Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

“It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to produce the fruit that’s in our lives.” Dr. D’Ann V. Johnson.

 

We do not have the ability to produce fruit, but we can cultivate the soil so that what the Holy Spirit plants in us will grow. We must treat, nourish and care for the soil to make it conducive for the Holy Spirit to produce fruit.

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How do we cultivate this in our lives?

 

Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5: 16-18)

Walking in the spirit means something continuous in our lives. When we are living under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives inside of us to have victories over our wants/lusts – setting of the heart for what is forbidden. The more we walk in the spirit, the more we do not fulfill our wants or lusts.

(Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 7:18)

Once we walk in the spirit, we must yield to the Holy Spirit and allow it to guide and lead us. To lead is to accompany to a place; attach one to another.

 

 Crucify the Flesh (Galatians 5:19)

There are 16 categories or expressions of the works of the flesh: 3 sexual expressions, 2 spiritual expressions, 2 behavioral expressions and 9 relational expressions. The scripture gives examples of those expressions.

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The key to crucifying the flesh – in every choice we must:

Reckon ourselves dead to it.

Not let sin reign.

Draw near to God.

In other words, in every choice, we must judge the matter and draw a logical conclusion, consider the outcome and put the action in a debit or credit column.  Where do your actions fall? Will this bring about unity or division. (Romans 6:11-14)

 

In closing, sin speaks a dead language.

“You must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your life….Throw yourself full-time into God’s way of living.” – Dr. D’Ann V. Johnson.