Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5: 22-25

  FRUITS DEFINED

• LOVE – That divine, agape Spirit that sent Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins.

• JOY – Daily walking in the Spirit yields the fruit of that holy happiness in Christ that is unspeakable and full of glory.

• PEACE – That relaxed inner satisfaction that one’s sins are forgiven and that the Spirit is directing one’s life.

• LONGSUFFERING – That spiritual fruit which enables a believer to take heavy pressure over a long period of time without being quick tempered or short fused.

• GENTLENESS –The ability to treat a brother with calmness and kindness, even amid great stress.

• GOODNESS – Generosity in all areas of life that is inspired by the Spirit.

• FAITH – The ability to believe and trust .

• MEEKNESS – The willful, disciplined exercise of power and authority to achieve a higher good; restraint born on the wins of compassion.

• SELF-CONTROL – Temperance and moderation in words and deeds.

Jesus said.--

I am the true vine.
My Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit,
While every branch that does bear fruit He prunes
So that it will be even more fruitful.

No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
Excerpts from John 15.1-4

And the fruit of the Spirit is Love...
Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Gal 5.22-23

~Fruits of the Spirit~

   THE TRUE VINE

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.

St. John 15: 1-8

Fruits of the Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace , longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" Gal. 5:22-24.

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. 

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. 

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose. 

I choose Love....
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. 

I choose Joy....
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical..... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. 

I choose Peace....
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live

I choose Patience....
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. 

I choose Kindness....
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God treated me. 

I choose Goodness....
I will go without before I take dishonest gain. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose Faithfulness....
Today, I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home. 

I choose Gentleness....
Nothing is won by force, I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself. 

I choose Self-control....
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. 

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His Grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

-Max Lucado

 

 

 

 

 

The First Fruits of the Spirit

Fruit is the reward of the husbandman and the crown and glory of the tree.  The Lord crown the year with his goodness by giving fruit in due season: and truly the holy fruit of love is the reward of Jesus and the honor of his servants.

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love”
Galatians 5:22

Love appears as a growth.  Fruit does not start from the tree perfectly ripe at once: first comes a flower; them a tiny formation which shows that the flower has set; then a berry appears, but it is very sour.  You may not gather it.  Let it alone a little while, and allow the sun to ripen it.  By-and-by it fills out, and there you have the apple in the full proportions of beauty, and with a mellow flavor which delights the taste.  Love springs up in the heart, and increases by a sure growth.  Love is not produced by casting the mind in the mould of imi­tation, or by fastening the grace to a man's manner as a thing outside of himself.