WEEK THREE:
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
i. Definition of Fruits
Fruit may be defined as a product of plant growth which is useful to man or animals. It can also be defined as an end result, effect or consequence, which is either advantageous or disadvantageous. In the life of a man, there are two kind of fruits which can be produced. Fruits of the flesh – (product of carnal mind and sinful behaviours) and fruit of the spirit – (product of a renewed mind that has been changed and is controlled or influenced by Spirit of God)
ii. The fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)
In Galatians 5:19-21, the Bible lists the fruit of the flesh as ungodly behaviours which include the following “Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. Paul warns that that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The fruit of the flesh are characterized by selfishness, indiscipline, greed, lack of modesty and reckless attitudes. People who do things like this don’t think about whether they please God or they offend anybody.
iii. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25)
On the other hand, the Bible list the fruit of the spirit, which are products of a godly life, a renewed mind that is under the influence of the Spirit of God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul listed them as, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Paul stated that there is no law against these kind of behaviours and can only be exhibited by those who have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.
iii. How to bear Fruit of the Spirit Acts 2:3-8, Romans 10:9-10)
People who live according to the flesh often exhibit fruit of the flesh, while those who live according to the spirit exhibit fruit of the Spirit. There are two major ways to be able to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and they are:
1. Confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. The Bible says in Romans 9:10 that “…For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved”
2. The second way is to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, power from on above like the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:3-8, the Bible states that, “Tongues as of fire appeared and distributed itself, resting on each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. People were amazed”
The fruit of the Spirit is an essential evidence of a Christian life. If a person does not exhibit the fruit of the spirit, then it shows that the salvation of such person is questionable.
Unprecedented 