Fruits of the Spirit

As we entered into 2022, I kept feeling a tug to learn more about the fruits of the spirit. Of course, I have read and heard about them many times, but I felt that God was telling me that I need to practice these fruits more.

In Matthew 7:16-19 it says 16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

It is essential as a Christian that we bear good fruits so we are not cut down and thrown into the fire!

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, God’s Spirit is inside of us. When we have His Spirit inside of us, we will produce fruit. However, sometimes our flesh gets in the way of us producing these fruits.

So, what are the fruits of the spirit? The fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

All of these fruits start with love. If we can learn to love our neighbor as ourselves, many of these fruits will start to be evident. I Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let all your things be done with charity” (love).

In I Corinthians 13, love is discussed in a lot of detail. Paul basically tells the church that even if they are speaking in tongues, but they do not have charity (love), they are just making a bunch of noise. He continues to tell the church that no matter how many good things they do, if it's not done in love, it profits no one.

In verses 4-8 we get a glimpse of what love is and is not. It’s long suffering, it’s kind, it doesn’t envy, it’s not proud, it doesn’t behave badly, it’s not easily provoked, it doesn’t think evil, and it rejoices not in iniquity. Love rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and it NEVER fails.

It’s a tall order, but if we have love in our lives and we practice love the other fruits of the spirit will be easier to manifest.

My goal in 2022 is to learn to love more, to practice love, and to be a producing tree.

Sister Provencio