Word Of Wisdom Ministries
By Cheryl Arnold

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5).

All of these are present in the believer who has the fruit of the Spirit. If not all of these are present, then we don’t have the fruit of the Spirit. We don’t gain each aspect of the fruit one at a time by working on them.

Rather, when we walk in the Spirit, by obeying God, we don’t fulfill the lust of the flesh, Galatians 5:-6.

So as a believer I can’t say I have love but need to work on self control. Or I have kindness but need to work on faithfulness. All 9 components, of what comprise the Fruit of the Spirit, come altogether and at once to the obedient believer.

A believer walking in immaturity and self rule can be patient at times, or loving at times, but this doesn’t mean they have the love that is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. The old man, or the flesh, is capable of a lot of what we would call good things. However, if it is of the old man, God calls all of these righteous act, filthy rags.

So, you will recognize if a believer walks in the fruit of the Spirit, or bears the fruit of the Spirit, when they ongoingly exhibit all nine aspects listed in Galatians. If one or more is missing, there is no fruit yet.

Remember…it is FRUIT, not fruits. The fruit of the Spirit is a singular thing with nine parts. It is not 9 separate traits that we add on one by one by trying in our flesh to improve the old man.

If we will instead, obey God by 1- knowing His word…and I mean studying and knowing constantly, His word, and 2- obey what we know by what we’ve read and studied, then we will walk in the Spirit, not fulfill the lust of the flesh, and bear then…the Fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy , peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Spiritual things are gained in Spiritual ways. I cannot labor to be kind and then be kind. I might appear to be kind but no. This isn’t the fruit of the Spirit, kind. It is man’s kindness. I obey God as I walk with Him. I choose all of His ways because I love Him and because of my proximity to Him. I transform my mind to be in agreement with Him in all things. Then, boom, all at once, the fruit of the Spirit reigns in me. Glory to God.

So what about believers who do not exhibit this fruit? They have not agreed yet with God.

But… Let God be true and every man a liar!

Jesus Christ bless you as you walk in Him!