Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

As previously mentioned, the saint must understand the definition of “The Spirit,” before he can truly understand what it means to “be led” of the Spirit, “filled with” the Spirit, “walk in” the Spirit, and many other ‘operations’ that are accomplished by the Spirit. And this is also the case in understanding “the fruit of the Spirit” as well. The way Paul uses the word “Spirit,” in the context of the majority of his writings refers to ‘the Living Word of the Living God,’ and with that being said, the “fruit of the Spirit” refers to the fruit of the Living Word of God. And there is “fruit” produced when the saint ‘walks in’ the Word of God, and is “led by” the Word of God, and “filled with” the Word of God.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Moreover, when the saint allows the Word of God to work effectually within him, he is allowing the Spirit to work effectually within him, and what that ‘produces’ becomes the “fruit,” or the ‘benefits’ of the Word of God working effectually within the saint. And as we see in verse 22 and 23, the Saint has the ability to operate upon those things mentioned in verses 22, and 23 when he allows the Word of God to work effectually within him, and when he does, he will be a ‘partaker,’ and benefit from the fruits thereof. And as the saint continues to “walk” in his Sanctified life in Christ, and not be “led” of his flesh, there will be many things of this lifetime that will come the saint’s way, and he will need the Word of God to ‘save’ him from whatever he is dealing with at that time.

Eph 5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

Eph 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 

Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 

Eph 5:7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 

Eph 5:8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 

Eph 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

Furthermore, whether the saint is dealing with the sufferings of Christ, the sufferings of this present time, or in all aspects of his life; the effectual working of the Spirit within the saint ‘produces’ that Spiritual fruit, and it is by the Holy Word of God that when the saint walks in the Spirit, he will have the benefit of the godly fruit of God’s Word that he will operate upon daily. And when he suffers, the mature Saint would turn to the Word of God, and when he does, he WILL find, and LEARN TO operate upon the “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance” of the Word of God. And the “fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;” this is how we are to view, and to understand the Godly provision that our Father has given us by His effectual Word working “for us.” 

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 

Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 

And it is the effectual working of the Spirit in our lives that will produce the godly fruit in all God’s Goodness, and God’s Righteousness, and in God’s Truth, and only a ‘mature tree’ will be able to bring forth it’s fruit unto the “Husbandman” which planted it. And when we fully understand and appreciate the word “fruit” being used to describe the provision given for us by the Spirit, we are to also know that our Lord also operated upon the fruit of the Spirit, as well as the Apostles. And in our identity in Him, we who desires to “live godly,” will suffer persecution, and we will, just as the Lord suffered, so will all that testifies of Him in all godliness and truth; this is when those “who will live godly” will need the Word of God, and its “fruit.”

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 

Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

Finally, the “new man” who is mature; or “perfect,” is taught by the Spirit to “put on therefore, as the elect of God” the fruit of the Spirit, and allow his inner man to ‘adorn’ the fruit, and this is what Paul teaches in the above verses that the Saints “put on” the doctrine, and “put off” the doctrine of this ungodly and evil world. Perfectness is what our Father desires from the Saints, and that we be “no more children,” but “Sons and Daughters” who are educated by the Spirit, and also find within His Holy Word the Godly Fruit of our Father so that we too will ‘produce’ fruit unto our Father, as we testify of Him, and be perfect in selfless love, and live in His Word, and are “led by” His Word, and “filled with” His Word, and benefit from the fruit of His Holy Word; the Spirit.

Rod Jones