“The fruit of the Spirit wasn’t intended to be a list of goals for us to produce—it is the Holy Spirit through us who produces fruit,”

-Dan Kimball

Fruit of the Spirit & Works of the Flesh

In Galatians 5:19-23, it is written “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” The fruit of Spirit is produced by the Spirit of God within us and should be evident in the lives of believers. It refers to the traits and virtues we manifest to others that separate us from the world. In this, we represent God’s Spirit and His love.

Sowing the Fruit of the Spirit

In order to sow fruit of the Spirit means to first surrender what our flesh desires and choose to follow the Spirit of God daily. In Matthew 6:24, we are told that we cannot serve two masters; either we choose sin that leads to death or we choose obedience that leads to life. This is very important because the fruit of the Spirit is how we show others the goodness of the Spirit of God and can lead others to find salvation in Jesus. If we haven’t fully submitted to God and truly follow him, we produce “dead works” or in other words, are “spiritually lifeless”. In Galatians 5:25 we read, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” God wants the Spirit to dwell in all of us, but this only happens by walking with the Spirit and allowing transformation and guidance. As we do this, we begin to see the fruitfulness of the Spirit pour out into the world around us, planting seeds of life and truth, one seed at a time.

Reaping the Fruit of the Spirit

As believers, we have periods for reaping and sowing. Reaping is a result of sowing. Everyone receives the seed we sow differently; that is completely out of our control, but it is up to us to sow seeds in the world. One way we achieve this is by the spiritual fruit we produce. In doing this, we reap a harvest of spiritual blessings within the ones around us. The outcome of sowing seeds of light and God’s love into the world can make every difference in someone’s salvation. In the possibility that we are the only believer a particular person encounters, how are we representing God if we’re not representing the fruit of God’s spirit? One encounter, one experience could be all it takes for someone to find Jesus. This alone is a powerful reminder of the impact we have in other’s lives when we align with God’s will and purposes, forever trusting in His promise of an abundant harvest for those who faithfully sow in truth and righteousness.

Scripture: 

• Ephesians 5:8-10: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
• Philippians 1:11: Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
• Colossians 2:6-7: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
• John 15:5: “ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
• Galatians 6:8: For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.