The fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self-control, patience, and faithfulness in us – is one of the greatest blessings that can ever take place in our life on this earth. Let us look a little more deeply into each fruit of the Spirit.
The Love
The Word of God reminds us that as we walk in the love of God, we abide in God. So it’s important that we walk in love, away from resentment, bitterness, and hatred.
“… God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them,” (1 John 4:16).
Naturally, it is very difficult to walk in the love of God in our own strength. It is easy to love those who do good to us. But to love those who do not do good to us is another thing. And to forgive those who have destroyed our lives is actually beyond us. We cannot do it in our own strength.
The Love of God is patient, kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This is the love God wants us to walk in – being patient, kind, un-envious, un-boastful, humble, not insisting on our own way, being un-resentful, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things.
It is possible to walk in the love of God as we learn to walk in the power of the Spirit; as we allow ourselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, the love of God will manifest in us when we need it.
“… and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us,” (Romans 5:5).
As we learn to stay filled with the Holy Spirit, as we learn to walk after the Spirit, we will learn to walk in the love of God every time.
“Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters…,” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).
The Holy Spirit within us teaches us to love one another. And as we yield to the Spirit in different situations, we become perfected in the love of God.
The Joy
There is a joy that the Holy Spirit releases in us when we go through accusations and slander. And that joy is tangible.
“… you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit…,” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
Even in the midst of persecution, the apostles rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer humiliation for the sake of the name of Jesus! It is humanly impossible to rejoice like that, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to do so.
Our life is a life of great inner joy even in the midst of suffering and pain. Even when we are let down and abused, even when we are misunderstood. It is a joy released in us by the Holy Spirit, to overcome inner pain and conflicting situations.
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 13:52).
The joy of the Lord will be our strength in our troubled times. You don’t have to be afraid of accusations, slander, or misunderstandings. If you are walking in the Spirit, His joy will be there.
“For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 14:17).
We can pray consistently only when there is that joy in our hearts. St. Paul says, “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you ….” (Philippians 1:3-4).
The joy of the Spirit gives us excitement in serving the Living God. We can tirelessly work for God when there is that joy in our hearts. It is this joy that keeps us going.
One beautiful example of years of running the race that God placed before him is the story of Br. Jamie. Br. Jamie is the stage coordinator of the Malayalam Retreat Hall at Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala. He has been doing this since the beginning! Over 25 years have passed by! He arrives at 5:30 am and continues till 11:00 pm every day of the year! It is literally impossible to go on every day from early morning to late night for 25 years, without the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord makes this happen.
The Peace
There is a supernatural peace that God wants to release in us in difficult times. And this is the peace that the world cannot give and also which the world cannot understand.
The Holy Bible tells us that, “… he will be the stability of your times …,” (Isaiah 33:6). God becomes our stability in our life by giving us His peace.
Jesus said, “My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives,” (John 14:27). The peace that Jesus gives is not like the world gives; the peace that the world gives will disappear when situations change. But the peace that Jesus gives will remain even though situations change.
It is the God of peace that crushes Satan under our feet. Peace is a powerful weapon that defeats Satan in our life. Restlessness can lead us to wrong decision-making. The peace of God keeps us safe.
“For the God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet,” (Romans 16:20).
When God gives us peace within us, Satan and his plans get crushed in our life. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you,” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). The Word of God tells us that the peace of God guards our hearts.
As we learn to walk in the Lord, we will know the peace of God in our life. When various situations rise around us and we hear news that is bad, at those moments the peace of the Spirit will take over our minds and hearts. Literally at that moment, we will know the peace of God. And that will make us calm in that crazy situation.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:7).
It is important that the peace of God guards our heart and mind. As we learn to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, we will know the peace of God in our life. If you are not able to know peace in turbulent times, then you need to check your walk with God.
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace,” (Romans 8:6).
Walking in the Peace of God
God is raising many people who will walk in the peace of God in the midst of bad situations. They will know the God of peace in their lives, and through them, countless others. It being infectious, it will pass on all around, like a deluge of blessings.
