successis redefinedintermsof the Spirit'spurposes,whichare inturndefinedbythe needsof the
Kingdomof God.The usual visionof "success"cannotfitthatpicture,cannotexhibitthe Spirit'sfruit.For
example,"strength"asbrute force isneitherkindnor gentle;angerratherthanself-control oftendrives
it."Domination"isimpatientwithresistance fromwhatitdominates;itcanthoroughlythrill whileitis
beingexercised,butitcannotproduce joy.
To get to the successof the HolySpirit,one goesthroughthe fruit,bybeingkind,self-controlled,and
gentle. Itisto seekpeace andbe peaceable.It’sexcellence isnotof perfectionaccordingto ourtightly-
engineeredplansof success. Insteaditexcelsmostthrough love forone anotherand itseffectof
buildingupotherpeopleinlove,encouragingthemto learnmore aboutthe God whomwe believe in.
Thisis the Spirit'sversionof strength.Thisishow the Spiritgrows joyinus.This ishow the Spirit
succeeds.And,if youare in the Spirit,usingthe Spirit'sgiftstogrow the Spirit'sfruit,itishow you would
succeedtoo.

4. In this the introductory article for the series on the fruit of the Spirit, three
divisions will be considered:
I. Comparing and Contrasting the Gifts and Fruitof the Spirit
II. God Expects us To Abide in Him and Bring Forth Fruit
III. The Fruit of the Spirit Is MorePowerful Than the Gifts of the Spirit
I. COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THEGIFTS AND FRUITOF THESPIRIT
1. Pentecostalsandcharismatics are oftenaccusedof neglecting the fruit of the
Spirit for the more visible gifts.
The Scriptures would bring us to a balance of the two–like presenting a perfectly
formed and healthful piece of fruit in an appropriateand attractive package.
Together they make a perfect team and, if held in proper perspective, will result
in a fully developed, ‘mature New Testament believer–much like a piece of "gift-
wrapped fruit!"
"Spirituals" (gifts) areoften highly visible. Like wrappings; they tend to be quickly
seen and sometimes are even noisy (1 Corinthians 13:l). God’s Word teaches the
need for both gifts and fruit. The use of public gifts is to be judged and evaluated
for its meaning and appropriateness (1 Corinthians 14:29,32) by theassembly

5. and/or others used in operation of the gifts. But never does the Scripture
encouragebelievers to inspect people’s characteristics by their gifts. Jesus did say,
however, that we should evaluate people by the fruit they produce.
2. God instructs us tobe fruit inspectors.
"Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). Nowherein the Scripture
does it say, "You shall know them by their gifts." It would be like judging a farmer
only by his tools. Rather one should judgehim by the crops he produces. It
doesn’tsay by their gifts you will recognize them. No, by their fruityou will
recognizethem.
"Do people pick grapes fromthorn bushes or figs from thistles? Likewise every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot
bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will
recognizethem" (Matthew 7:16—20, NIV).
Can you imagine someonewho has a peach orchard or an apple orchard saying,
"Oh, would you come to my place? Would you come to my orchard?" When you
arrivehe takes you out to the tool shed and says, "Say, would you look at these
rakes? Would you look at my shovels? Justlook at these wheelbarrows!" You
would probably say, "I thoughtI came here to look at fruit, and he is showing me
tools. Why doesn’the show me some peaches?" Now his implements do play a
part, of course. Oneway of looking at the relationship of gifts and fruitwould be:
Gifts are tools God has given the Body to help get the work donein the garden to
producefruit.
3. Gifts are given(and are not a signof holiness).
Somehow, however, all across thePentecostal world was allowed this belief and
understanding that a gift was a sign of holiness. All across the Movement in many
quarters came imperfect teaching that one being used in the operation of the
gifts could never make a mistake. How unfortunate!We should now know,
however, that the gifts of the Spirit are not signs of holiness. Much to the

6. consternation and misunderstanding of the church, the gifts of the Spirit are
sometimes given to imperfect people as tools to work in the field to produce fruit.
Gifts are given to imperfect people in the Body to help perfect the body so it will
producenot justleaves, but fruit–that which the Master so desires to find.
Wouldn’tit be better if we would really understand that almostevery time the
Scripturetalks about human behavior and attitudes, it doesn’ttalk about gifts; it
talks aboutfruit. Is it any wonder that the church would rather talk about gifts
than fruit? You see the difference is that gifts indeed are justthat. Gifts are given
but fruit is grown. Love, joy, peace, and on down the list in Galatians 5:22,23–
these are commodities that you and I haveto grow. Fruitbearing is nothing but
hard work.
II. GOD EXPECTS US TO ABIDEINHIMAND BRING FORTH FRUIT(John 15)
1. Fruit isn’t what you do. Fruit is what you are
Some think Jesus said, "Go and do witnessing." Hedidn’t. But He did say, "Go and
be my witnesses."
Others think Jesus will say, "Much done, thou good and prosperous servant." He
won’t. He will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. "
Numbers (statistics), like gifts, are in themselves no proof of spiritual strength. In
God’s value systembeing is a higher order than doing. Why? Because He knows
you can do without being produce activity and pile up statistics without
possessing theright qualifications). But you can’treally be without also doing.
It’s much easier to build a Sunday schoolthan model the fruit of the Spirit! It’s
much easier to have your name inscribed on a plaque for financial giving than to
be known in the congregation for the model of love or meekness.
2. Fruit has too long beendefinedas only winning souls.
I grew up thinking that when the Scriptures talked about fruit, it was talking about
souls. I’mnotsaying that is a wrong interpretation. I believe it can very
legitimately be found in the Scriptures. Remember, fruit is not a gift. Fruit is

7. produced and grown. Itis much more biblical to see the fruit of the Spiritas
personalcharacteristics that are worked out becauseof the nature of what’s
inside; because of attitudes made about obedience. You can’t talk about fruit
without talking about obedience. It’s righthere:
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must
remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the
vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much
fruit; apartfrom me you can do nothing . . . . If you obey my commands, you will
remain in my love, justas I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his
love" (John 15:4,5,10, NIV).
3. "Remainin me" (stick withme wherever I take you) = fruit production.
How can that be? Let me give you Tarr’s translation of this verse. I would much
rather havea joyous life all full of continuous feelings of victory symbolized by
luxurious leaves, perhaps. Look at all my leaves! God comes along and cuts off a
bunch. Then He cuts off another bunch. "Oh Lord, what are you doing to me?" I
ask. He says, "If you aregoing to be fruitful, I’vegotto get rid of the leaves
because they are suckers. They takestrength from the fruit." "Lord, I don’tlike it,
it hurts. " "Well, you have only one other choice. I can either prune you or I
extract you."
"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me
that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean [prunes]
so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1,2, NIV).
Now we surely don’t like the firstoption. The second choice is: Every branch that
does bear fruit he still cuts it! I can hear us pray, "Oh Lord, I don’tlike either
choice–give me a third!" It’s not popular. It’s likethis:
The Lord says, "Comeon Tarr, are you going to serveme? Then stick with me
always." "I’mgoing to follow you wherever you go," I answer!(I’vesung allthe
missionary songs.) Hesays, "Allright, let’s go–are you coming, Tarr?" " Yes, I’m
coming Lord." Hesays again, "Are you sureyou’recoming, Tarr?" "Yes, I’mcoming
Lord," I say. TheLord does a miracle in my town, and a new church is raised up. At

8. another place is a big Sunday school, and over there is a big building program. I
say, "It’s wonderfulLord–following you is so wonderful!"
All of a sudden I notice the ground starts getting steeper, and I am dragging
behind a little. He says, "Areyou coming, Tarr?" "I’mcoming, Lord." Theground
really rises, and I look up and see we’reclimbing a steep mountain. What does He
say? He says, "Stick with me and remain in me wherever I take you." "Well, Lord,
don’t go so fast, and why are wegoing up?" He says, "This is the way." I looked at
the top of the hill, and there is a cross. I say, "Lord,I don’twantto have anything
to do with this! Lord, I’mgoing to take a detour. You go on-I’mgoing around."
And I repeat, "Lord, I don’twantto go to the cross; a cross means death! So that
would mean something in Tarr will have to die."
The Lord says,"Are youcoming,Tarr? Stick withMe,abide inMe, remaininMe, andyou will have fruit
that will remain-anditwill please the Father."That’show He producesfruit.Fruit-bearingistiedto
relationships.WhohasHe placedinyour life rightnow teachingyoupatience?Yourboss?Youroverseer
inministry?Yourspouse?Yourchildren?Isn’titpossible some situationyou’dreallyliketo escape isyour
"mountain"?If the Lord answeredall ourprayers,especiallyourcarnal,selfishones,we wouldn’t
produce fruit.We wouldjustaskfor more gifts–ormore luxuriousleaves!
III.THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRITIS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Don’tmisunderstand.InnowaywouldIdiminishthe importance of the gifts.Butlet’sremember:The
giftsof the Spiritare like toolsgiventothe churchto workin the fieldstoproduce fruit."OK,"yousay,
"whatis itspurpose?"
1. Purpose of fruit.
Who isthe fruitfor? The most commonanswerisfor the Master. That istrue,but itis onlyindirectly
true.Let me tell youwhoI thinkthe fruitisfor. The fruitproducedinour lives–love,joy,peace,patience,
kindness,goodness,faithfulness, gentleness,andself-control(Galatians522, NIV),isforthe weary
traveler.Here iswhere the fruitof the Spiritbecomesone of the mostdynamicevangelical toolsGod
has evercreated.
The worldis sickof sin.Its people are boggeddownintheirdebauchery,intheirfaithlessness,intheir
cynicism,intheirdefeat.Theyare sickandalienatedfromGod.Theyknow exactlywherethe Christian
televisionchannel is,andtheyknowexactlywhere the Christianradiostation.is.Theyare expertsat
goingrightby themon the dial.Theythinkthe churchis full of hypocrites,andwe can’tgettheminside
our fourwalls.

9. Nonethelesstheyare hungryandthirsty.Theyhave heardenoughgospel inourcountryto smell it100
yards away.Fruitdefinedaspersonal character(broughtforth,grown) candisarmourskeptic.When
present,fruitcanattract and nourishthe wearytraveler.Thatsinsicksoul inthe world,weakenedby
the debilitationof sin,canbe blessedbyfruit."Bythisshall all menknow thatye are mydisciples,if ye
have love .. . " (John13:35).
Here’sthe wayit works:Whenyoufinda wearytravelerandwhenhe says,"I am sickof the church,"
yousay to him,"Have a grape."He takesit and tastesit.He says,"That isthe sweetestthingIhave ever
tasted,"andyou invite himtotake another.Sowhenhe comesstrugglingandlimpingtoyouandplucks
a grape fromyour hand,he says,"Wow!That’s good!You must be a real Christian."The true sweetness
of service,the care,the genuine love,the giving,andsacrifice are somethingthatblowshimaway,
because the worlddoesn’thowit.The worldisalientothis.Whenyouare full of meekness,joy,peace,
faith,andlove,he will say,"Where didyougetthatand where can I getsome?"The fruitof the Spiritis
for the wearytraveler.Itmaybe the onlywaymanyof themwill evergetnearenoughtothe gospel
message tofindoutabout theirownsinand needof a Savior.
2. Godteachesthe paradox of fruit-bearing.
Americanculture’semphasisondoing(performance,advancement,assertiveness,success) easily
measuredandquantified,leavesusunpreparedeventothinkaboutfruitproperly.Youdon’tdofruit–
youare fruit.
The paradox is here.Fruit’sattractiveness,sohighlyvaluedbythe Master,will draw soulstothe place of
repentance andassociationwithJesus.
It shoulddisturbusthatwe don’thave an awardsystemforchurchesand individualswhodemonstrate
the fruitof the Spirit.Whynot a trophyfor temperance?A lovingcupformeekness?A wallplaquefor
peace or for joy?Granted,it’snoteasyto count or measure these abstractions,butcouldn’twe try?
Why shouldwe spendsuchaninordinate emphasisonthe thingsthatare easiertorun througha
calculator?Why shouldwe onlygive outsymbolsof plaquesandgoldsealsforthe lesser,external
things?It’sa little-taughttruthinourchurches,but inthe New Testamentfruit-bearingisprobablythe
greatesttool forevangelism.Considerthis:
a. Demonstrationof the fruitof the Spiritexemplifiesthe supreme truthof belonging(John15:13).
How shockingtofindoutGod neverasksme tolay downmylife forthe heathen,butformy
brother–yes,andthatis whatwill convince the heathen!Whata paradox!
b. Proof of the soul’stransformationisafruit(1 John3:14).
c. Showingfruitmakesourlivesredemptive (John13:15; 1 Thessalonians1:7,8).Clearlythe
Thessalonians’fruit(joy,faith) wereexamplesnotonlyinMacedoniaandAchaia,butin every
place the testimonywasspreadaround.
CONCLUSION

10. Fruit-bearing,orfruitfulness,ismuchbetterseenasqualitythanquantity.Thoughbothare important
and scriptural,God’spriorityseemstobe beingoverdoing.Godlooksfor"broughtforth"productsfrom
the essence of a person’sbeing.Theseare personal characteristicscomingfromthe nature of the whole
tree.
"A goodtree bringethnotforthcorrupt fruit"(Luke 6:43).
The qualitythatpleasesGodina mature life also,paradoxicallyisthe same qualitythatmakesourlives
redemptiveinthe eyesof the sinner."HereinismyFatherglorified,thatye bearmuchfruit;so shall ye
be my disciples"(John15:18).
Maturity inChristdoesnotneglecteithergiftsorfruit,butthroughbalance of the two producesgift-
wrappedfruitforHis pleasure andforthe healingof the nations.