2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Longsuffering - Patience
5. Gentleness
6. Goodness
7. Faith - Faithfulness
8. Meekness - Humility
9. Temperance - Self Control
When a person is filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit then all the virtues in Galatians
5:22-23 will be clearly manifested in that person's life. The nine fruits in this passage
are actually the nine great virtues of Christ. As we are controlled by the Holy Spirit,
God imparts these virtues to us through His Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is manifested by:
Love; which is patient, and love that is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
John wrote in 1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with
actions and in truth". And again, "This is love, that we walk in obedience to his
commands" 2 John 6; also see John 14:23; 1 John 5:2-3.
Love is two-fold:
(Vertical love)..the love of the Father for us and our love for him, and
(Horizontal love)..our love for each other.
Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love our Heavenly Father with all our heart, soul,
mind and strength (vertical), and to love our neighbor as ourselves (horizontal)
Mark 12:30-31. "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" Matthew 22:40.
John emphasizes that these two commandments go together. "We love because he first loved us.
If anyone says, 'I love God' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not
love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given
us this command, Whoever loves God must also love his brother" 1 John 4:19-21. Again he
says, "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out
his commands" 1 John 5:2.
Almost every aspect of the fruit of the Spirit deals with our relationships as the scriptures point out
Joy is defined as "cheerfulness or calm delight;" however, it has nothing to do with your
emotions. Joy is something that is manifested in the spiritual realm; it is a supernatural
joy that gives spiritual strength Nehemiah 8:10. The Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah both
refer to it as the joy of salvation
Psalm 51:12; Isaiah 12:3.
It is divine joy that results from an experiental knowledge of God's Word John 15:11;
Jeremiah 15:16.
Joy is linked with the central message of the gospel, the coming of Jesus Christ into the
world. In Luke 2:10 the angel said, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of
a great joy which shall be for all the people." People who believed in Jesus and received
Him by faith experienced a new birth. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual
experience is marked by joy. Sins are forgiven. A right relationship with God has begun by
grace through faith Ephesians 2:8. An inward state of joy is present.
The parable in Matthew 13:44 illustrates the supreme value and joy experienced when one finds
the hidden treasure of the kingdom of heaven: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure
hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and for the joy over it he goes and sells
all that he has, and buys that field."
Paul says In Romans 14:17, "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." The believer in Christ is graciously given these
precious qualities and needs to cultivate a continued life-style of growth. The apostle John
says, "No one takes your joy away from you" John 16:22. The joy of a Christian does not
depend upon other people or the circumstances of life. The believer can sing with meaning the
words of a song, "I�ve got something that the world can�t give, and the world can�t take it away."
This joy is in Jesus.
Jesus word brings joy and intends that his followers may have a �full and complete� joy.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy
might be full". John 15:11
The coming of the Spirit brings this promised joy into the immediate experience of the
discipleship community. This occurs not only on the day of Pentecost, but on subsequent
occasions, such as Acts 13. 52: "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit."
Acts 2:28 says: "Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy
with thy countenance."
Romans 14:17 says: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost."
The definition for Peace in, (Greek, chara), The quietness, rest, reposeharmony, order and security,
in the midst of turmoil, strife, and temptation.
Peace is not necessarily the absence of conflict or perfect harmony. But, peace is total
well-being, soundness or accord with God and thus with self. God is the source of this peace.
Luke 19:42 and Romans 1:7
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust
in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" Romans 15:13.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he
trusteth in thee.
In the gospels Jesus did not make many direct statements about peace, but one given on the
eve of His crucifixion is very revealing:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". John 14:27
His use of "heart" reveals that the peace in which He is involved while we are in this world
is a state of mind. John 16:33 confirms this:
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will
have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world".
The word �long-suffering� is the Greek word �makrothumei� and it denotes �longanimity,�
slowness to anger or passion; long-suffering, patient endurance, forbearance. It is opposed
to haste; to passionate expressions and thoughts, and to irritability. It is a state of mind
which can bear long when oppressed, provoked, calumniated, and when one seeks to injure us.
Also, long-suffering can endue evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with
resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the mind firm, gives it power over the angry
passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, which will wait and wish for the
reformation of a brother than to resentment of his conduct. Long-suffering will put up with
many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly effects
of such patience on him.
We are content to wait with confidence for God's deliverance in every situation, especially
during prolonged periods of dryness and the dark nights. We have interiorized the words of
the Gospel: "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be
opened to you" Matthew. 7:7.
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by
no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation. Numbers 14:18.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of
your faith produces patience. But let patience/longsuffering have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing. (1:2-4)
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart ..." Matthew 11:29.
"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all ..." 2 Timothy 2:24.
Jesus and Paul both emphasized that we will have a right spirit toward others only if we
approach them in a gentle, considerate spirit. Paul reminded the Thessalonians: "But we were
gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately
longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also
our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8). God does not want
us to treat our fellow human beings harshly. That is not His character. God's nature is to
be merciful, kind and gentle.
Gentleness, ("meekness," KJV) or humility. The Greek term was used to describe a person in
whom strength was blended with gentleness. A humble person is a strong person whose strength
is controlled, whose power is harnessed in loving service and compassionate actions. Such
gentleness is compatible with firm convictions and decisive actions. While a humble person
is not a spineless individual, the New Testament teaches that one who is humble will not be
overly concerned about his or her prestige Rom. 12:16. A humble (gentle) person is
teachable and willingly follows Jesus' example of humility.
Goodness is holiness put into practice and results from knowing God. Once you have this
knowledge, goodness is supernaturally produced in you Romans 15:14
Goodness enables you to do good to those who hate you Luke 6:27 as well as those of the
household of faith Galatians 6:10. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance.
That's why we need to be good to people. Our witness won't have any power unless we are kind.
We are called to be light in a dark world, and we must make up our minds that we are going
to shine!
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:6
Modern translation renders the word that the KJV translates into "faith" as "faithfulness,"
"fidelity" or "good faith."
Jesus excerized faith or faithfullness unto His Father in heaven, thus doing "His will"
pleasing the Father. "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17.
Faithful implies steadfast adherence to a person or thing to which one is bound as by an
oath or obligation; loyal implies undeviating allegiance to a person, cause, institution,
etc. which one feels morally bound to support or defend.
Faithfulness leads to obedience, and obedience brings about rich blessings from the Lord.
Proverbs 28:20 tells us that a faithful man will be richly blessed. Yet being faithful is
not always easy.
Anything worth having will come through God's grace. Pride, the opposite of meekness,
will cause God to resist you. God is for you, not against you, but He will resist you
if you are operating in pride. Pride causes us to pursue things of our own desire,
or to be exalted or glorified before man. Meekness is God's will for us and His will
causes Him to be glorified.
" ... Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:
for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
"Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time."
1 Peter 5:5-6
Meekness is not weakness, but rather controlled strength. It is the opposite of pride.
It's submission to God, through a listening ear to what He has to say, and is unselfishness
to others. It is not occupied with self at all. Meekness is that meek and quiet spirit,
which is greatly valued by God.
1 Peter 3:4
"But let it be the hidden man of the heart,in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
Webster defines temperance as "self restraint in conduct, expression, indulgence of the appetites,
moderation". In other words it is the control of self.
The Greek word �temperance� means self-control, self-restraint and self-discipline.
Temperance is control over the whole man (spirit, soul, and body) which enables us to live a
victorious life I Corinthians 9:25. A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids
extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. Although
restraint and self-control aren't easy, they are necessary if one ever wants to operate in
the fruit of the Spirit. After all, temperance and love are the bookends that hold all the
other fruit in place.
"Adultery" (Gk. moicheia], i.e., sexual relations of a married person with someone other than his
or her spouse Exodus20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:31-32;
"Fornication" (Gk. pomeia), i.e., immoral sexual conduct and intercourse; it includes taking pleasure
in pornographic pictures, films, or writing Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Acts 15:20,29; 21:25; I Corinthiians 5:1;
"Uncleanness" (Gk. akatharsia), i.e., sexual sins, evil deeds, and vices, including thoughts and desires
of the heart Eph. 5:3; Colossians 3:5;
"Lasciviousness" (Gk. aselgeia), i.e., sensuality, following one's passions and de�sires to the point of
having no shame or public decency II Corinthians 12:21;
"Idolatry" (Gk. eidololatria), i.e., worship of spirits, persons, or graven images, also trust in any person,
institution, or thing as having equal or greater authority than God and His Word Colossians 3:5;
"Witchcraft" (Gk. pharmakeia}, i.e., sorcery, spiritism, black magic, worship of demons, and use of drugs
to produce "spiritual" experiences Exodus 7:11,22; 8:18; Revelation 9:21; 18:23;
"Hatred" (Gk. echthra), i.e., intense, hostile intentions and acts, extreme dislike or enmity;
"Variance" (Gk. eris), i.e., quarreling, antagonism, a struggle for superiority Romans 1:29;
I Corinthians 1:11; 3:3;
"Emulations" (Gk. zelos}, i.e., resentfulness, envy of another's success Romans 13:13; I Corinthians 3:3;
"Wrath" (Gk. thumos], i.e., explosive anger or rage which flares into violent words and deeds
Colossians 3:8;
"Strife" (Gk. eritheia), i.e., selfish ambition and seeking of power II Corinthians 12:20;
Philemon 1:16-17;
"Seditions" (Gk. dichostasia), i.e., introducing divisive teachings not supported by the Word of God
Romans 16:17;
"Heresies" (Gk. hairesis], i.e., division within the congregation into selfish groups or cliques, which
destroy the unity of the church I Corinthians 11:19;
"Envyings" (Gk. phthonos), i.e., resentful dislike of another person who has something that one desires;
"Murders" (Gk. phonos), i.e., killing a person unlawfully and with malice;
"Drunkenness" (Gk. methe], i.e., impairing one's mental or physical control by alcoholic drink;
"Revellings" (Gk. komos), i.e., excessive feasting, revelry, a party spirit involving alcohol, drugs,
sex, or the like.
Paul's final comment on the works of the flesh is stern and forceful: any so-called Christians who engage
in these types of activities shut themselves out of the kingdom of God, i.e., they do not possess eternal
salvation Gal. 5:21; I Cor. 6:9.
This is a brief look at the nine Fruits of the Spirit given to us from the book
of Galatians 5:22-23; and they are:
1. Love - Charity
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
LONGSUFFERING/PATIENCE
GENTLENESS
GOODNESS
FAITH/FAITHFULNESS
MEEKNESS/HUMILITY
TEMPERANCE/SELF-CONTROL
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