This week I have been inspired to write about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Every week I host a live podcast through LinkedIn, Facebook and Youtube. I start (haven’t always) with scripture. I pray over my Bible asking God and the Holy Spirit to guide me to scripture that will help provide a message that needs to be heard. Sometimes when I open my Bible it is right there. Other times, I look within the chapter for something that is more easily understood and relevant to the topic I am sharing about.
I Found the Fruits of the Holy Spirit!
While looking through the pockets of my Bible cover for a specific prayer, I found a sheet from when I was in a prayer group. This sheet is about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. I unfolded it, read it and reminisced about the days of prayer group membership in my home church back in Lapeer, Michigan. My son, a young teenager, was also very involved in the prayer group.
Each member chose a Fruit of the Holy Spirit that they wanted to receive and had to give a talk about it. You have to know before you can teach. Do not confuse gifts with fruits.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (page 451:1832), “The fruits of the Holy Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty and self-control. ”
Scott P Richert wrote a great article for LPI about this. You can download it here.
I will focus on the modern nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
Remember that “the more we renounce ourselves, the more we ‘walk by the Spirit.’” (page 194, Catechism of the Catholic Church). The Holy Spirit is God’s Gift to us.
Let’s discover the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit!
Love (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
This fruit can be found in many books of the Bible including Psalms, Gospels, Corinthians, Galatians Mark and Ephesians.
Love is gentle. Love is kind. Love is more than just a feeling. It comes from God and is for God. Love is also for your neighbor. Mark 12:30-31 is clear as it reads,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (www.usccb.org)
Joy (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Joy can also be found in many books of the Bible including psalms, Isaiah, Gospels and Acts. Joy as a Fruit of the Holy Spirit is not an emotion like we commonly think. It is more a state of being. A state in which we cannot be shaken by the bad things that happen in life.
Take a look at Psalm 16:11.
“You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” (www.usccb.org)
This talks about how God is the center of Joy. As you will often hear on KSBJ radio, “Choose Joy.” You do need to choose to accept it. Once you do, your life will change for the positive!
Peace (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Peace comes from relying on god. It brings tranquility over your being like nothing else can. It reminds me of the saying, “Let go and let God.”
You can find the Fruit of Peace in the books of the bible including Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Acts and Romans.
Romans 5:1 reads, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (www.usccb.org)
Patience (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
One thing I have definitely learned in life is that if you pray for Patience, God will provide many opportunities to practice it. In our prayer group, that is the fruit my son gave his talk about. I am pretty sure God is still providing opportunities for him to perfect his patience.
Patience allows us the ability to accept the imperfections of others as well as our own.
You can find Patience in many books of the Bible including Luke, Romans, Colossians, James. James 5:7-8 reads;
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (www.usccb.org)
God is calling us to be patient for the coming of the Lord.
Kindness (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Kindness is truly lacking in this world. It does exist, but is becoming more rare every day. Kindness is giving to others without any expectation of receiving anything in return. Found in the Bible in many books including Genesis, Ruth, Psalms, Proverbs and Romands, Kindness is something we should aspire to every day, in our personal interactions as well as our professional interactions. Proverbs 21:21 reads:
“Whoever pursues justice and kindness will find life and honor.” (www.usccb.org)
Surely (Grace and Mercy), you long for life and honor!
Goodness (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Ah, Goodness! Goodness is also becoming more rare in today’s world. Goodness is leaning into what is right even if it causes you to lose or miss out on notoriety and riches. Psalms, Jeremiah, Galatians and James are some of the books of the Bible that talk about Goodness. James 1:17 reads,
“all good giving and every perfect gift* is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.” (www.usccb.org)
Strive for Goodness. That is who God created you to be.
Faithfulness(Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Faithfulness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit means to live our life as God intended. That includes trusting Him above all else, even when things may appear bleak.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: See, I am laying a stone in Zion,a stone that has been tested, A precious cornerstone as a sure foundation; whoever puts faith in it will not waver.” (www.usccb.org)
It is so easy in our humanity to be impatient and to believe we hold the key to our future. Yes, God gave us innate talents and gifts to help us live our purpose. I wrote about this in a previous column, “Who did God Create You to be?” All things are in God’s time. In fact, he does create opportunities and experiences to help us along. Remaining Faithful helps us to allow God to lead the way.
Gentleness (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Gentleness is being forgiving and gracious instead of angry and seeking revenge. It is easy in this day and age to dwell in anger. Let it go and embrace the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (www.usccb.org)
Hope springs eternal, especially when it is in God. You can find more on Gentleness in many books of the Bible including Corinthians and Galatians.
Self- Control (Fruit of the Holy Spirit)
Self-Control is to exercise moderation in all things. This is something today’s society has great difficulty with, from food to material things to money.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 reads,
“Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” (www.usccb.org)
Do you desire the Fruits of the Holy Spirit?
I invite you to pray. I invite you to read the Bible. Keep your body, mind and spirit open to the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Stay tuned….next week I will cover the Gifts of the Holy Spirit!
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