The Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness…” Galatians 5:22

Goodness is not an external activity but the expression of the condition of one’s heart nor is it a means of salvation [good works] but the evidence of our faith and communion with God. It is not compatible with anger, bitterness, hatred, malice, gossip and evil speaking. These characteristics also negate love, joy, peace, longsuffering and gentleness. The list of the fruits of the Spirit begins “but the fruit of the Spirit” to demonstrate the contrast between the works of the flesh list in the previous verses and the fruit of the Spirit listed here.

Goodness is a moral quality indicated by being good in character or constitution producing that which is beneficial. Goodness involves the active promotion of truth and righteousness. It is more than a kindly disposition; it is the kindly action that needs to find full expression toward others.

One can express goodness through generosity, hospitality and by visiting others. We need to realize these activities involve more than just doing them. Apostle Peter tells us to show hospitality “without grudging.” Our last post dealt with gentleness, the presence of a kind disposition toward others while goodness refers to kind activity on their behalf.

The Psalmist said, “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” [33:5]. Goodness is a characteristic of the Lord that the Spirit of God wants us to emulate in dealing with others as the Lord has dealt with us.

For a free copy of the booklet Fruit of the Spirit or other free booklets go to: http://www.hopetriumphant.com/free_literature.htm

Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness…” Galatians 5:22


In today’s world gentleness is seen as weakness or being a sissy. Again this particular fruit of the Spirit takes courage and strength of character not to strive or be contentious, act with malice, be envious and/or speak evil of others but it takes spiritual backbone to do otherwise.

The characteristics of gentleness are being able to act with mercy warmed with love and to act with compassion and kindness in the treatment of others. It is to treat others the way God treats us and treating others the way you would want them to treat you. Jesus said, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…” [Matthew 7:12]. Gentle people have a mild temper, calm spirit and an unselfish disposition.

Like all the other fruit of the Spirit gentleness is not a natural disposition but the result of the inner working of the Holy Spirit. As child of God gentleness, like all the other fruit of the Spirit, is NOT an option. We have been commanded to be gentle.

What can you do to learn gentleness? You can recognize your weakness, ask God for wisdom, have faith in God that He will do His part, pray for a gentle spirit, read the Word of God and look for ways to practice gentleness.

Reminder: Character is what you are when not one is looking.

For a free copy of the booklet Fruit of the Spirit or other free booklets go to: http://www.hopetriumphant.com/free_literature.htm

Fruit of the Spirit - Longsuffering

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace…” Galatians 5:22

We are told in I Corinthians 13 that love not only suffers but suffers long. Longsuffering is the ability to be steadfast under provocation. It is the ability to suffer ill treatment without anger or thought of revenge and the ability to be patient in adverse circumstances.

God is longsuffering toward us in that He has withheld judgment while giving us a chance to repent [1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9]. The greatest example of longsuffering was demonstrated by Jesus Christ toward those who crucified Him. Not only did He demonstrate longsuffering by His actions but also in word –“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

God’s Word tells us we are to be longsuffering toward one another [Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12] without exception. How do you deal with those who treat you wrongly? Do you curse them or do you treat them as Jesus treated those who crucified them. Peter tells that Jesus did not threaten them or rail against them. It take a person of great character and strength NOT threaten, harm, rail against or curse people who treat us wrongly. It is the weak person who retaliates in one form or another.

Remember love suffers long. The right response could change your marriage, your work environment or the way you chose to deal with everyday people you come into contact. Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit and verification of a strong person.

Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” Galatians 5:22

A painter was commissioned to paint a picture of peace. He went to work and created an idyllic scene of a quit brook running through a quiet pasture highlighted by a beautiful sunlit blue sky. At the side of the picture was a large tree with a bird sitting upon one of the branches. When the picture was completed, it was delivered to the man who commissioned it. He looked at it and said that is not a picture of peace. You need a raging brook under a dark stormy lightening filled sky with the wind blowing so hard the tree is bending under its force with the bird sitting quietly on the branch. That is a picture of peace.

Peace is not due to outward constantly changing circumstances. Peace is the result of a personal relationship with the unchanging Lord of the universe. Paul said in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Before a person can find peace in this world, he needs to make his peace with God. Once that has taken place, we can know the peace of God in all the difficult circumstances of life. Isaiah the prophet said, “thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” [26:3]. Having made peace with God first, we can then begin to make peace with those around us and the circumstances of life.

Peace is defined as “the perfect contentment of being right in a right relationship with God, with others and with oneself.” Why is this possible? Our God is able to use all circumstances in life for our good and His glory. You see, God is wise, therefore He knows what is best for us; loving, therefore nothing will be allowed that will harm us; and omnipotent, therefore nothing will be so great He cannot handle it.

The key to peace is twofold. One is to know God and two, being able to trust God in ALL circumstances of life. The ability to trust God is demonstrated by our willingness to obey God and do right.

It is important to note that love is foundational to peace. In John 14, Jesus speaks of our need to love God and keep His words and follows it with a reminder of His peace when Jesus said, “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.” [14:27] That is the real problem, the peace that comes from God is foreign to the world it cannot understand it nor enjoy it.

Recently I fell and severed my quad tendon. I had to have surgery, then the last seven weeks in a brace and finally therapy. The doctored told me it would 9 – 12 months before my leg would be normal. In all this I experienced the peace of God because I trust Him and know what has been allowed is for my good even though I don’t understand it now. I know I will be able to look back one day and see the marvelous hand of God at work during this difficult time.

Do you know this kind of peace in your life? If not turn to Jesus Christ and make your peace with God. For help and more information go free literature link at http://www.hopetriumphant.com/.

Fruit of the Spirit - Joy

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy…” [Galatians 5:22]

The dictionary definition of joy tells us that joy is an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something good or satisfying. In contrast, the Bible teaches us that joy is not a fleeting happiness or spiritual giddiness but an inward consistent satisfaction, a deep inner contentment. The dictionary’s definition tells us that joy is based upon circumstances which are ever changing while the Biblical concept of joy is based upon our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Joy is possible in spite of circumstances because we realize the events of life are not the result of blind fate, chance or luck. Our joy recognizes that with God all of life’s events have purpose. James said, “...count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ” [James 1:2] and then Paul said we are to “rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice” [Philippians 4:4].

If anyone understood this concept it would have been the Apostle Paul. He endured beatings, stoning, imprisonments, shipwrecks and much more during his life. He was able to say “rejoice in the Lord always.” He understood that whatever happened to him was for his ultimate good and God’s glory. His joy was based upon his relationship with Jesus Christ not his circumstances.

“Far from being a product of circumstances, joy is ‘spiritual fruit,’ caused not by anything but rather a Person – God Himself.” [Kenneth A. Epp]

Fruit of the Spirit - Love

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love…” Galatians 5:22

Love is the first fruit mentioned. We need to express love for God and man. In this context, the object of love is man. The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us into greater conformity the person of Jesus Christ. The greater our conformity to the person of Jesus Christ, the more we glorify God.

What does it mean to love others as God loves us? Paul makes reference to this when he said in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.” Christ’s love for the church is evident in that He laid down His life for it. His love was self-sacrificing. All through my ministry, I used the following definition for the love God wants us to demonstrate toward others. “Love is doing what best for others regardless of the cost or response.” In this definition we move from emotional aspect of human love to love as a volitional act. God commands us to love others. You cannot command one’s emotions but you can command one to act volitionally. Love is a choice to do what is best for another person.

Even though people reject God’s offer of salvation, He still loves them. He loved them so much that He sent His only begotten son to die on Calvary for their sin. No greater cost in the demonstration of love can be seen anywhere. He knew men would reject the offer of salvation but He still acted in love that they might have the opportunity to be saved and enjoy eternal life. You see, love is not a respecter of persons. He said what we were and what we did was wrong, yet He still loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.

Love that is a fruit of the Spirit speaks the truth in love and calls sin what it is sin. Love does what is best for another person, regardless who or what they are, knowing full well people will reject our love demonstrations and reject the gospel. In spite of this our love for others should have no limits and no end.

Love is the essence of the Law. Jesus said that the great commandment of the law is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your souls and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Matthew 22:37 – 39 NKJV]

What adjustments do you need to be in greater conformity to the love which comes from God?

Ramblings on the Fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22, 23

The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in the believer’s life is the result of one’s willingness to walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit has been defined as an act of conducting oneself, ordering one’s life in subjection to the Holy Spirit of God. To accomplish this we surrender our will to do His will and allow Him to direct our lives in harmony with the clear teaching of God’s Word. This requires that we allow the disciplines of the Christian life to have a profound impact upon our lives.

Just because we practice the Christian disciplines – prayer, Bible reading, Bible memorization, etc does not make us spiritual beings. The Christian disciplines are not an end in themselves but stepping stones to the life God wants to live in and through us. In other words, they are the means by which the fruit of the Spirit is produced in us.

This highlights a very basic truth regarding the fruit of the Spirit. They are not natural to the human experience. Yes, the human experience knows love, joy, etc but each one is tainted by man’s sin nature and in no way compare to wonderful manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. The human experience of these characteristics apart from the work of the Holy Spirit is flawed and fleeting.

The Holy Spirit’s ultimate goal is the development of godly character in the believer. Character is who you are and what you do is an expression of your character even when no one but God is looking. As we look at the fruit of the Spirit, we will be looking at nine characteristics that are essential elements of maturity.

It is important to note that the individual fruit of the Spirit, nine in all, are never fully developed within the believer’s life. Having grown in love, you will always need to grow more in love. The process never stops this side of eternity. The same can be said for the other fruit of the Spirit.

We must not make the mistake to think spiritual maturity consist of the development of these nine characteristics alone. As you study the Word of God you will realize that there are other characteristics that are essential. Most likely you will be able to see each of these characteristic as a par to one of these nine. For example, I would put on the list the need to be compassionate but compassion is not something separate from love but an integral part of love.

Another thought before we end to today’s blog. While there is an integral unity among the various fruits of the Spirit [demonstrated by the Scriptural title fruit of the Spirit], the various individual fruits of the Spirit must be present in the believer’s life but they will not all be equally developed.

Our next posting will explore the first mentioned fruit of love.

Silence Before God

Silence in the presence of God gives God an opportunity to speak to us and through our silence we speak to God. Often in prayer, we spend most of our time talking to God about what concerns us. As a result, we fail to perceive what matters most to God.

How important is it to spend time in silence before God? Just before Jesus was betrayed, Matthew tells us that "he fell on his face, and prayed...he went away again, the second time and prayed...went away again, and prayed the third time" Matthew 26:39, 42, 44). Three separate times of prayer each time according to Matthew and Luke lasted about an hour. What was the content of Jesus' prayer during these three hours of prayer? "O, my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39). Matthew records that Jesus prayed these same basic words three times.

Take a moment and read the content of Jesus' prayer. Read it slowly. Time yourself. No matter how slowly you read what Jesus prayed the time is about 15 seconds. Now what did Jesus pray for the other 59 minutes and 45 seconds? Let's consider the options.

One, the words recorded are a synopsis of his prayer that was about an hour in time. This doesn't seem to be a likely explanation in light of the way Matthew records the content of Jesus' prayer. Two, it is part of His prayer. It was all the disciples heard before falling asleep. Again the context in Matthew also negates this possibility. The third possible explanation is that the words recorded by Matthew are the entire content of what He prayed. That means for 59 minutes and 45 seconds Jesus was silent in the presence of His Father.

Why the silence? First, it was a silence of confirmation. He knew the will of the Father. There was no need to continue in prayer. Second, there was the Father's silence, the silence of affirmation. The Son's mission did not change because of the character of the Father. He is immutable, unchanging.

Finally, we have the silence of the Son in response to His Father's silence. His silence indicated trust. His Father would keep His word. He promised to resurrect His Son and to exalt Him (Hebrews 12:1,2). There is intimacy in silence. "My Father" is the way He addressed the Father. We are only comfortable with silence when we are in the presence of someone we know in an intimate way. Finally there was in Jesus' silence an attitude of submission. No need to continue to plead in an attempt to change the Father's mind. He knew the Father's will and His loving response was to be obedient.

It is important that we learn to wait in silence when we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father. There is a time to speak but the is also a very important place for silence. Silence can be more articulate that words.