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Fruit of the Spirit

One has to ask themselves how does the Holy Spirit produce fruit?  What is the process to bring forth that fruit?

In the scriptures, Apostle Paul tells us about the nine fruits, but searching further, there are actually twelve fruits. 

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. (Galatians 5:22-24). 

Two more are found in Ephesians. 

for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth
(Ephesians 5:9)

One more in Hebrews.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrew 13:15)

How do we get the characteristic of these fruits? We have to make sure we have the right seed and not the wrong seed.

How do we get the characteristic of these fruits? We have to make sure we have the right seed and not the wrong seed. There are two seeds that have been at war with each other since the beginning. These two seeds started an opposition against each other back in Genesis with Eve in the garden when she was beguiled by Satan.  

And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel.” (Galatians 4:4)

The war is between the function of the seeds. Two totally different characteristics. One is truth, one is lies; one is light, one is darkness; one is dead letter understanding that brings death to the soul and one is a spiritual deeper understanding that brings life to the soul. So it’s God’s Word and Satan’s word that is in opposition to one another.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11).

What is a parable? Parables are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. Jesus spoke them to the people and without them, He did not speak. Why? He was trying to teach them a deeper understanding of what they were hearing. He is saying I am the seed because I am the Word. What is the Word it is God.

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word [Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God (John 1:1-2). 

The seeds carry the DNA of the fruit. That is where the character comes from. Seed in Hebrew is the word “zera” meaning fruit, sowing, semen, seed of righteousness or carnality, conceive. Jesus is the one who wants to come and impregnate your soul with His truth so you will grow into a deeper understanding of the secrets and mysteries of Scripture so that you will become that tree of life that bears spiritual fruit. Fruits of the Spirit. Not just by kind of fruit but fruits worthy of repentance. Repentance is not just saying sorry to the Lord but it is a change of lifestyle. You are walking away from your old ways that natural, carnal way of thinking and pressing into having the character or attributes of Jesus by killing those fleshly desires that are within you. When you die to self and come alive to the truth, there will be a transformation in your soul.

Repent [change your inner self–your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek god’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2) 

Early church father Ignatius wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians… the tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those who profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. 

The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so those who profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognized by their conduct. 

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31) 

Another early church father Clement wrote, “For speech is the fruit of the mind.” [1]

Also, Barnabas wrote,

“Furthermore, what saith He in reference to the Son? ‘His water is sure; ye shall see the King in His glory and your soul shall meditate on the fear of the Lord.” And again He saith in another prophet,’ The man who doeth these things shall be like a tree planted by the course of waters, which shall yield its fruit in due season; and his leaf shall not fade, and all that he doeth shall prosper.” [2]

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is recognized and judged by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

To have fruit there must be a tree. Torah is the Tree of Life. Torah is God. Torah is a pattern so the fruit must follow the pattern. The fruit must fit God’s pattern, His divine plan. Now, there is another tree that bears fruit that is not from God. Satan has a tree too, and it is one of destruction and death. He wants to destroy our relationship with Jesus. 

For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45)

Early church father Ignatius wrote, “Flee, therefore, those evil shoots [of Satan], which produce death-bearing fruit, whereof if any one tastes, he instantly dies. For these men are not planting of the Father. For if they were, they would appear as branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible.” [3] Another early church father Origen wrote, “Christ and His disciples had for their fruit, not deceit, but the salvation of human souls.” [4]

“Christ and His disciples had for their fruit, not deceit, but the salvation of human souls.”

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us achieve and overcome the desires that war within us. Helping us in the battle to overcome our flesh so we walk in the ways of Jesus. Take on His character and function. We become alive in Christ when we bear the fruit of the Spirit that comes from a deeper understanding of truth and seeing the Word from a spiritual meaning and not a dead letter meaning. To have the logos, the outer shell must be removed, and then we get the rhema of the word hidden in a mystery waiting to be revealed.

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. (John 14:26)

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we strive to be transformed in our body, mind, and soul so that we walk in the character and function of Jesus, whose real name is Yeshua, which means salvation. It is important to search out the scripture with a Hebrew understanding, as English does not give the correct meaning. You will see in reading the definitions below how the words are opened up. Hebrew meaning is always looking for the character and function of the word.                       

The twelve fruits of the spirit are

– Love (Agape) is the unconditional love of God.
– Joy (Chara) is cheerfulness, delight, gladness.
– Peace (Eirene) is prosperity, quietness, security, rest, harmony.
– Longsuffering (Makrothumia) is patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness perseverance, slowness in doing wrong.
– Kindness (Chrestotes) is moral goodness, integrity, useful.
– Goodness (Agathosune) is uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness, having right understanding and living it out.
– Faithfulness (Pistis) is conviction of the truth, conviction of man’s relationship to and trust in God.
– Gentleness (Praotes) is mildness, meekness, humbleness.
– Self-Control (Egkrateia) is virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites.
– Righteousness (Dikaiosune) is correctness of thinking, feeling and acting, doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain approval from God.
– Truth (Aletheia) is respecting the duties of man, opposing superstitions of the Gentiles and inventions of the Jews, and corrupt opinions of false teachers even among the Christians.
– Praise (Ainesis) is offering of thanks. [5]    

When we turn to the Lord with a passion to know Him more intimately, a fire is aroused within our soul. It is an unquenchable desire that burns within. We hunger for more of Him. nothing in this world matters; we only want to be with Him. With the washing and watering of the Word, we will have the mind of Christ so we can walk in His ways by His spirit that will in turn produce the fruit He is looking for. So, we must ask ourselves a question. What kind of fruit am I bearing?

References:
1.Clement-Instructor-Book 2 -Ch 3-7
2. Barabas-Epistle- Part 1
3.Ignatius -Epistle to the Trallians
4.Origen -Against Celsus Book 2-Ch 21-51
5. Michael Petro -Access Behind the Veil; page 92.
6. Scripture reference from the AMP and NKJV Bible versions.

Keywords:
Holy Spirit
Fruit
Tree
Word
Jesus


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