The fruit of the Spirit is a natural by-product of being surrendered to the Spirit of God. Therefore our commitment must be to “walk in the Spirit” (Romans 8.1,4; Galatians 5.16,25). It is an active listening, communicating, and obeying fellowship between the disciple of Jesus and the Spirit which He gave us. This is abiding. The result of the decision to abide will be the fruit of the Spirit.
A person must come to an end of themselves first for this fruit to occur. It is not about commitment, but self-death. It is not about focus on change, but complete surrender of will. It is not about setting out to master the qualities of Christ (Gal 5), but dwelling on Him. Nothing supernatural ever comes from our human efforts. Supernatural things require, well; supernatural help. The key ‘people of faith’, such as in Hebrews 11, seem to demonstrate a supernatural ability to change or handle problems. I have come across people that say such things as, “I just gave it all to God, I told him I couldn’t do this, and I just stayed focused on Him.” These individuals, like those in scripture, demonstrated a unique and un-characteristic ability to rise above or push through something they would have never been able to before.
Abiding in an all-the-time-conversation with the Holy Spirit frees Him to do what only He can do. The results are un-characteristic character, effortless change, and lasting fruit. (John 15.16). What would normally be a stressful situation, will find you at peace. Most all believers have experienced this before, but probably didn’t know what did it or why. It is has often been unexplainable, so therefore dismissed too quickly. Sometimes we glorify God for it, knowing as good church-goers that God will give us “a peace that passes all understanding”, we dismiss it without true gratefulness and awe of the miracle of change within. It cannot be duplicated or replicated when we need it later. In other words it seemed to have happened by accident. This is where discipleship within a group, or by a discipler is essential. The training has to take place, explaining what happened and the gift within.
Instead of reacting defensively when confronted, you will be gentle. As far as temptations that will normally take you down, you will be able to handle them with self control. You will find it much easier to admit when wrong. You will catch yourself being kinder, gentler, and more sensitive. That is the nature of fruit— it takes you by surprise. We do not produce it, we discover it. It acts out, seemingly out of our control. This only happens when you surrender to the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, He supernaturally leaps into action, leaving you to see His great working in your heart and life.
Pray for more surprises this week. Seek Him all day every day and see what happens!