Calvary Pointers Morning Showers 07 August 2023 Devotional by Reverend Ajisafe Opeyemi - Possessing The Fruit Of The Spirit
Possessing The Fruit Of The Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
There are nine gifts, but one fruit of the Spirit. It’s interesting because Paul doesn’t call it nine fruits of the Spirit, but he names nine characteristics and calls them the fruit.
Compare that with the works of the flesh (plural) and the fruit of the Spirit (singular). These nine character qualities of the Holy Spirit develop at the same time.
This fruit is what He produces. In our own strength, we can work on one trait of the fruit of the Spirit at the expense of another.
When we work on patience, we tend to lose sight of gentleness. Or if we get better at long-suffering, we may lose joy. That is our best work and without the Holy Spirit, it’s nothing short of the work of the flesh.
I can’t work on all of the fruit of the Spirit at once. I have a hard time remembering all nine characteristics of the Spirit, and that’s why this is called the fruit of the Spirit.
It’s not the fruit of my efforts. It’s not my work. If this would come as a result of my efforts, it would be called the fruit of efforts, not the fruit of the Spirit.
Fruit is not developed by striving. Trees don’t strive to produce fruit. It’s intimacy with the Holy Spirit that brings fruit. Therefore, we don’t work on our fruit; we work on our relationship with Him, and fruit comes as a result.
This may come as a shock to some but we are not called to work on our character. We are called to work on our relationship with the Holy Spirit, and He will work on our character in return.
God is interested in spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
Life filled with the Holy Spirit is not you trying to live for God but letting the Holy Spirit live through you. We receive salvation when we believe that Jesus died in our place on the cross, but do you know how character is developed?
It results when you surrender to the Holy Spirit and let Him live in your place! Yes, let Him live His life through you. Salvation came when Jesus died in our place, but sanctification comes when we let Jesus live in our place.
Of course, it’s easier for most of us to let Jesus die for us than to let Him live in our place. The second part requires surrender.
We so often replace surrender with striving. Striving produces the work of the flesh; surrender produces the fruit of the Spirit.
Christian character will not be developed as a result of striving but as a result of surrendering. Stop trying harder. Start yielding to the Holy Spirit daily. Yield to Him the areas of your character where you are weak and constantly fail.
Whenever temptation presents itself for you to act out of character, at that moment follow the Holy Spirit away from sin. You will sense His prompting; don’t grieve Him by ignoring His whisper. The goal is not holiness but the Holy Spirit.
He will bring us to holiness when we follow Him. He is the goal; He is not a means to a goal. I am not using the Holy Spirit to get holy; I am wholly surrendered to the Holy Spirit. I can’t live holy without the Holy Spirit. His fruit produces holiness in me.
Good Morning. Do have a pleasant day!
MORNING SHOWERS Today, 07 August 2023 was written by Reverend Ajisafe Opeyemi; is the founder and Senior Pastor of Calvary Pointers Covenant Church situated at Block C, Road A, Unity Estate, Gbaga Bus Stop, by Ijede Rd, Ikorodu Lagos,Nigeria