FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
The fruit of the Spirit is singular not
plural in the Greek language, thus it is not “fruits” of the Spirit but
“fruit” of the Spirit: a cluster of fruit manifest as “love, joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness and temperance.”
(Galatians 5:22-23)
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Love
is the Greek word agape meaning a God-like kind of love, initiative
love.
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John
13:35 “ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another.”
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Romans
13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.”
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I
Corinthians 13:1-13 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
and have not love…Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the
greatest of these is love.”
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I John
4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
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Joy
is the Greek word chara meaning the joy of the presence of God, which
is different from happiness that depends upon circumstances.
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John
15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your joy might be full.”
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Acts
16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praise unto God:”
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I
Thessalonians 1:6 “Joy of the Holy Ghost.”
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Hebrews
12:2 “Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
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Peace
is the Greek word eirene meaning rest, inner quietness and calmness.
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Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
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Long-Suffering is the Greek word makrothumia
meaning patience and forbearance in the presence of wrong or
persecution, slowness to take offense.
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Gentleness is the Greek word chrestotes
meaning tender as a mother with a child, controlled strength, kindness.
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Ephesians
4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
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Goodness
is the Greek word agathosune meaning goodness of God, benevolent,
generous, virtuous, valuable, beautiful, of great worth, find no fault.
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Acts
11:24 Barnabas is described as “a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith.”
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Faith
is the Greek word pistis meaning trust, relying upon, grace to rest
in God, free from care and anxiety.
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Hebrews
11:1 “Now faith is the substance of the things hoped for, and the evidence
of things not seen.”
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Meekness
is the Greek word praiotes meaning
mildness, controlled strength in our relationship with others.
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II
Corinthians 10:1 “I beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.”
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Temperance is the Greek word egkrateia
meaning restraint, self-control or more accurately, Spirit-control.
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II Peter
1:6 “Add to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;”
This fruit cluster is the
result of our abiding in Jesus and He is in us as a branch abides in the
Vine. As we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives, we will bear much
fruit that will glorify God.
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