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How can I grow the Fruits of the Spirit in my life?

Robert Seklemian, a Bible Student Elder and former JW speaks on the Fruit of the Spirit of Love and helps show how are can develop this fruit in our lives.  Hear this discussion by clicking below.

Fruit Of The Spirit

In an interesting issue of THE HERALD Magazine, a list of Christian attributes are treated. These are the ones listed as “fruits of the spirit” by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22,23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Individual articles treat each of these spiritual “fruits.” These are given as replacements for a long list of “works of the flesh” which include such negative characteristics as adultery, idolatry, hatred, wrath, envyings, and drunkenness.     Read more by clicking on this link:

10 comments to How can I grow the Fruits of the Spirit in my life?

  • greg (Bible Student)

    Especially with regard to the fruitage of the spirit, I perceive there to be a HUGE difference between letter of the law and spirit of the law. I cannot simply glue apples on a tree and then consider that to be proof that it is an apple tree. However, if I nurture and cultivate and tend the tree, it will bear fruit all of it’s own accord, and then I will KNOW what kind of tree it is. (Matt 7:15-20, and in particular verse 17)

    Most JW’s I know have been tricked into trying to “DO” the fruit, but they don’t nurture the tree because they don’t even know how to. So the fruit is empty, proves nothing, does little or nothing to nourish themselves or others. They seem to focus solely on the works (letter of the law) as if that proves their faith (spirit of the law), when in fact if they focused on the development of their Christ-like personalities, the works would arise OUT of that improved personality. As it is, they often hold tightly the conviction that their works are sufficient evidence (at least to themselves) of their faith. I see that as “having a ‘form’ of godly devotion, but proving false to it’s power.” (2 Tim 3:5)

    I particularly like the New Living Translation (NLT) wording of 2 Tim 3:5: “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

    And the New English Translation (NET): “They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.”

    Nope, for me, I look at my works, my “fruitage” as a kind of health check. “How am I doing spiritually? Well, WHAT kinds of things am I doing spiritually?”

    I don’t try to feign works to impress others. “Look what I’m doing! See! That’s proof of HOW I’m doing!”

    Most of the JW’s I know look through the wrong end of the telescope when they look at the scripture that says, “Faith without works is dead.” It seems to me that they believe that works can artificially resuscitate and maintain faith, and make it alive. But for me, faith that is truly alive will simply move one to fine works.

    I guess another way of illustrating my picture might be that keeping my heart pumping doesn’t make me alive. But if I’m alive, you can be sure my heart is going to be busy working hard.

    Granted, it can be all to easy to get confused about the true nature and sequence of the cause and effect relationship.

  • Sherry

    Try Ep. 4:14-18

  • ellen ndlovu

    thank you so much for teaching me about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. I am a woman who had a challenge with the husband who I just got married to him recently, after wedding he disappeared,now after reading this I was revived.

    God bless

  • kevindavis

    we must love our brothers and the world God loves all of us but many in world want be saved

    • Jacqueline

      Kevindavis welcome. To reply we need clarification. Do you mean “many in the world want to Be saved”? OR “Many in world WON”T be saved? Also if it is the last one, when do you feel they won’t be saved? What time period? At armageddon or after the thousand years or during? We would be able to better dialog with you if we clearly understand what you are saying. Take Care. Jacqueline

  • Anonymous

    To Alex g;

    To understand fruit or fruits is very important. Jesus used it to help people. Mt 7:15,16,”‘Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits.” NJB Jeus does use it more but that one is of most immportance, for none want that to happen to them.

    One who had walked in the faith but left did cause Paul some problems. And Paul warned others of that one. “Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.” 2 Tim 4:15 NEB

    Henry

  • Question. the bible clearly says fruit with no s as a single fruit and you have as more than one. Plural “fruits” so….. could it be that it is one fruit that contains the nutrients: love, peace, joy, and so on…. what do you think?

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Alex g – For Galatians 5:22, the word fruit is defines by the NAS Greek Lexicon like this: “2590. karpov karpos; a prim. word; fruit:— NAS-benefit (2), crop (5), crops (2), descendants* (1), fruit (43), fruitful (1), fruits (4), grain (1), harvest (1), proceeds (1), produce (4), profit (1).”

      The Weymouth translation reads this way, for Gal 5:22, “The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence;”

      I think the idea is that the Holy Spirit yields a harvest of fruit.

      You bring up an interesting question. Perhaps others will have more to add.

    • Cazenovi (Bible Student)

      Discussions of the Fruitage of the Spirit are of my particular interest, this is exactly why..

      God’s vast spectrum of qualities and attributes make up his spirit, his divine nature. Fruit contains elements that nurture us physically. Take one fruit say be it an apple or pear. Each of those has over 7,000 varieties individually.

      The Fruit of God’s Spirit individually has a foundation of Love. Because God is Love, it is his dominant attribute. Next are Wisdom, Justice, and Power.

      How many colors are there? Starting with the primary colors, the imperfect human eyes can see only about 7 million. Computers display some 16.8 million. Then theres infrared, ultraviolet, biotranslucent etc that humans cannot see. There could easily be hundreds of millions of colors all together! Get the point?

      God’s qualities when combined, begets yet another quality. And we only can comprehend just a few. When in the Divine Nature we will be able to truly be in the likeness of God as we spend eternity with our heavenly father! How thankful and blessed are we that although fallen flesh we can yet develop and cultivate but a few of his divine qualities.

      Agape in Christ,
      Cazenovi

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