The Nine Aspects of a Fruit

 Nine Aspects of a Fruit

 But the fruit of the Spirit is: 

LOVE, 

joy, peace, 

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, 

faith, Meekness, temperance: 

against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

You can take an Apple or an Orange 

or a Grape or a Mango,
and analyse its parts and characteristics.
A fruit is hard and sour when it is raw. 
The fruit becomes softer, jucier and sweeter as it ripens.
It also applies to the spiritual fruit - Love, we bear as individuals.
The fruit should improve as we mature in CHRIST.

Luscious - LOVE

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 

Pure agape love originates from GOD. It is the character of GOD. GOD's love is attractive and desirable. We receive this love through our relationship with GOD. GOD's love does not fail to satisfy our inmost being, dislodging all fear, bringing conviction that leads to repentance.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5 

Like an open cup placed below the spout of a tea pot or a tap, our heart fills with GOD's love when our mind is open and our heart is humble before GOD. Each of us needs to experience this love for ourselves by receiving the goodness of GOD with gratitude.

Juicy - JOY

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11 

This joy comes from the LORD and we receive it through our relationship with Him.

The juice is in the fruit. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

When trials sqeeze you from all sides, the pure juice of the joy of JESUS should pour out! 

 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9 

This joy is eternal, and is based on the hope we have in the LORD JESUS and not on our situation or circumstance. 

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:10

This joy will be perfected when we come to Zion and when sorrow and sighing will flee away!

Pieces of PEACE

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 

Real peace comes only from the Prince of Peace, the LORD JESUS. We receive this peace when we live in close relationship with Him.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 

GOD releases His peace to us when we trust Him each moment of each day. It is like enjoying eating small fruits or bite-size peices of big fruits - one at a time!
When our peace is disturbed, we must spend time with the LORD in prayer.  When we pour out our heart to Him, He will lead us to pray according to His will, which could be repentance, forgiveness or intercession. If we deal in this manner with each problem or situation we face, GOD's peace will fill our heart constantly.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Pectin - PATIENCE

 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6

GOD is very patient. That is His nature. He deals with us patiently and graciously.
Therefore patience is GOD's character produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8

The Pectin in a fruit is a soluble fibre that improves bowel health. Hence Pectin enhances the ability of the body to digest and absorb the nutrition in the food we consume. Thus the body is nourished and strengthened by the food.

Similarly, the gentle Holy Spirit causes the word of GOD to be revealed to us and to be assimilated into our soul. Thus our soul is nourished by the word of GOD and in due time the word becomes flesh, as the Holy Spirit enables us to live out the word! But this takes time. So we need to patiently wait and give sufficient time to see this happen in our own lives and in the lives of others. 

Vitamin - GENTLENESS

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
Psalm 18:35

The fruit has vitamins and other nutrients that have a gentle healing property on human bodies.  Vitamins are 'Vital Minerals' and gentleness is a vital ingredient of the fruit of the Spirit!

Gentleness is anoher word for kindness. Kindness, in the Hebrew language is 'chesed', which, when broken up into two words means 'compassion' and 'fetters'. 

 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:36

 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32

GOD, in His kindness and gentleness, looks upon the people who are fettered and in bondage and reaches out to them, bringing spiritual deliverance and healing to souls and bodies.

GOD's gentleness is reflected in and through us as we reach out with compassion, to those in various types of bondages. 

 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 Corinthians 10:1

Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Matthew 18:33-35

Even as the LORD sets us free, He expects us to set others free with compassion and the authority He gives us over the powers of darkness. 

 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luke 10:19

Nutricious - GOODNESS

 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6

Just as the fruit has goodness in itself that nourishes others physically, GOD has goodness in Himself that flow out as blessings to people in every way.  

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:4

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

When we receive and partake of His goodness with gratitude, it brings health to your soul through repentance. 

O my soul, you have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You."
Psalm 16:2

 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10

As we humble ourselves and take time to taste and be nourished by the LORD's goodness, we will bear spiritual fruit that will carry that same goodness to bless others! When we are blessed by GOD, we will be a blessing to others. Our life will consist of good works for the benefit of others.

Seed - FAITH

 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:11

The LORD JESUS said that the word of GOD is like a seed.  The word of GOD is sown in the soil of our heart when we hear it and receive it. Thus faith is planted in the heart. 

Our Christian life on earth begins and ends with faith. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Without the seed, there is no fruit. 

 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Luke 17:6 

The seed that is planted in the heart, when watered by the Holy Spirit, germinates and grows roots, having the power to uproot other undisirable trees growing in our own heart. 

The stem grows, producing leaves. Then buds show up that become flowers. The base of the flowers, in time become fruits. 

Thus the seed of faith in the LORD JESUS, sown in a human heart, watered by the Holy Spirit, nourished by the word of GOD, in due time will bring forth the fruit that is love!

 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Munchable - MEEKNESS 

Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
2 Corinthians 10:1

The LORD JESUS is meek. We need to be meek to receive Him and His word into our heart.

 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 
James 1:21

The fruit is for others. It is selfless! Such selfless availability to others indicates meekness. 

Meekness is simply Me-less!

The flesh of a fruit is crispy or soft and it gives enjoyment and fulfilment to people, animals and birds.

If it hardens itself like a rock, others can't bite into it and enjoy its flesh and eat it up! Are we soft and humble enough for people to approach us? 

 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah 50:6

Are we hardening ourselves against those who are evil and harsh? Are we blocking our ears from those who speak nasty words to us? The LORD JESUS stood in the gap meekly to intercede for the sinners. We need to be like Him to inherit the earth. 

 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:38-42

 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13

Skin - SELFCONTROL

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:9-11

Imagine a fruit without a proper skin covering! It will simply fall appart and the juice will drip out, because it is the skin that holds the flesh of the fruit together. Similarly, we need to bring our body and selfish mind under the control of the Holy Spirit.

While purchasing  fruits, don't we carefully pick fruits that have undamaged skin?

A fruit with damaged skin through which its flesh shows out, is not desirable. Such is a believer whose selfish nature shows up all the time! If you abide in CHRIST, all your relationships will be loving, healthy and beautiful 'In CHRIST'.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9

 

The skin protects the fruit from insects and germs. When you live and walk in the Spirit, and do not allow your fleshly carnal nature to take over, you are protected from the devil's ploys. The devil can only get access to a believer through his carnal nature when he walks carelessly in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

Therefore it is necessary for us to seek the LORD's guidance and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit every moment of our life. We must yield our plans to the LORD so that we can bear desirable lovely fruit for GOD's glory!

Let us live, move and have our being IN HIM.