When the Spirit of God is present in someone, it shows up in our character. In other words, the Holy Spirit changes the way we live our life so that it benefits the people around us. Yeshua calls it the 'Fruit of the Spirit', and just like the fruit grown by a tree, it can nourish and sustain people all around it.
It's easy to criticize someone who is not showing us their fruit, but what does that say about our fruit? We all have difficult days and sometimes it can spill over into weeks or months. What are you actively doing to help that one in need? Our deeds (actions) and not our prayers are our fruit. Even the lost reach out to plead for favor from Him in prayer. It is written that we are saved by grace through faith. It is also written that faith without works (our deeds) is dead. And what fruit comes out of a dead tree?
Man has learned that a bountiful harvest was a time of great celebration. Families would gather for dances and other social activities once all the hard work was finished because survival (salvation) was more likely expected than in less fruitful years. Abundant fruit from an orchard is seen as cause for hope and celebration. This concept is easy to see in Spiritual matters as well. Abundant spiritual fruit also breeds hope and is well worth celebrating.
What does the Word say about Fruit of the Spirit?
Matthew 3:8-10: "You must do the things which will show that you really have changed your hearts! Don't think this to yourselves: `Abraham is our father!' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks here. The ax is now ready to cut the trees down. Every tree which does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into fire."
Matthew 7:15-2: "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. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Galatians 5:22-26: "But the Spirit produces: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against things such as these. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their own human nature to crosses, along with feelings and selfish desires. Since we get life from Spirit, we should follow Spirit. We must not be conceited or make trouble for each other. Neither should we be jealous of one another."
Proverbs 10:12: "Hatred stirreth up strife but love covers all offenses."
Proverbs 17:9: "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
Proverbs 18:19 "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle."
Proverbs 25:21-22: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you."
Luke 6:27-35: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 12:9-10: "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
Galatians 5:6: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."
Philippians 1:9-11: "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
1 John 3:14: "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death."
1 John 4:7-21: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
