Every tree considered productive produces a fruit. Orange trees produce oranges. Apple trees, apples. By the fruit of a tree, you recognize the tree. So also, is the life of the believer. By virtue of new birth and receiving of the Holy Spirit, the believer ought and will begin to produce works which are called The Fruit of The Spirit.
“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.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Greek word translated “fruit” refers to the natural product of a living thing. Paul used “fruit” to help us understand the product of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer.
The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit, not by the Christian. The believer as he yields more and more to the Spirit, will find a greater measure of the fruit finding expression in him.
The Greek word is singular, showing that “fruit” is a unified whole, not independent characteristics. So, falling short in one area doesn’t mean the absence of the Holy Spirit in that believer, but reveals where the believer should yield to the Holy Spirit in order for the fruit to find expression.
The believer is to sow in the Spirit. Through fasting and prayer, studying the word, ministering to God, fellowshiping with the brethren amongst others, the believer sows in the Spirit, and as a result the fruit of the Spirit finds… Click To Tweet
The Fruit (Works) of The Flesh:
This speaks of the Spirit in view of the flesh in verse 17:
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
This reveals the opposition of the flesh to the Spirit, and as there is the fruit of the Spirit, there is the fruit (works) of the flesh (See verse 19-21). The believer by this ought to be able to recognize which is finding expression in him/her, as whichever you sow to, … it’s fruit you will see manifest (Galatians 6:7).
Sowing to The Spirit:
The new testament’s addition to the mystery of sowing and reaping opens our eyes to the fact we could sow to the flesh or the Spirit. Sowing and reaping as it relates to spirituality is not just about giving material things. Galatians 6:8
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
The believer must sow to the Spirit if he/she wants the fruit of the Spirit to gain preeminence in him/her. Whatever you sow or sow into determines what you reap (Galatians 6:7).
Anyone who sows to sexually perverse content will of the flesh reap fornication and all that comes with it. Fornication is an expression of the fruit of the flesh. It doesn’t just happen. It gains strength and ultimately produces fruit when the individual has sown and watered it to maturity.
Paul who hated Christians so much he sought to kill and did kill them, after his conversion, began to sow to the Spirit, hence the reason why his love for believers grow that he was shipwrecked for their sake, beaten, persecuted, imprisoned, yet his heart was filled with love (a work of the fruit of the Spirit) for them, a people he once passionately hated and persecuted.
How to Sow to The Spirit:
- By Engaging The Word (Acts 20:32)
- Fasting and Praying (Matthew 17:21, Acts 13:2)
- Listening to Spirit Inspired Messages (Proverbs 4:20-23)
- Attending Fellowship (Hebrews 10:25)
- Ministering to the Lord (Acts 13:2)
How to know when to sow more to the spirit:
- When the fruit of the flesh finds expression in you
- When you struggle to express or function in any of the works (fruit) of the Spirit
Conclusion:
To be an effective witness of Christ who will disciple nations, the believer is equipped with the Spirit of God who empower to do the extraordinary. He helps our weakness (Romans 8:26), by empowering us to produce works called the Fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Spirit in the life of a believer. However, the believer has a role to play. The believer is to sow in the Spirit. Through fasting and prayer, studying the word, ministering to God, fellowshiping with the brethren amongst others, the believer sows in the Spirit, and as a result the fruit of the Spirit finds expression in them.