I love fruit so much. Since being on the race I’ve had so many delicious types of fruit. My favorite so far has to be guava, however, the bananas in Asia are the dankest. I though it was guava from Asia, then I had guava in Botswana…game change.
Fruit is the best, loads of nutritional value and tons of vitamins. There’s benefit to our mind, body, health, all the above, you know these things.
Now, imagine the benefit of the Fruit of the Spirit. The fruit that comes from the Spirit that Jesus left with us after he ascended into heaven. The very spirit that raises people from the dead, heals the sick, heals the blind, casts out demons.
Straight POWER.
Power that’s at our disposal, whenever we want. We don’t have to go to the grocery store to purchase this fruit.
This fruit is free, ya’ll. I want that fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23 “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 Greek word used for fruit in this verse is karpos (kar-pos’) – which literally means fruit. Heavy, right?
Get’s better…
The base word harpazo (har-pad’-zo) – which means to seize.
Seize- to claim for one’s self eagerly.
Yo, CLAIM that fruit. It’s yours.
But wait, there’s more
That word is a derivative of the greek word hairéomai (hahee-reh’-om’ahee) – which means to take for oneself.
If Jesus isn’t speaking to you now, then take your ear plugs out.
He’s saying, take this. take my fruit, it’s yours.
Now for my favorite part, let’s break down each sweet fruit.
1. Love- agape
“The portrait of the Messiah”
“Love is a matter of the will, an act of duty and divine obligation. It is far more than sentiment or affection.
2. Joy- chara
“Gladness not based on circumstances.
The greek word chara is related to “grace.” The joy described here is thankfulness for being forgiven and accepted by God. That’s joy.
“The experience of joy is related to hope. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:2 – “Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
3. Peace- eirene (eh-rey-ney)
Romans 5:1- “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Hebrew for peace- shalom – “more than the absence of strife. This type of peace encompasses the idea of wholeness, health, balance and reconciliation.
Peace with God. Shalom = peace of God.
**Important: The first three qualities come from Jesus.
John 15:9- “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”
John 15:11- “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 14:27- “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
4. Long-sufferings/patience- makrothumia
macros- great / thuo- sacrifice
“Long-suffering is an attribute of God’s mercy.
Love is long-suffering:
1 Corinthians 13:4- “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”
Proverbs 14:29- “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.”
Proverbs 15:18- “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.
**”We should not be easily offended by the faults and character defects of others. God has and continues to graciously look over our sin.”’
5. Kindness/Generosity- krestotes
“Kindness that results from tender-heartedness and compassion.” That same way Christ shows us these things.
6. Goodness- agathosune (ah-gah-thow-soo-ney)
“Selfish desire to be open hearted and generous to others above what they deserve.”
Titus 3:4-7- “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
“Love anticipates the needs of others and acts from a sense of compassion”
7. Faithfulness- pistis
You have a devotion to God; loyalty to friends; and dependability to carry out your responsibilities as a daughter or son of the Father. The Holy Spirit will enable our hearts to be a safe source of counsel and strength for others.
Revelation 2:10- “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
8. Gentleness/Humility- Hebrew: anavah- a sense of inner poverty that can only be healed by giving and serving others. Humility is far from a weakness. A humble non-threatening demeanor derives from a position of strength and authority. Proverbs 15:1- “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
9. Self-Control/Modesty- egkrateia (eg-krah-teh-ee-ah)
By having the ability to restrain your emotions, actions and desires. To be in complete harmony with the will of God.
These definitions hold immense power and truth and are hard to live by and abide in. We’re not going to get it right the first time, or the hundredth time. We relate to Christ by an internal identity, as His children. These are qualities I’m starting to learn more each day, asking the Lord diligently to help me live in the fullness of His Fruit. It’s a daily battle, this is the start.
The qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit stem directly from Christ himself.
…but we have to fully abide in Him to obtain and live out these qualities.
John 15:4-5-“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
**Pulled a lot of my definitions and descriptions from hereeeee.
