Do you desire to grow in Christian virtue and reflect the character of Jesus Christ more each day?
If so, you’ll be encouraged to discover that the Bible provides clear guidance on how to develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life.
The fruit of the Spirit is what God cultivates in every believer. As we yield to the Holy Spirit we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
When you walk in step with the Spirit, these beautiful qualities will shine through you.
In this blog post, I’ll explore key biblical insights on how you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit to develop His fruit in your life and relationships.
You’ll discover practical tips on how to bear the fruit as you seek God each day through spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and worship.
Abiding in Christ
Jesus said in John 15:5 (NIV),
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
biblegateway.com
The starting point is to recognize that bearing the fruit of the Spirit begins with abiding in Christ Jesus.
He is the True Vine, and you can only flourish when your life is connected to Him by faith.
Abiding means spending time in His presence through prayer, worship, and meditation on God’s Word.
The more you behold Jesus, the more your inner being is transformed into His likeness by the Spirit’s power (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
The first fruit produced as you abide in the Spirit is love. Jesus said the distinguishing mark of His disciples would be their love for God and one another (John 13:34-35 NIV).
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
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God’s love is poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) giving you the ability to love as Jesus loved.
To grow in love, study 1 Corinthians 13 and ask God to speak to you about any areas where you need to grow in patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and love for others.
Pray through Ephesians 3:17-19, asking that Christ’s love would take deeper root in your life.
Planted in God’s Word and Fellowship
To flourish spiritually, you must be firmly planted by streams of living water (Psalm 1). This will happen as you study and meditate in God’s Word and through fellowship with Christians.
Set aside time to read the Bible each morning and allow the verses to sink into your heart.
Attend a Bible-believing church weekly and participate in a small group for friendship, accountability, and Bible study.
As you devote yourself to Scripture, the Spirit will renew your mind and produce His peace and joy in you.
Share your life with other Christians and encourage them to pursue holiness and virtue. We bear fruit together as the Body of Christ.
The Fruit of the Spirit
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes the fruit the Holy Spirit grows in those who belong to Christ:
- Love: sacrificial, unconditional love that reflects God’s love for you.
- Joy: inner gladness and delight in God and His salvation.
- Peace: tranquility and harmony with God, yourself, and others.
- Patience: the ability to wait and endure through difficult circumstances.
- Kindness: benevolence, compassion, and care for others.
- Goodness: moral excellence that comes from your new nature in Christ.
- Faithfulness: loyalty, trustworthiness, and reliability.
- Gentleness: humility, meekness, and grace in dealing with others.
- Self-Control: the ability to rein in sinful impulses and live wisely.
This fruit ripens in your life as you walk with the Holy Spirit every day.
When storms come, these virtues will enable you to respond as Jesus would – with grace, hope, and endurance.
Cooperating with God
Though the Holy Spirit’s work is essential to growth in godly virtues, you have a responsibility to cooperate with His transforming work.
Dallas Willard, the great American philosopher said, “Grace is opposed to earning, but is not opposed to effort.”
The Father is the Gardener who prunes and cares for the branches in Christ that bear fruit (John 15:1-2).
When you feel the Gardener’s shears through trials or convictions, you should humbly submit to His work.
This pruning often occurs as you spend time reading the Bible, fasting, practicing spiritual disciplines, and in prayer.
It’s a lifelong journey, but you can make progress by studying scriptures on the fruit of the Spirit and asking God to develop His character in you.
As you understand His Word and obey it, the Holy Spirit will develop His fruit in you.
Over time, you’ll grow and begin to walk in the Spirit more consistently (Galatians 5:16-25). Your life will display His supernatural fruit and not the self-centered fruit of the flesh.
Reflecting Christ
As a believer, God has called you to reflect the character of His Son Jesus.
When you allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate His fruit in your heart, it will impact your attitude, speech, and actions. People will see the reality of Christ living in you.
Paul encouraged the Philippians,
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
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When the fruit of the Spirit grows in you your life becomes salt and light that glorifies God and draws others to Him.
You’ll live out Jesus’ promise in John 15:8 (ESV),
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
biblegateway.com
Key Takeaways: Developing the Fruit of The Holy Spirit
- Abiding in Christ is the foundation for bearing spiritual fruit.
- God’s Word and fellowship will help you grow.
- The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in you.
- Cooperate with the Spirit by practicing spiritual disciplines.
- This fruit demonstrates you belong to Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions on Spiritual Fruit
Q. How do I know if I’m walking in step with the Holy Spirit?
A. The clearest evidence is if you see His fruit growing in your life – love, joy, peace, etc. Also examine whether your desires align with His will, as revealed in Scripture.
Q. Does bearing fruit earn God’s favor?
A. No, you can’t earn salvation or God’s favor. But bearing fruit brings glory to God and shows that as His disciple you are abiding in Christ. It’s the outflow of His grace working in you.
Q, What should I do when I fail to show the Spirit’s fruit?
A. Repent and ask the Spirit to replace impatience, selfishness, or other sins with His fruit. Rest in God’s love and Christ’s forgiveness and allow conviction to refine you.
Q. How long does fruit growth take?
A. It’s a lifelong process. Cooperate with the Spirit’s work daily through Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, worship, etc. Growth happens as you walk closely with Jesus.
Q. Why does the Bible emphasize bearing fruit so much?
A. It proves that your faith is alive and shows Christ’s transforming power in you. Fruitfulness brings glory to God and draws unbelievers to Jesus.
