Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Love
Love is the first fruit mentioned. It is one that will echo through all the other 8 fruits.
The love of God is selfless. I John 3:16- Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Christ, our example, showed God's love at Calvary. Selfless love will give even it's very life for the one who stands in its center. It's the total giving of each to the other, in generous caring, with no ulterior motive or self-gratification.
We will feel a hole in our being until we realize that our self-will, and fleshly desires, keep us from experiencing the fullness of the love of God. When selfishness and self centeredness keep us from doing the will of God, they hinder us from acknowledging the love of God. The end result is a spiritual vacuum, a void of purpose and success in all areas of life.
I do want to point out that love and charity are two different things. If you raise your children according to the charity of I Corinthians 13, you will end up with spoiled monsters. Love will do what charity can't. Love will punish and correct, whereas charity just "bears" the wrong. There are times in our lives where we should be charitable, but those times should never cancel out the hard things we sometimes have to do, or endure, out of love.
I would recommend an essay by Henry Drummond entitled The Greatest Thing In The World. He says that it is a powerful discussion of the Love of God. Henry Drummond was a Scottish evangelist who was mightily used by the Lord. D.L. Moody called him the most Christ-like young man he ever knew. I recommend you read it at least once, it will change the fabric of your character.
Joy
Many people confuse joy with happiness. While they may seem similar in appearance, they stem from different sources. Happiness comes and goes depending on circumstances. But, joy is a deep rooted emotion that helps us realize that everything is going to be okay even when all seems to be going wrong.
Happiness that is bound up in a person, or a thing, is volatile. Many people end up hating the ones they once were fond of- II Samuel 13:15- Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. What happened? He loved her; the Bible says he did. But he went about to get his desire his own way and it turned the love into an immense hate- there was a lack of joy that only comes from doing things God's way. Our will leaves us feeling cheated and double-crossed even when we get the thing we thought we wanted most.
A person who accomplishes every goal they ever set, and has succeeded in every area of their desire may experience happiness at one point in time or another, yet still lack the joy. We cannot acquire genuine joy apart from God. Genuine joy is doing His will, and knowing that He will make everything come out in the end.
When we do our will, and strive for our desires, we cancel out the ability to experience the deep enduring Joy of the Lord by our sin.
Psalm 16:11- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. True joy is found in the presence of the Lord. There are many psalms that speak of having joy because the Lord is defending you- this means the psalmist is being attacked, he's not in utter despair even though his circumstances would warrant it. He has a deep seated knowledge that everything is going to be okay, even if he is afraid.
Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Christ is enduring the shame of the cross, and yet underneath there is a joy because He knows what the end result will be. Everything we go through is to make us more like Christ, and we should have joy in the midst of all of our trials and troubles knowing that the end result will be glorious.
Peace
Everyone wants peace. Most people will toast to world peace. Jeremiah 6:14- They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. The world will not have true peace until the Millenium. However, Christians can attain peace on a more personal scale.
Matthew 5:9- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Christ said that we can be peacemakers, that is, people who make peace with those around them.
Let me first say that Christ never gives peace at the expense of truth. You cannot give in to wickedness, or compromise righteousness, in order to acquire peace. Peace is something that comes to a Christian in the midst of adversity- Philippians 4:7- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
So, what is peace? It's a quiet, gracious attitude that is not easily provoked. Christ was at peace when He was before the Pharisees and Saducees. He was at peace before Herod and Pilate. Christ is our example of being at peace.
If Christ is an example of peace, then the opposite would be the devil, an example of a problem producer. The opposite of peace is a self-centered, defensive attitude that always puts "me first". My wants, my desires, my comfort before His will. Christ said, not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42) That's how we attain peace- by putting His will before our own.
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul describes the works of the flesh, ending with they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And in Romans 14:17, Paul describes the kingdom of God as righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Are you seeing the pattern? We must let go of our pride which thinks we deserve our desires, and we must accept Christ's will for our life knowing that His ways are better.
Longsuffering
Longsuffering is a deeper form of patience. It is suffering long under adversity; the ability to bear with difficult people or adverse circumstances without breaking down. It's the ability to press on despite the afflictions that enter our lives because of those who may benefit from us. It's very selfless! It is not indifference!Most people want to escape from difficult situations, not endure them. The Bible uses the analogy of an ox in a yoke. He's pulling through the tough ground, tearing out the stones, ignoring the heat and the flies, and just steadily plodding along.
Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. A yoke is made for two animals. You are in one side, and Christ is in the other helping you to pull! We achieve rewards in heaven when we persevere through the trials with a humble attitude.
Christ displayed this character while on the earth. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister- serve. He endured rejection. He endured adversity. He endured physical abuse and torture.
God, Himself, is longsuffering. He gave Adam and Eve a chance to admit the wrong they had done. Noah preached for 120 years while building the ark giving the people time to accept the offer to get onboard. Time after time He sent mighty men to rescue His people after they brought bondage on themselves. He sent His Son for our sin!
II Peter 3:9- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
This character trait of God is something which He longs to cultivate in our lives. We should be longsuffering with others, not expect immediate perfection. We should pray for and encourage them and wait and see what God can do in their lives.
Ephesians 4:1-3- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Gentleness
Every modern version of the Bible changes this word to Kindness. However, you can be kind without being gentle. Gentle does have kindness as a part of it, but it goes way beyond just being kind. It's not patronizing or condescending. It's chivalrous, amiable, easy going, generally we are gentle because we care and do not want to harm or damage something fragile.
Gentleness comes after longsuffering, for if you cannot be longsuffering you will quickly lose the ability to be gentle! It's getting involved to the point where it costs time and could cause inconvenience. It's sensitive to sorrow and suffering, and goes about quietly to help without requiring recognition.
God is very gentle in dealing with His young children. We mess up all the time and yet He says in I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Just confess and ask and it's forgiven and forgotten!
He values this so much that when listing the qualifications for a pastor and a general servant of the Lord he puts this down as a requirement in two books of the Bible!
II Timothy 2:24-26- And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Titus 3:2- To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
What good is a shepherd if he can't gently lead the lambs? Isaiah 40:11- He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Goodness
This is an attribute that many people get wrong. They think goodness is being always kind and considerate, but there's another side to goodness. Goodness is also being just. If God were good and lenient to those who worked evil, then His goodness is not being shown to the victims of that evil- that would be cruelty for the victim of a violent, savage crime!
The price of sin is death. The cost of a soul is blood. In God's goodness, He sent His son to pay the price for our sin and to redeem our soul. But what goodness would it be to Christ to allow those who reject His sacrifice to enter into heaven?
Romans 11:22- Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
When the world thinks of goodness, they see something weak and to be used or despised. The goodness of God is not soft and spineless! They miss the longsuffering in God's goodness. He's giving them time to repent before His wrath falls!
Psalms 145:7- They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
Revelation 19:1-3- And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Faith
You would think that this fruit would be one of the first ones mentioned. We exercise faith when we believe that Christ died for our sins and we ask Him to apply that payment to our sin debt. But faith is fluid, it ebbs and flows.
As we walk through our Christian life, we are sometimes confronted with scenarios where we aren't fully certain what to do, or how to go on. This is where faith comes in. God has promised in His Word that no matter how rough, hard, ugly the situation, the end is a glorified body in a mansion in heaven with Him. But when we are walking through those dark times in life is where we learn to grow in faith.
II Thessalonians 1:3-5- We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Being a Christian who walks by faith is not for the faint of heart! It's not easy to put your faith in something the Scriptures promise when our experiences and emotions make us see otherwise. We must simply bow our heads and trust that God will finish what He has started!
Hebrews 12:2-3- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Meekness
Meekness is another misunderstood virtue. The dictionary definition is docile, overly compliant, spiritless, yielding or tame. Meekness is not simply humility. Meekness is not easily provoked, free from pride, having a modest demeanor and a humble opinion of self.
One person that the Bible points out as having this attribute was Moses- Numbers 12:3- (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) Think of all that Moses accomplished! He took on Pharaoh, the world power of his day! He spoke with God and saw God's glory! He liberated a bunch of slaves and led them until they became a mighty army!
Meek men are not weak men! They have tremendous inner strength and stable spirits without becoming prideful! They can stand alone for what is right. He can say, "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
Galatians 6:1- Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
A meek man can compassionately point out a fault in another person and then keep calm when that other person throws things back in his face. True wisdom has some meekness associated with it. Wisdom with meekness realizes that you don't know it all and you could possibly have misconstrued something, and so you approach the situation gently with prayer, but it doesn't run from a confrontation.
I Peter 3:15- But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Temperance
Temperance is both moderation and self-control. A temperate person isn't easily riled up, nor are they quickly angered. They aren't inappropriate or unbecoming. Of all the fruits of the spirit, I believe this to be the hardest.
A temperate person is consistent. They aren't sweet and kind one day, and a volcano eruption of anger the next. Temperance for a Christian means that my whole self comes under Christ's control. My walk in life and my choices and decisions have become subject to God's will.
Christ is the greatest example of temperance. When He went into the temple and saw all the things going on against the Law of God, He didn't automatically start flipping out. He sat down and braided a whip- that takes time! When the Chief Priests and Pilate were interrogating Him He kept silent. When He died on the cross, He took the time to forgive those who were crucifying Him. That's temperance!
I Corinthians 14:32-33- And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
God won't take away your autonomy and force you to conform to His image. It is your daily job to bring your emotions, desires, and will in line with God's Word. By doing this, you will gain temperance.
Works of the flesh
The antithesis to the fruit of the spirit are mentioned just a few verses above and are titled the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who live after their fleshly lusts and desires will only find an empty, miserable existence. When a Christian lives after the flesh, the Lord will hound him all the way to the end of his life. Romans 8:13- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. The Lord doesn't have to destroy the person. His own actions and the consequences that follow will.
When a person is walking in the flesh, they are looking at their present lusts. Many times they forget to look at the price tag associated with those desires. After years of living for self, you will doubt your salvation, wallow in the loneliness of your decisions, and possibly even have to watch your health deteriorate from the aftermath of your choices.
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.
