Produce Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Welcome, Young Believer! When I was studying to write the post on Spiritual Gifts, I found one article that said many people end up conflating Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Fruit in the way that they view how they should live their lives as Christians and recognize other true Believers. I wouldn't have thought of this confusion before, but the way it was explained made total sense so let's make a quick distinction.

Spiritual Gifts - are specific gifts given to Believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip them for building up the Church, serving others, and seeking the Kingdom of God.

Spiritual Fruits - are virtues produced in our character as we seek to follow Christ and be more like HIm.

How Do You Produce Fruit?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17

Now perhaps the reason there has been confusion combining these two concepts is because both are enabled by the Holy Spirit's entrance into our lives at Salvation. Part of becoming a new creation is that the desires of our hearts are transformed to recognize when we are pursuing earthly things or pursuing heavenly things.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:18-21

If you're struggling with any of these things in your life as a Christian still, I don't think by any means that Paul means this as a condemnation but as a call to repentance. As human beings, we will continue to struggle with temptation throughout our lives, but we have been given a Helper in the Holy Spirit to enable to overcome those temptations!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26

Therefore, while you may not immediately recognize someone's Spiritual Gift, you will be able to see by the transformation of their character that they have been saved.

I would encourage you to take a look at your own desires today. Are they honoring to God or are you struggling with some temptations? Bring your struggles before God and lay them at His feet as you repent and He will be faithful to forgive you and give you the strength to overcome.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

If you have more questions about the Fruit of the Spirit please leave them in the comments. I highly encourage you, if you haven't already, to seek out a mentor in your faith that can meet with you locally. This is one journey you were never meant to take alone!