The Church At Brierfield

“The fruit of the Spirit is … self-control.”  (Gal. 5:22, 23)

Self-control is the ability to properly control our emotions, desires and actions.  In every situation we have to choose between the desires of the flesh and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Self-control is all about choosing well.  The only way we can consistently choose well is to always be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to produce self-control within us.

“The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness.”  (Gal. 5:22, 23)

The fruit of gentleness is marked by mildness, meekness, and humility.  A gentle person will not be harsh, overbearing, or severe when working with people.  There will be a lack of vanity and self-importance.   They will not be arrogant, prideful, or boastful either.  Jesus is the perfect example of gentleness.

Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.  Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.  Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.  Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God.  He made himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.  And in human form He obediently humbled Himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.  (Phil.  2:3-8, NLT)

“The fruit of the Spirit is … faithfulness.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Faithfulness is the characteristic of someone who can be relied on and is dependable.  A faithful person is devoted and committed to do what ever Jesus wants them to do.  A faithful person is full of faith and believes that “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”  (1 Thess. 5:24)  We can be faithful because God is faithful to work through us.

“The fruit of the Spirit is … goodness.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Goodness refers to uprightness, virtue, and moral excellence.  This is a quality that only naturally belongs to God.  Jesus said “No one is good but One, that is, God.”  (Matt. 19:17)

Paul makes it clear that we don’t have goodness within ourselves.  “There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Rom 3:12)  Paul, himself, is no exception to this rule.  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”  (Rom. 7:18)  We should all have the same opinion of ourselves.

Yet, by God’s grace and power, we can be truly good and virtuous as we allow the Holy Spirit to produce goodness fruit in our lives.

“The fruit of the Spirit is … kindness.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Kindness is characterized by gentleness, grace, tenderness and compassion.  It shows a genuine concern for others and their needs.  It is about being kind to people and doing kind things for them.

So often hurt feelings and disagreements are caused by a lack of kindness rather than by real issues.  It seems that we are unkind in our words more often than our actions.  We must keep in mind that “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”  (Prov. 15:1)  A harsh, sharp, or angry response to a simple question is often the cause of big problems in churches.

So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  (James 3:5)

Jesus showed great kindness toward people.  If we will give the Holy Spirit control of our lives, He will produce the exact same kindness in us.

“The fruit of the Spirit is … patience.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Patience has two aspects to it.  One has to do with being long suffering toward difficult people and a slowness in avenging wrongs.  The other has to do with endurance and perseverance through difficult situations.

Lets face it, we are all difficult to get along with at times.  Dealing with each other well is an important part of our testimony to the world.  It also has a dramatic affect on our effectiveness in serving God.  The only way we can deal with each others’ difficulties is when the Holy Spirit is producing the fruit of patience in us.

If we live long enough we will experience situations that are overwhelmingly difficult.  Some of these situations last a short time and some last a lifetime, yet we can patiently endure them when the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for He is full of tenderness and mercy.  (James 5:7, 8, 10, 11)

“The fruit of the Spirit is … peace.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Peace is a sense of calm, rest, contentment, and quietness.  It is also a lack of inner turmoil, fear, worry or anxiety.

Horatio Spafford knew the fruit of peace well in his lifetime.  After being financially ruined by the great Chi­ca­go Fire of 1871 and losing his four daughters to a ship wreck in 1873 he wrote these words.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

The peace Horatio knew came from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.  Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus calmed the disciples with these words.

I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  (John 14:27)

“The fruit of the Spirit is … joy.”  (Gal. 5:22)

The joy produced in us by the Spirit of God is a sense of delight and gladness from our intimacy with Him.  When we live each moment of our life submitted to the Spirit we will be completely satisfied and fulfilled.  A sense of well-being will fill us regardless of our circumstances, because this joy is neither produced by circumstances or nor reduced by them.

Jesus’ desire for us, His disciples, is “that [His] joy may remain in [us], and that [our] joy may be full.”  (John 15:11)

When we live each moment of our day in intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit He produces in us love fruit.  (Gal. 5:22)  We cannot produce love fruit ourselves.  It is impossible.

Everything God has ever commanded us to do is done right when we love God and people.

Love fruit is exceedingly beautiful and more desirable than anything this world has to offer.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love will last forever.  (1 Cor. 13:4-8a)

When we allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives He produces Christ’s life and likeness in us.  He makes us act like Christ rather than Satan.  On our own we always act like Satan.

The life and likeness of Jesus that He creates in us is known as the fruit of the Spirit.  (Gal. 5:22)  Jesus explained it with the following illustration.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.  (John 15:1-8, New Living Translation)