Fruit of the spirit are produced in God's children as they grow and learn more about the Lord and His ways. As we allow the spirit of God to direct our lifestyle and influence our lives, the fruit of the spirit will destroy the power of sin, especially the works of the flesh, and we will walk in the fellowship of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Joy is love's strength...
Joy (Gk. chara) The feeling of gladness based on the love, grace, blessings, promises, and nearness of God that belong to those who believe in Christ.
I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:16
... sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 1 Peter 1:8
But the Fruit of the Spirit is love...
Love (Gk. agape) A caring and seeking for the good of another person without motive for personal gain.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5
If I speak in the tonguesa of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it 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.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14
Peace is love's security...
Peace (Gk. eirene) The quietness of heart and mind based on the knowledge that all is well between the believer and his or her heavenly Father.
The God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep... Hebrews 13:20
Long'suffering is love's patience...
Longsuffering (Gk. makrothumia) Endurance patience, being slow to anger or despair.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance... 2 Timothy 3:10
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Gentleness is love's conduct...
Gentleness (Gk. chrestotes) Not wanting to hurt someone or give him or her pain.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Goodness is love's character...
Goodness (Gk. agathosune) Zeal for truth and righteousness and a hatred for evil; it can be expressed in acts of kindness or in rebuking and correcting evil.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:37-50
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’a but you are making it a ‘den of robbers." Matthew 21:12-13
Faith is love's confidence...
Faith (Gk. pistis) Faithfulness, firm and unswerving loyalty and adherence to a person to whom one is united by promise, commitment, trustworthiness, and honesty.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matthew 23:23
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Romans 3:3
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2:2
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
...and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Titus 2:10
Meekness is love's humility...
Meekness (Gk. prautes) Restraint coupled with strength and courage; it describes a person who can be angry when anger is needed and humbly submisive when submission is needed.
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Mark 3:5
By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!
2 Corinthians 10:1
Temperance is love's victory...
Temperance (Gk. egkrateia) Having control or mastery over one's own desires and passions, including faithfulness to one's marriage vows; also purity, chastity.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25
Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. Titus 1:8
...to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:5
Closing Thoughts
Paul's final comment on the fruit of the Spirit indicates that there are no restrictions to lifestyle indicated here. Christians can in fact and ought to practice these virtues over and over again. They will never discover a law prohibiting them from living according to these principles. God bless you and yours as you seek to please God by learning more about Him.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18
Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for these magnificent words of truth from your Holy Word. May we be drawn closer to you Lord, and blossom as firstfruits. May we shine in your glory as the fruit of the righteous in the tree of everlasting life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen