Fruit of the Holy Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gal 5: 22-23.

1. Love (Greek: agape) Dictionaries and Commentaries give the following as meanings: Unselfish, benevolent concern for another; brotherly concern; the object of brotherly concern or affection. The self-denying, self-sacrificing, Christ-like love which is the foundation of all other graces; Unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the well being of another; The high esteem which God has for His human children and the high regard which they, in turn, should have for Him and other people; To love, to have affection for someone; to like; to be a friend; the love of brothers for each other.

2.Joy (Latin: gaudium) Here are some of the different definitions of what real joy is all about: Great delight; gladness of heart; The happy state that results from knowing and serving God; That deep, abiding, inner rejoicing in the Lord; To rejoice, to be glad; Happy, joyful, cheerful, rejoicing, festive.

3.Peace (Latin: pax, Greek: eirene) Here is how the quality of peace is described in some of the different Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries: The presence and experience of right relationships; The tranquility of soul; Sense of well-being and fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence; The inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ; Tranquility, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

4.Patience (Latin: longanimitas) Here are the different definitions for the word longsuffering: Forbearance, patience; Patient endurance and steadfastness under provocation; Forbearance under ill-will, with no thought of retaliation; Patience, endurance, steadfastness and forbearance; Forbearance under suffering and endurance in the face of adversity; Ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment.

5.Kindness (Latin: benignitas) Here are some of the different definitions of what real kindness is all about: Quality or state of being kind; The steadfast love that maintains relationships through gracious aid in times of need; Goodness of heart, serviceable, good, gracious, pleasant; Love for mankind, hospitality, acts of kindness, readiness to help, human friendship benevolence, taking thought of others; Goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, affability; The ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience.

6.Goodness (Latin: bonitas) Now here are some of the different definitions of what this quality is all about: Beneficence, ready to do good, love in action; Kindness in actual manifestation, virtue equipped for action, a bountiful propensity both to will and to do what is good, intrinsic goodness producing a generosity and a Godlike state or being; The word beneficence means the fact or quality of being kind or doing good. Not only does the goodness of God draw people direct to Him, but this fruit of goodness operating in a believer can also draw people direct to God through the actual believer.

7.Faithfulness (Latin: fides) Now here are what some of the different Bible Dictionaries and Commentaries have to say about this particular quality: Fidelity which makes one true to his promise and faithful to his task; Steadfast, dedicated, dependable and worthy of trust; Steadfast, unchanging and thoroughly grounded in relation to the other; Dependability, loyalty and stability.

In the times we live in with half of all marriages still ending up in divorce, and with many people getting back-stabbed in the workplaces with people they thought they could initially trust – this particular quality is one that is really needed in our day and age. This quality is not only needed in our own personal relationship with God, but it is also needed in our own personal relationships with our friends and our families.

8 Gentleness (Latin: mansuetudo) Now here are some of the different definitions on the quality of gentleness: Mildness combined with tenderness; Gracious, kindly disposition, controlled strength; A disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious and that has passions under control; A character that is equitable, reasonable, forbearing, moderate, fair and considerate; Power and strength under control; Willing to pardon injuries, correct faults. One who rules his spirit well. Not only will other people love and gravitate towards you more if you learn how to walk in this quality – but you will be at much more peace with yourself since you won’t always have to be fighting and striving with others when trying to help them out.

9 Self-control (Latin: "continentia") Here are some of the definitions of what the quality of self-control is all about: Temperance, rational restraint of natural impulses; Sober, temperate, calm and dispassionate approach to life, having mastered personal desires and passions; Calls for a self-disciplined life following Christ’s example of being in the world but not of the world; Restraint or discipline exercised over one’s behavior.

Nothing will draw nonbelievers and believers alike to the Lord than a truly sanctified saint in the Lord who is walking and operating in all 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit. If we are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work and transmit all 9 of these fruits up into our personality to some appreciable degree in this life – we will then become a light that will literally radiate the presence of God Himself through our soul and personality.

One will have no idea how many people they will be able to save, touch, witness to, and help disciple if we have these fruits operating through us. These fruits will give us a credibility with God and with other people that no degree or title can give us in this life. This sanctification process is the ultimate, highest aim and goal with God for our lives.

For those of us who are not afraid to let God begin this deeper sanctifying work in our life – let us keep these 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit directly in front of us – and work very closely with the Holy Spirit once He starts to manifest these fruits up into our personality.

These fruits will be coming directly from Him. They will be His love, His goodness, His joy, and His peace that will start to flow into us. But we will still have to do our part in all of this. Once these divine attributes start to be released into our personality by the Holy Spirit – our job will then be to start to walk and operate in them.

1. What this means is that God’s love, God’s peace, God’s joy, and God’s goodness can start to be transmitted up into our personality. These are His divine attributes and personality qualities that will start to move into the core of our personality.

2. Think about the ramifications of this – that God the Father Himself is allowing us to share in a part of His divine nature by allowing His Holy Spirit to transmit and impart these nine divine qualities right up into our soul and personality!

Website References:

1.Fruits of the Spirit - Fruits of the Holy Spirit
www.bible-knowledge.com/fruits-of-the-holy-spirit/Cached - Similar
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Good, detailed article on the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit and how to receive all of them from the Lord.

2. Fruit Of The Spirit - GOD
www.allaboutgod.com/fruit-of-the-spirit.htmCached - Similar
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Fruit Of The Spirit - The nine visible attributes of a true Christian life: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

3. Fruit Of The Spirit - Spirit Home
www.spirithome.com/fruits-of-the-spirit.htmlCached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
The Spirit changes you so your character has the qualities that benefit all, using your gifts in the manner of Jesus. What's the Spirit growing you into?

4. The Fruit of the Spirit
www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/...sr/.../The-Fruit-of-Spirit.htmCached - Similar
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
In this introductory article to a series on the fruit of the Spirit, John Ritenbaugh explains how the Bible approaches fruit symbolically, what it mea.

5. The Fruit of the Spirit Bible lesson plan
dltk-bible.com/jesus/fruit_of_the_spirit-index.htmCached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Fruit of the Spirit Poem and Song. Fruit of the Spirit cadence · Fruit of the Spirit poem ... Fruit of the Spirit On-Line Jigsaw Puzzle. sorry, no picture ...

6. The Fruit of the Spirit Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
carm.org/fruit-of-the-spiritCached - Similar
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Gal. 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness , goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is ...


Book References:

1. Prayers To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2000)

2. Practical Psychology for Pastors, William R. Miller, Kathleen A. Jackson (The University of Mexico), second Edition, Prentice – Hall Inc, 1995,1985, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)

4. John G. Kruis, ‘Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling; (Grand rapids: Baker Books, Third edition, p. 169-170)

5. David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopaedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)

6. Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104).

7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.

8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.

9. Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)

10. Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)

11. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)

12. Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)

13. The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.