The Fruit of the Spirit

The Best Fruit Ever!

Who doesn't like a good sweet juicy fruit?

A loving, joyous, patient individual who does good to others is like a fruit such as this!

Of course, the kind of fruit you expect from a tree would depend on the kind of seed you sow. Similarly, if we want to bear good fruit, we must sow good seed into the soil of our heart.

Are you happy or satisfied with the kind of person you are? 

Do you long to be one who will bring blessing and joy to others and not anger, pain and sorrow, especially to those you love?

 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:19-26

All of us are different like the variety of fruits. One may be like an apple and another like a banana and another like a pear! All differing in size, shape, colour, consistency, fragrance and taste. Yet, as children of the Most High GOD, having the same Holy Spirit working in and through us, we will bear good fruit that will bless others in various ways and bring glory to the LORD.

As we are all made different, let us not compare with each other nor copy one another. Let us also not compete with one another, but find fulfilment in bearing the specific kind of fruit the LORD has purposed for us to bear.

Strongholds

 Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.

1 Samuel 23:29

So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 Samuel 24:22

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Proverbs 21:22

 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

2 Corinthians 10:4

The enemy of our soul, the devil, uses people as his tools to deceive us and to put fear into us through lies. These suggestions, accusations and intimidations could come to us directly through such individuals or through various media. These can push us into the way of angry Reaction or Fear.

When such words come to us, it is important that we handle them correctly, so that we don't fall into the trap of the enemy. Our mind should always be protected by the helmet of salvation. We should be established in the knowledge and experience of the eternal salvation we have, through the cross and the blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

David the Shepherd boy knew His GOD and knew who he was in GOD! Although he did not wear a physical helmet, he had the spiritual helmet that protected his mind, even when he stood against the big, strong, scary looking giant! His vision of his Great GOD was not overshadowed by the physical appearance of the the giant before his physical eyes!

 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 

 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God 

for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments 

and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, 

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

We can imagine what was happening in David's mind as he confronted Goliath. He was pulling down strongholds of fear through the memory of past experiences with lions and bears. Then he spoke out the words in faith, thus fulfilling his 'Obedience of CHRIST'. Then he was able to punish the disobedient, Goliath who defied the armies of the Living GOD.

 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, 

and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 

I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; 

and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 

Your servant has killed both lion and bear; 

and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, 

seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 

Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion 

and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 

And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"
1 Samuel 17:34-37

According to GOD's word, now, we don't fight against flesh and blood, that is, human beings. We do not consider people as our enemies, even those who may be used to work against us, by our common enemy, the devil. We should not allow our minds to see them loom before our eyes to marr our vision of our Great and Awesome GOD! We must purposefully pull down the strongholds of fear that may be sitting in our minds through past experiences. We do this by taking to heart the words of promises from the Bible. We will then speak and act in faith like David. Thus our mind is set free from the fear of giants, as though by the stone of GOD's word. 

When our obedience if fulfilled, we will be ready to punish every spirit that stands disobediently against the knowledge of CHRIST! In this way, we will see people set free and walk in freedom in CHRIST!

When our mind is protected by JESUS and His word, we will see every situation in the right perspective. 

Let us decisively steer our mind in the direction of Faith, away from the dark path of Fear, where the devil waits to ensnare us!