Last week I talked about one of the things we receive from the Holy Spirit, our Spiritual Gifts. We receive these gifts alongside salvation and eventually, the Fruits of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul is the person we can thank for our list of the Fruits of the Spirit, which he provided in his letter to the church in Galatia.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things
Galatians 5:22-23, NLT
Similar to the list of Spiritual Gifts, there are likely some of these characteristics that stand out to you because they are either things you relate to or really don’t relate to. This list differs from the gifts list because these are things that we are supposed to possess and demonstrate if we are followers of Christ. An example from my life, where I have seen the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit take place is in the area of patience. As the person who lives with me daily, I am still very aware of how much I can struggle with patience but I have had people call me patient. This dichotomy exists because the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit meets my sinful and fallen body. But because I am saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God lives in me, I outwardly appear patient despite the internal battle between the Spirit and flesh.
We have to set our minds and intentions to do them; it isn’t a matter of just relaxing and doing what comes naturally. Otherwise Paul wouldn’t need to urge the Galatians to ‘line up with the spirit’ (verse 25), that is, to see the effect the spirit wants to produce, to reflect on how it will come about, and through our own moral effort to let the life of the spirit have its complete way. But the point is that when these qualities appear, with all their quiet joy, all their rich contribution to the sort of community God intends and will eventually produce, they come like the fruit in an orchard, not like the baubles on a Christmas tree. They will truly be part of who we will have become
N.T. Wright
This mention of an orchard is intriguing because it brings two thoughts to mind. First, it reminds me that a single tree produces one kind of fruit. Paul tells us the Spirit produces nine fruits in our life. The tree metaphor isn’t perfect, but this realization brings me back to the wonderful work of the Spirit that makes it possible for these nine things to shine through our lives, making us produce the same as nine “trees.” . The second thing I think of is the fact that an orchard is a large group of many trees. This reminds me of the Body of Christ. Wright touches on this idea that community is related to the Fruit of the Spirit. The nine things that Paul list has to do with how we relate to the people and situations around us. By surrounding ourselves with people who bear the Fruit of the Spirit, the Spirit can use them to help us bear fruit. As members of the Church become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self- controlled they can go out and spread these fruits to those who don’t believe in Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I hope you find your orchard.
Moments with Emmanuel 