Rather than spending our time this entire year passively wishing

for “things to be different,” we can actively seek the Lord

to help US be different in 2014!

Galatians 5: 22-2322 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control.

The Holy Spirit’s main roles on Earth

are to glorifyJesus Christ

and to clarify His work.

* John 16: 13-14

Part of the way The Holy Spirit reveals

and clarifies Christ to a believer is through“the fruit of the Spirit.”

These traits are some of the godly qualities

Jesus exhibited on Earth and we can learn from Him by the Spirit.

“Fruit Facts”

1.) The Fruit of the Spirit is Singular.

2.) The Fruit of the Spirit is seen, in some degree, in every believer.

3.) Fruit is Formational & Relational.

4.) Fruit will effect all areas of life.

“The fruit of the Spirit are garments of grace that we actively put on.

We are responsible for acts of obedience by which the fruit is

preserved, increased, strengthened, and improved.”

- Jerry Bridges

We learn from Ephesians 4:22-24 and other passages about the importance for Christians to “put off” sinful and

hindering behaviors/lifestyles so that they can “put on” new attitudes

given by the Spirit that honor Jesus.

Christians too often can go astrayin 1 of 2 ways with this command:

1.) They put off, without putting on. “The Legalistic Error”

2.) They put on, without putting off. “The Paganistic Error”

We must learn to embrace these truths:

1.) We don’t produce the fruit of the Spirit.

2.) We are commanded by God throughout Scripture to cooperate with The Holy Spirit so the fruit can grow well and impact God’s Kingdom.

When we claim that some of our “quirks” and personality traits

can never change, we are not simply

being realistic.

We are faithlessly doubting the One

that can raise the dead to life.

While some of these qualities

may come more naturally to you

than others, trust God

and pray big… asking for Hisfull harvest of holiness!

The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the communion

we have with God and with one another, only through Jesus.

The Fruit of the SpiritPrayer

O Holy Spirit, I ask You

to bring forth in my life Your fruit

that mirrors the heart of my Lord Jesus Christ:

The fruit of love, so I may love You above all things

and all others for Your sake.

The fruit of joy, that I may find my delight in the grace I have in Christ.

The fruit of peace, that I may have a clean heart before You and healing hands toward my neighbor.

The fruit of patienceso that I may bear with all people,

as You have so often been lovingly patient with me.

The fruit of kindness, that I may forgive freely

all who have hurt me and endure with grace

all burdens that are laid upon me.

The fruit of goodness, that my heart may truly long to carry

the holy attitude of Jesus Christ.

The fruit of faithfulnessthat I may rest deeply in Your ability

to provide for my every need; as well as in faithfully serving You

in integrity and in truth before all people.

The fruit of gentleness, that I may strive to slow my life down

and keep a warm heart in a cold world.

The fruit of self-control that I may restrain all my desires and

bring them under the Lordship of the God who made me, saved me, and loves me.

Amen.