How Is The "Fruit Of The Spirit" Developed In Our Lives? How Does The "Fruit Of The Spirit" Grow...Is It Automatic?

When a person receives the Spirit and it is automatic being led of the Spirit with no participation of the person then it would not be possible for them to sin again for they would have no control over their life and no choice in the matter.

But since the Bible warns us not to sin after receiving the Spirit then we obviously make the choice whether we want the Spirit to lead us or not.

So we will not show the fruits of the Spirit unless we make the choice to want the Spirit to lead us.

Which the Spirit will not lead anybody until they first make the choice to want to be like Christ and abstain from sin.

A person will not show the fruits of the Spirit unless they make the choice to allow the Spirit to lead them.

Which some have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, for they make the choice not to allow the Spirit to lead them because they want to enjoy sin so they are led of the flesh, but they believe they are right with God despite their sins.

Those with the Spirit may sin if they want to sin, but they know it is not right and they must get rid of it to be right with God.

Those without the Spirit will hold unto sin and believe they are right with God.

Which there are many people who claim Christ but we see them engaging in the ways of the world but believe they are alright with God.

But this is not the popular practice among those who claim Christ to be like Christ which God said be holy for I am holy, but the popular practice is enjoying the world but you are still right with God.

So there is much opposition of the hypocrites against those who act like Christ saying it is not necessary for salvation.

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Well; if I understand John 15:1-8 and Gal 5:16-26 correctly, the fruit of the
Spirit is neither miraculous or supernatural.

I've gone thru the items listed at Gal 5:22-23 and don't see anything
unusual about any of them. They're all do-able if only Christians make up
their minds to be good people.

It's called the Spirit's fruit because it comes to pass whenever He's
successful at urging Christians to do as God says instead of whatever they
please.

● Phil 2:13 . . For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his
good pleasure.

The Spirit's urgings are not always successful; in point of fact, sometimes
His urgings are stubbornly resisted.

● 1Thess 5:19 . . Do not quench the Spirit

● Heb 3:7-8 . . So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, do
not harden your hearts
_

Actually the Fruit of the Spirit is developed through much affliction, infirmities and trials
Remembering that God does not make the old man better but we are to consider him dead.
Through life's tribulations we are confronted with our weaknesses and become more dependent on God's strength. Creating in us a new man, more faithful, more prayerful, more thankful.
The story of Paul reflects this, all that he went through was to mold that new man the Lord wanted to shape.
Many times the Lord has to break us in order to fix us.
Alot of saints believe its automatically done when we except Christ ...not so ...it is done through out our lives God's new creation in us.

John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Galatians 5:

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.


As pointed out in this thread, there is no "fix" for the flesh (the old man), so God creates the "new man" within the believer at the time he/she is born again. The "new man" is spiritual in nature and the "new man" is housed in our "earthen vessel" that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Cor 4:7).

As we "walk in the Spirit" we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and the result will be the spiritual fruit described in Gal 5:22-23.

However, if we live in light of who we were before we were born again (the old man), the works of the flesh will be evidenced in our lives (Gal 5:19-21).

While it appears the fruit of the Spirit described in Gal 5:22-23 is neither miraculous or supernatural (as pointed out by Webers.Home), it is spiritual in nature and not fleshly.


The fruit of the Spirit love is not the same as the "love" we see in the world. There are different Greek words which are translated into the English word "love". In Gal 5:22, the Greek word is agapē. It refers to divine love. This love "means unconquerable benevolence. It means that no matter what a man may do to us by way of insult or injury or humiliation we will never seek anything else but his highest good. It describes the deliberate effort – which we can make only with the help of God – never to seek anything but the best even for those who seek the worst for us." (Barclay)


The fruit of the Spirit joy is joy due to the awareness of God's grace. This joy is not the emotion of "happiness" (which is dependent upon circumstances). Even in the most difficult of times, we can hold this joy in our hearts because we have experienced and know God's grace … we know the Lord Jesus Christ walks with us in our trials. The joy of the believer "comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from Whose they are; not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord" (Spurgeon). Fruit of the spirit joy allows us to have joy internally even as we are experiencing tremendous difficulty externally.


The fruit of the Spirit peace is more than just an absence of conflict. It is peace between God and the believer and because of this, it is a peace that permeates the life of the believer in all aspects. This peace means "not just freedom from trouble but everything that makes for a man's highest good. Here it means that tranquility of heart which derives from the all-pervading consciousness that our times are in the hands of God" (Barclay). [John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.] Thayer's defines this peace as "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is". Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.


The fruit of the Spirit patience holds us in check so that we do not rush to anger. We become long-suffering to slights inflicted on us by others. Patience is self-restraint and keeps us from reacting in an improper manner. "Longsuffering is that quality which enables a person to bear adversity, injury, reproach, and makes them patient to wait for the improvement of those who have done him wrong." (Luther). "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation, which does not retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy, and is used of God. It is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; It is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope" (Vines)


The fruit of the Spirit kindness is Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need and avoids human harshness (HELPS Word-studies). Kindness can overlook other people's faults and cover them up. Kindness gives in to others. Kindness can get along with inconsiderate and difficult persons. Kindness signifies not merely goodness as a quality ... it is goodness in action, goodness expressing itself in deeds. Kindness is not goodness expressing itself in indignation against sin, but in grace and tenderness and compassion.


The fruit of the Spirit goodness is goodness that comes from God. It is moral excellence, uprightness of heart and life. Goodness is similar to kindness and it signifies moral quality. It is a desire to be and to do good. It is different than kindness in that goodness includes sterner qualities by which doing good to others is not necessarily by gentle means. To understand the difference between kindness and goodness, look at Jesus Christ and His treatment of the people He came in contact with. He was kind to sinners [woman accused of adultery] but He also did not back down when He denounced the scribes and Pharisees ["ye are of your father, the devil"].


The fruit of the Spirit faith is persuasion; moral conviction, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; AND constancy in such profession (Strong's Greek Dictionary); "conviction or belief" respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it; Fidelity, faithfulness; the character of one who can be relied on (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). It means "staying firm and undaunted in persecutions." It means having the genuine courage to be different, and stand out like a sore thumb within a crowd. It means not caving in to ridicule, when ridicule abounds. It means not deviating to the right or to the left, no matter what pressures and persecutions come our way. It means having the kind of undaunted character that Christ had -- Who was willing to stay faithful unto death.


The fruit of the Spirit meekness is an inner strength which reveals itself in gentle humbleness. Meekness is not weakness. It is an inherent strength produced in the believer. It is spiritual fruit. Qualities of meekness:

• First and foremost, meekness is to be submissive to God, to His commandments and to His judgments, knowing that what He permits in our life is wise, just and good.
• To be meek means to be submissive to humans who have authority over us, because God wants it so.
• Meekness means to be gentle with people that deserve a harsh approach.
• Being meek means being humble and gentle and respectful with the less knowledgeable, the less intelligent, the less capable.
• To be meek means being gentle with angry, aggressive types.
• Meekness means knowing when not to be "assertive".

The fruit of the Spirit temperance is strength worked within (not strength from within our natural abilities). Temperance works within us to keep us in control over our desires and passions. Self-control is worked in us and it prevents us from being attracted to worldly influences that would have us turn from the Lord Jesus Christ to what the world offers. Self-control helps us keep our priorities straight so that we stay on course and our focus remains fixed on God.


And, as pointed out in this thread, as we abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, much fruit will be evidenced in our lives. Not because of anything we do, but because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

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● Matt 7:15-20 . . Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits.

. . . Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

. . . A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring
forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire.

. . .Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

God is often accused of cruelty and unkindness. They say He's a monster; a
bad person. But as I look thru that list of attributes and characteristics in
post No.1, all I see is a good tree; i.e. the Spirit's fruit is all good fruit, none
bad at all.

● Ps 34:8 . . O taste and see that The Lord is good
_

This deliberate effort COULDN'T by any definition (GASP),be considered WORKS, could it?

OH NO! SAY IT AIN'T SO! SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Don't let the NOT BY WORKS OSAS crowd hear ya sayin' this!

And, it's only made possible with the HELP of God?

Go figure!


(too long...cont'd next page)

Someone stated you’re childish.
I see no proof of that whatsoever.

NayborBear said:

Don't let the NOT BY WORKS OSAS crowd hear ya sayin' this!

Click to expand...

fruit of the Spirit is fruit of the Spirit ... salvation is salvation

I do believe, though, that only those who are born again will have fruit of the Spirit exhibited in their lives. Those who are not born again will have works of the flesh exhibit in their lives. And born again believers who do not walk in the Spirit but instead fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16) will also exhibit works of the flesh rather than fruit of the Spirit.

btw ... how did fruit of the Spirit turn into a OSAS issue?