Take The Fruit of the Spirit Inventory The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit In Our Life
In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul writes the church and tells them that God wants to work in their lives to produce fruit. Jesus once cursed an olive tree. The disciples had not eaten all day and there was an olive tree in the distance. It was not the season for fruit but by all appearances this tree was loaded with fruit. As they approached the tree, even though it appeared to be in season, it was barren. Jesus used this as an illustration of having the outward appearance of fruit, but no real substance. We can go to church, go to group Bible Studies, but if there is not the fruit of the Spirit in our life then we are like what James said “faith without works is dead.”
What is spiritual fruit? It is our outward evidence of the inward life of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22 Paul writes:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When we consider God equipping us for ministry, what better way than His Spirit producing in our life, the qualities we need for effective ministry? The Holy Spirit works in our life to produce what Paul calls the Fruit of the Spirit. These are love , patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. It is through the living out of these attributes that God ministers to those around us. We are vehicle of God’s Holy Spirit. When we yield our lives to God He then produces in us a life that He can use as a witness of who He is. You can tell a tree by the fruit that it produces. Likewise people will know about Jesus by the way we live out the fruit of the Spirit.
Not only does the Holy Spirit give us power and make us competent for ministry, He also helps us emotionally. Notice that the fruit has to do with our emotions. Love, joy, peace. These are emotional. Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are heavily affected by our emotions. We are emotional beings. Ministry is emotional.
Look at Romans 15:13:
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.
Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to work with our inner person to give us joy, hope, peace and love. Paul shares that God’s Kingdom has a different value system then the world’s. The world says that happiness in life is going after physical gratification. It is giving in to lust, greed and selfishness. Instead, God’s kingdom is about true happiness and satisfaction that comes from living with the Holy Spirit guiding our life. In Romans 14:17-18 Paul writes:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
What about love? We always say that Jesus loves us, but did you know that Paul shares about the love of the Holy Spirit? In Romans 15:30 Paul writes:
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
Have you ever thanked God for that love?
Is the Fruit of the Spirit Growing In Your Life? Examine yourself with our Fruit of the Spirit Inventory.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT INVENTORY
Look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit and indicate by a number 1-5, how you feel you are experiencing each particular fruit in you life right now. (1 = not experiencing this particular fruit of the Spirit in my life right now, 5 = I am really experiencing this particular fruit of the Spirit in my life right now.)
Love
Are you being led by the Spirit in reaching out to others in a loving manner?
Do you treat your family and those around you with love? Are you self sacrificing, preferring others over yourself? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Joy
Is the Holy Spirit producing a real joy in your heart that spills into the life you live? Do you choose joy over worry? Do you rejoice in God’s presence in your life? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Peace
Is your life full of peace in spite of your circumstances? Are you trusting God and not fearful about your circumstances? Do you experience the peace of God that passes all our understanding? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Patience
Do you accept interruptions and delays with grace and peace? Do you see God’s larger plan at work in your circumstances? Do you surrender to God when things don’t go your way? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Kindness
Is your first inclination to be kind to others? Do you seem to go out of your way to put others first? Are you sensitive to the needs of others? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Goodness
Is your behavior of a high moral standard? Are you living a pure life that is honoring to God? Circle where you are
1 2 3 4 5
Faithfulness
Are you a person of your word? Do you follow through on what you start? Can others count on you? Do you give your commitments 100%?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Gentleness
Are you quick to listen and slow to act and speak? Do you have of your anger? Are you healthily assertive yet non-aggressive in your relationships? Are you meek in your approach to others?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Self-control
Do you have mastery over your behavior? Do you exercise discipline in your life? Are you free from addictions and uncontrollable behavior?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Which of the paticular attributes did you score low in today? The good news is that we don’t have to stay there. The goal of the Holy Spirit is to produce the fruit in your life. He has all the power we need to turn around any low scores. How? Through conviction and guidance and indwelling. He convicts of negative behavior. When we repent and submit ourself to His control He will begin to guide us and direct us. Soon you will find the fruit more and more evident in your life.
In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul writes the church and tells them that God wants to work in their lives to produce fruit. Jesus once cursed an olive tree. The disciples had not eaten all day and there was an olive tree in the distance. It was not the season for fruit but by all appearances this tree was loaded with fruit. As they approached the tree, even though it appeared to be in season, it was barren. Jesus used this as an illustration of having the outward appearance of fruit, but no real substance. We can go to church, go to group Bible Studies, but if there is not the fruit of the Spirit in our life then we are like what James said “faith without works is dead.”
What is spiritual fruit? It is our outward evidence of the inward life of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22 Paul writes:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When we consider God equipping us for ministry, what better way than His Spirit producing in our life, the qualities we need for effective ministry? The Holy Spirit works in our life to produce what Paul calls the Fruit of the Spirit. These are love , patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. It is through the living out of these attributes that God ministers to those around us. We are vehicle of God’s Holy Spirit. When we yield our lives to God He then produces in us a life that He can use as a witness of who He is. You can tell a tree by the fruit that it produces. Likewise people will know about Jesus by the way we live out the fruit of the Spirit.
Not only does the Holy Spirit give us power and make us competent for ministry, He also helps us emotionally. Notice that the fruit has to do with our emotions. Love, joy, peace. These are emotional. Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are heavily affected by our emotions. We are emotional beings. Ministry is emotional.
Look at Romans 15:13:
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.
Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to work with our inner person to give us joy, hope, peace and love. Paul shares that God’s Kingdom has a different value system then the world’s. The world says that happiness in life is going after physical gratification. It is giving in to lust, greed and selfishness. Instead, God’s kingdom is about true happiness and satisfaction that comes from living with the Holy Spirit guiding our life. In Romans 14:17-18 Paul writes:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
What about love? We always say that Jesus loves us, but did you know that Paul shares about the love of the Holy Spirit? In Romans 15:30 Paul writes:
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
Have you ever thanked God for that love?
Is the Fruit of the Spirit Growing In Your Life? Examine yourself with our Fruit of the Spirit Inventory.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT INVENTORY
Look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit and indicate by a number 1-5, how you feel you are experiencing each particular fruit in you life right now. (1 = not experiencing this particular fruit of the Spirit in my life right now, 5 = I am really experiencing this particular fruit of the Spirit in my life right now.)
Love
Are you being led by the Spirit in reaching out to others in a loving manner?
Do you treat your family and those around you with love? Are you self sacrificing, preferring others over yourself? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Joy
Is the Holy Spirit producing a real joy in your heart that spills into the life you live? Do you choose joy over worry? Do you rejoice in God’s presence in your life? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Peace
Is your life full of peace in spite of your circumstances? Are you trusting God and not fearful about your circumstances? Do you experience the peace of God that passes all our understanding? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Patience
Do you accept interruptions and delays with grace and peace? Do you see God’s larger plan at work in your circumstances? Do you surrender to God when things don’t go your way? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Kindness
Is your first inclination to be kind to others? Do you seem to go out of your way to put others first? Are you sensitive to the needs of others? Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Goodness
Is your behavior of a high moral standard? Are you living a pure life that is honoring to God? Circle where you are
1 2 3 4 5
Faithfulness
Are you a person of your word? Do you follow through on what you start? Can others count on you? Do you give your commitments 100%?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Gentleness
Are you quick to listen and slow to act and speak? Do you have of your anger? Are you healthily assertive yet non-aggressive in your relationships? Are you meek in your approach to others?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Self-control
Do you have mastery over your behavior? Do you exercise discipline in your life? Are you free from addictions and uncontrollable behavior?
Circle where you are 1 2 3 4 5
Which of the paticular attributes did you score low in today? The good news is that we don’t have to stay there. The goal of the Holy Spirit is to produce the fruit in your life. He has all the power we need to turn around any low scores. How? Through conviction and guidance and indwelling. He convicts of negative behavior. When we repent and submit ourself to His control He will begin to guide us and direct us. Soon you will find the fruit more and more evident in your life.
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