Galatians 5:22-23 – Practical Insights, by Dr. Annette

“How to know if you’re walking in the Spirit? Conclusion:”

For the last seven weeks I have been writing on ‘How to know if you’re walking in the Spirit.’ I wrote on the fruit being produced by the Spirit in our lives. This is one way to know if you are growing in your walk with the Lord and if you are in the spirit or not. It is a practical application that is so simple that one could almost forget as human beings we like to complicate things to make them sound better.

This post is to encourage those who want to be led by the Holy Spirit to continue to grow in your walk with the Lord and to help recognize His leadings. I know that when the Holy Spirit leads us according to the Bible, He will not force you to obey. God always gives us a choice. Being led by the Spirit is in partnership with His leading. Galatians 5:16-18 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18) but if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

To me that sums it up Spirit or flesh were either in one or the other. Over the years mankind tried to make walking in the Spirit more about the nine gifts of the Spirit which these are good but come from the Spirit they are not the proof of you continuing to walk in the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the proof of you being led by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Verse 25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

To end this series the next two is a fruit of gentleness and self-control. Sometimes it requires a lot of self-control to stay in gentleness especially when dealing with contentious people. Being gentle means, you’re not being harsh or hard. “Gentleness means the quality of kind, tender, or mild-mannered.” Since I’m more Type-a I tend to sound harder than I mean to be. I see things in black and white, right and wrong. So, I can sound harsher to others than it is meant. God has been working on me through the years and will continue to work on me so that I do not sound harsh. He’s seasoned me by His Spirit to think through responses so that it sounds gentler. It is still truths but with love. I would never intentionally hurt someone, so I am using my own life to help us understand that at times we need seasoning to bring out of us the un-Christlikeness that is flesh.

Self-control is keeping oneself in check and not losing control in a situation. Self-control “the ability to control oneself, in particular ones’ emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.” Being led by the Spirit produces this in our lives. But we have a choice in every situation how we will respond and what choice we want to make in our lives. Battling the flesh is a daily fight. Our flesh does not like to submit to the Spirit but when you’re wanting to be led by the Spirit you learn to choose His way and surrender that flesh to be crucified so that God gets the glory. By doing so you will begin to see the fruit come forth from your life.

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit Part 7

Faithfulness

Throughout our walk with God, we meet many opportunities to walk in love. Walking in the Spirit is described in Galatians and so is walking in the flesh. In this series we have been looking at each word of the fruit of the Spirit so we can apply this word to our lives. We need to know by God’s word what walking in the Spirit looks like. Sometimes describing what the flesh looks like helps us to recognize when we are not in the Spirit.

This passage describes the flesh/sinful nature Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

This week’s post is on the fruit of faithfulness. Faithfulness is not just an action it is also a disposition. It is a Christlike nature to be faithful. When we walk in the Spirit we are walking in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness 23gentleness, and self- control. There is no law against these.”

To be faithful means to me to be consistent, reliable and trustworthy. A Dictionary says, “steadfast in affection or allegiance.” It also means to honor your word. In our day faithfulness has been replaced with ‘whatever feels good for you.’ That is not Jesus’ way. He did what the Father wanted, He said “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me, nevertheless not My will. But Yours, be done.” That is faithfulness.

I guess we can ask ourselves some questions to see where we are at in our walk with Christ. Do I get jealous if someone else is chosen over me? Do I honor my word? Am I able to keep my commitments? Do I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when I don’t like what is happening?

Galatians 5:24-26 NLT “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

First thing in applying faithfulness is to prayerfully think it through before you commit to something. Do not just say yes then change your mind when something better comes up.

Second thing in applying faithfulness is to never give yourself permission to back out on a commitment unless it’s for sickness or death.

Third thing in applying faithfulness is allow the Holy Spirit to show you any areas that you haven’t been faithful in and repent for it and surrender to His leading in the next opportunity to commit and do.

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit Part 6

On a practical term as we surrender our life to Christ the word of God tells us; God is working in us to make us Christlike. We shouldn’t compare our selves to others but we can look at our Lord Jesus and measure our fruit by His life.

There are nine fruit of the Spirit that we should be growing in when you are a child of God they are found in Galatians 5:22-23 NLT “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things.”

Goodness is the topic for today. What do you think of when you hear that word? The word goodness means according to the dictionary “the state or quality of being good, moral excellence, virtue, kindness, generosity” In Galatians according to Vines Expository Dictionary “goodness means a moral quality,” When we are walking in the Spirit, we are producing this kind of fruit. As a born again believer in Jesus moral excellence is essential.

Virtue and moral excellence are important because that means you are honest and sincere. It also is seen in a holy lifestyle. I know the day and age we live in believes differently but when you are a child of God living according to the truth which is the Word of God then you know holiness is the way we live. A purity of heart, mind and body is God’s way.

Jesus told us in Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” These are powerful words by Jesus, He’s letting us know many will do a lot of things that look spiritual in His name but He didn’t know them. His character has to be seen that’s the fruit we are to look for.

So ask your self is what you do to be seen or to glorify Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart to make sure your motives are pure. It’s not what we do it’s the why behind what we do that makes the motive pure or not.

Since goodness is a moral quality, we need a heart check on our motives. Jesus told us out of the heart the mouth speaks. We can look at words that we say and see what fruit it’s producing. Are you speaking life or death in situations. Are you blessing or cursing someone. Again, it is a heart issue. Jesus said they will know we are his disciples by how we love one another.

If you’re not sure of your heart which our hearts can deceive us, we begin to think we are spiritual when in reality we can become critical, judgmental and at times condemning of our brothers and sisters. Look for the fruit of the Spirit in your own life first. Before you try to be a fruit inspector of others.

Surrender to the Holy Spirit working in your life. He will produce the fruit as you surrender in situations. A purity of heart, mind and body is God’s way and that is goodness.

How to Know if You’re Walking in the Spirit Part 5

Kindness

This week we are looking at the fruit of kindness. What is kindness? How does it look, and can a person be kind without sincerity? As I have been writing this series, I’m asking the Holy Spirit to search me for where I am in walking in the Spirit. We need a good heart check regularly. I recommend you do the same.

The word kindness means “In ancient Greek It means goodness, honesty, goodness of heart, kindness.” “Kindness is selfless, compassionate and merciful.” Websters Dictionary for similar words of kindness: “are compassion, sympathy, generosity, heart, mercy, kindliness, pity, kindhearted.“

Now that we know what kindness means we can see by these definitions how it should look and feel. I think of times when I have experienced kindness from those who truly had heartfelt genuine kindness and I was left feeling a warmth of being cared for. But I have also experienced an act of kindness that was not genuine, and it left me feeling confused thinking, why bother. As with everything we need to look at the results/fruit to decide where it’s really at.

Since we are talking about the fruit of the Spirit let’s look at the Scripture in Galatians 5:22-23 NLT “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things.”

I love that the Holy Spirit is working in us producing this kind of fruit. We do have a role in it, since we have a free will, we can override the Spirit and walk in the flesh, but the result makes our situations worse not better. I would prefer my situations to go better than worse. Am I successful every time no but as you walk in the Spirit you learn to listen before you speak, wait before you act. That is a key to walking in the Spirit. James 1:19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”

In Galatians it tells us what the fruit of flesh looks like. Galatians NLT 5: 16 “So I say. Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians NLT 5:19 “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

As we look at the list think of the description of each one and as your living your life ask the Holy Spirit when you are walking according to your flesh to help you crucify it. We will always have a choice your free will is given to you by God but he won’t choose for you.

As we think of the word kindness, we can begin to choose to walk in kindness to one another and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit by doing kindness. I say do because kindness is an action coming from a sincere heartfelt motivation. These words show us kindness in action compassion, sympathy, generosity, heart, mercy, kindliness, pity, kindhearted each one of these words relay a sincerity towards others.

What type of fruit are you producing? Walking in the Spirit produces good fruit and kindness is one of them. Purpose in your heart today to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart to work on this area in your life.

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit Part 4

Patience

The way to know whether you or someone else is walking in the Spirit is by the fruit it produces. This week we are looking at the fruit and word ‘patience.’ This word is found in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” It is interesting to me that this is mentioned in the bible in many different passages, and with the use of another word such as ‘waiting on God.’

Waiting on God takes patience, I have heard it said don’t ask for patience because then you’ll have to go through trails. That is not what the word says. It tells us that we must add to our faith and that as we have patience we will become mature. If we have no trials, how do you know if we are growing in patience?

James 1: 2-4 “Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

What does the word patience mean? It means “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Cambridge Dictionary “The ability to wait or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.”

Well now that we know exactly what patience looks like, how do we apply patience in situations? I personally think we need to step back in our thinking when a situation is out of our control and speak truths to yourself. I speak the word of God to myself to remind myself God is in control. My trust is not in the situation it is in Almighty God who works on my behalf. I trust my life to my Lord and Savior. It is important to step back emotionally so that we can hear clearly and make wise decisions. I do this by speaking truths to myself concerning whatever situation it is.

On Thursday, a friend and I were in a car accident. I was not driving she was cut off in the roundabout and had to apply her breaks it was icy and the person behind us could not stop. This young girl was shaken as we too, but we were gracious and patient with her. Being older and having experienced an accident before we managed to bring comfort with our words and actions. We had to wait for the police and wait through insurance calls. With all of that going on it was important for us to have patience. Being calm in stressful situations brings peace to the situation.

My friend’s car unfortunately was damaged and now she will have to wait for it to be repaired. I was looking sideways talking to her when we were cut off and then hit so I have a mild whiplash, so I have a waiting also as I heal. All of that is just one experience of patience in action.

As we go through life, we all have different opportunities to develop and walk out patience. If you struggle with patience know that when you are His child, He is always working on conforming you into Christlikeness and we know Jesus walked in patience. Jesus endured opposition, difficulties and pressure on all sides such as family, religious and cultural pressure. Plus, He was tortured, spit upon and carried the sins of the world without complaint. The Bible says He was tempted in all areas but sinned not.

Since patience is a part of the fruit of the Spirit you will know then by that fruit if you are walking and being led by the Spirit. This aspect is a practical way in understanding the importance of our actions, attitudes and words. What we do and say truly does affect those around us and this is a byproduct of either our flesh or the Spirit.

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit part 3

In the book of James, it tells us what the wisdom of God looks like in our lives. James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” This passage in scripture lets us know God’s wisdom has good fruits.

So, as we look at the third fruit of walking in the Spirit, we see peace. It is essential to our walk with and in God. This is how you know if you are walking in the Spirit of the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Are you walking in peace with God, yourself and others? That question holds a key to where you heart is at.

Peace is not the absence of problems; peace is an inner calmness that is produced by the Spirit of God because we are trusting the Lord for our life, He supplies what we need. We trust the Lord for the wisdom, and direction in situations. For example, when WordPress updated to 6.0 in November my site crashed. Bluehost helped get it on line but I didn’t know that those who subscribed where not getting the emails. I found out around Christmas. A friend and I looked at it and I talked with Bluehost twice for a lengthy period. She was on the phone for the second conversation. But with no solution. After we were done talking to the representative on the phone, I started to hum a tune. She started to laugh and said your humming! I forget her exact words, but I still had peace and joy. These were frustrating conversations on the phone the rep could not understand the problem and was not communicating well. So, there was no solution at that time. I had peace that God would supply the solution. I said a prayer and the next day God put a person to ask on my heart. God connected me through the friend with ‘Living Development.’ Maurrie Livingston who is a web designer was so helpful. He worked through this past weekend to fix the problem and it was affordable.

It is possible to go through things with peace. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Keeping your mind in peace is done through trusting in God. No matter what we go through God goes with us, so we can trust He is bringing you through.

Another passage of scripture teaches us how to take captive thoughts that are not God or peaceable. We do not have to accept every thought we think. Sometimes there not you or God it is the enemy trying steal your peace and joy. We negate these thoughts through the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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.” Stronghold thinking is negative statements believed about yourself or others that are repetitious. As a child of God, we have the authority in Christ to overcome stronghold thinking. Replace those thoughts with the Word of God. This produces peace in our minds and hearts.

The flesh is in opposition with the spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc. but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.

The Bible tells us to be angry and sin not, it also tells us to not let the sun go down on our wrath. So, in plain wording do not stay angry. Anger is a secondary emotion which means underneath the anger is either fear, hurt, frustration… Deal with that and let the anger go if we don’t, we won’t walk in the Spirit.

Peace with God, oneself and others is doable by walking in the Spirit. Jesus purchased peace with God for us but to stay in peace takes walking in the Spirit, peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. Put value on your peace.

Walking in the Spirit is not complicated because God tells us in His word how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are in led by His Spirit.
In the book of James, it tells us what the wisdom of God looks like in our lives. James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” This passage in scripture lets us know God’s wisdom has good fruits.
So, as we look at the third fruit of walking in the Spirit, we see peace. It is essential to our walk with and in God. This is how you know if you are walking in the Spirit of the Kingdom of God. Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Are you walking in peace with God, yourself and others? That question holds a key to where you heart is at.
Peace is not the absence of problems; peace is an inner calmness that is produced by the Spirit of God because we are trusting the Lord for our life, He supplies what we need. We trust the Lord for the wisdom, and direction in situations. For example, when WordPress updated to 6.0 in November my site crashed. Bluehost helped get it online, but I didn’t know that those who subscribed where not getting the emails. I found out around Christmas. A friend and I looked at it and I talked with Bluehost twice for a lengthy period. She was on the phone for the second conversation. But with no solution. After we were done talking to the representative on the phone, I started to hum a tune. She started to laugh and said your humming! I forget her exact words, but I still had peace and joy. These were frustrating conversations on the phone the rep could not understand the problem and was not communicating well. So, there was no solution at that time. I had peace that God would supply the solution. I said a prayer and the next day God put a person to ask on my heart. God connected me through the friend with ‘Living Development.’ Maurrie Livingston who is a web designer was so helpful. He worked through this past weekend to fix the problem and it was affordable.
It is possible to go through things with peace. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Keeping your mind in peace is done through trusting in God. No matter what we go through God goes with us, so we can trust He is bringing you through.
Another passage of scripture teaches us how to take captive thoughts that are not God or peaceable. We do not have to accept every thought we think. Sometimes there not you or God it is the enemy trying steal your peace and joy. We negate these thoughts through the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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.” Stronghold thinking is negative statements believed about yourself or others that are repetitious. As a child of God, we have the authority in Christ to overcome stronghold thinking. Replace those thoughts with the Word of God. This produces peace in our minds and hearts.
The flesh is in opposition with the spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc. but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.
The Bible tells us to be angry and sin not, it also tells us to not let the sun go down on our wrath. So, in plain wording do not stay angry. Anger is a secondary emotion which means underneath the anger is either fear, hurt, frustration… Deal with that and let the anger go if we don’t, we won’t walk in the Spirit.
Peace with God, oneself and others is doable by walking in the Spirit. Jesus purchased peace with God for us but to stay in peace takes walking in the Spirit, peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. Put value on your peace.

Walk in peace… Three ways to keep your peace…

How to know if you’re walking in the Spirit part 2.

Joy

Last week we discussed recognizing if you are walking in the Spirit. We will continue with this same passage found in Galatians. Being led by the Spirit isn’t complicated because God tells how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are led by His Spirit this should be the fruit coming forth from us.

Unfortunately, we forget the practical aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. I personally believe God is practical. I know His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts, but in understanding what it means to be led by the Spirit it seems practical to me. If I’m not walking in the Spirit, I produce the fruit or actions of the flesh.

The flesh is obvious, it’s stated in Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc. but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17-19 NLT “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness (righteousness) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18) If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19) so then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”

So, let us look at the second fruit listed which is joy. What is joy? According to the dictionary the word joy means “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” In the Strong’s Concordance joy in this passage means “cheerfulness i.e., calm delight-gladness…” Joy is more of a state of being while happiness can be based in things, joy comes from within, and it is also a promise of God. He does not promise happiness He promises joy. In Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Joy based in Christ is stable and full of thankfulness, kindness and mercy. The joy we have in Christ Jesus outshines the trials and persecutions we experience. When joy is based in Christ Jesus it is fixed and focused on Him. No matter what each day brings, as when we are led by the Spirit of God, we will produce joy.

Joy is a state of being that does not depend on the circumstances or people. Although, if we get our eyes on others it will steal your joy that is why the ‘Accuser of the brethren’ tries to keep us focused on people instead of the Lord. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The word joy in this passage is the same meaning as in Galatians. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and not people.

Let us remember that fruit is seen and experienced by others, my prayer is that people see Christ and not us.

How to know if you are walking in the spirit? Part 1

shallow focus photography of yellow lime with green leaves

The Bible tells us how to know if you are walking and being led by the Spirit. It also tells us in Galatians what is not of the Spirit is flesh and gives us the fruit (actions and attitudes) of flesh. Verse 16 says, “I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5: 19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21) 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.”

So, then what is the fruit of walking in the Spirit? And why are there nine fruit of the Spirit? Should it have said fruits? I think sometimes we think of them separately but, they are one. When we walk in the Spirit, we produce fruit. Jesus said, ‘you will know them by their fruit.’ He was referring to false prophets/ teachers. My mom use, to tell us, ‘Actions speak louder than words.’ Which is a common statement, but it is true. We can tell by someone’s actions, tones, and facial expressions what they really mean. Anyone can say anything, but the proof is in the action.

I sensed in the spirit it is time to write about the nine fruit of the Spirit. The scripture I am referring to is in Galatians 5:22-23 NKJ “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” When you walk and live in the Spirit this is what you will produce, or I should say what will come forth from you.

Since Love is first on the list we will start with love.

What is love? ‘God is love.’ Since love is an aspect of the Spirit and appointed as fruit what does it look like in action? When a tree has fruit we are able to see, smell and taste it and we know by that it is an apple, orange, pear or lemon tree for example, therefore fruit is seen and known by distinctive traits. It is the same with love. Love is not just a word used to describe a feeling. Love is a commitment to someone or something. Love is seen in action

The Bible says in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The Father sent the Son to die for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life with Him.

I Corinthians 13 describes love. Verse 4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7) bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things, 8) love never fails…”

Love to me means one lays down its life, it sees the good in others, it is gentle and kind, it long endures, love makes and upholds boundaries, it serves others. Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Most of us would not harm ourselves therefor love does no harm to another. I know that love is essential to our way of life.

As a believer in Christ, it is most important to allow God to change in us what needs changing. Such as actions and attitudes that do not line up with His character. First ask the Holy Spirt to search your heart and show you if there is anything in the way of love. God will show us when we humble ourselves, pray and ask so that we can confess it, repent and turn from it. God cares for and about you.

What do you base your Love on?

Three steps to walking in God’s Power and Might?

What Kind Of Tree Are You?

There are so many different trees in the world. We need trees but then are all trees good trees? Just to mention a few there are pine, maple, oak, walnut, weeping willows, birch trees. Some of these are stronger than others, some supply food for animals and some their roots are not deep. As I think of an analogy of trees and people, I asked what kind of tree are you?

In Ezekiel 47:12 “Along the bank of the river, on this side and that will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” This scripture refers to the trees that are along the riverbank that produces leaves for medicine (healing). As I pondered this vision Ezekiel had I sensed this question. What kind of tree are you? Life has ups and downs but through each season we can continue to grow deep healthy roots that produce health and wellbeing. As we abide in Christ, we receive from him streams of living water.

The river in the vision comes from the throne of God which stands for the Holy Spirit flowing in our lives. Wholeness and healing come from God. The trees along the bank of the river are receiving nourishment from the river of life. Rev 22:1-2 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2)In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

We also can receive healing and wholeness from God and live in the river of life. In the vision of Ezekiel 47:7 “When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other.” The practical application of this verse is abiding in Christ. Living in his stream of love for you and others, produces fruit in our lives. Christmas is fast approaching a time of celebration of Jesus birth. A time to reflect on the love of God towards mankind.

Living in God’s flow brings peace, joy and righteousness. What type of tree are you? Can be determined by what type of fruit we are producing. The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” This is the fruit which matters this is what is generated when we abide in Christ and live in the Spirit. This is the gauge of our flow. It is wisdom to take a close look at our fruit.

Our fruit is a sign of whether we are in the flesh or the Spirit. What kind of tree are you? Are you a tree that abides or one that does its own thing? Are you one who drinks from the river of life or are you drinking from your own cistern.

Ask yourself what kind of fruit am I producing? The answer will tell you were you have been living. If you do not really like the answer the solution is repentance and forgiveness. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and allow him to change your fruit as you abide (live) in him. Receive from the tree of life and live.