Spiritual Growth

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: BECOMING THE MAN GOD DESIGNED

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” — Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

You weren’t made to be driven by impulse. You were made to be led by the Spirit. In a world where manhood is often measured by dominance, power, or pride, Scripture offers a different portrait of strength: the man who bears the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul contrasts this with the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5: sexual immorality, jealousy, rage, division, and drunkenness—things that thrive when we’re living for ourselves. The flesh wants independence from God. But the Spirit? He wants us to become like Christ—even when it costs us.

Let’s be clear: these are not fruits of the Spirit, plural. It’s fruit, singular. This is not a menu you pick and choose from. It’s a complete portrait of a life transformed by God’s indwelling presence. Just like an apple tree doesn’t need to strain to produce apples, a man filled with the Spirit naturally begins to produce these qualities. It’s normal. It’s healthy. It’s expected. And just like fruit, this development starts small and requires pruning.

This past spring, I pruned some of my apple and pear trees for the first time. Years ago, they produced a lot of fruit, but lately, we hadn’t seen much. The immediate result of pruning wasn’t exactly pretty. In fact, when my wife came home, she was shocked by what I had done. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I had followed the DIY videos correctly. The trees looked bare—almost butchered. But just a few months later, I started to see new fruit begin to emerge. That growth only came after I was willing to go through the messy and uncomfortable process of pruning.

In the same way, God prunes us—cutting away attitudes, distractions, and habits that are stunting our growth. If you want to bear spiritual fruit, expect to be pruned.

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Fruit of the Spirit: A Picture of Christlikeness

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Jonathan Edwards, during the Great Awakening, responded to critics by highlighting not just the spiritual fireworks—visions and miracles—but the transformed lives. People confessed sins. Reconciled relationships. They didn’t just feel something—they became something new. The fruit is evidence.

Let’s break the fruit into three dimensions:

Internal – Who You Are at Heart

• Love: The foundation. A self-giving love that seeks the good of others, whether or not it’s returned.
  
• Joy: Not happiness based on happenings—but a deep gladness rooted in grace.
  
• Peace: A calm and wholeness that comes from being reconciled with God.
  

Relational – How You Treat Others

• Patience: Enduring with people. Long-suffering without retaliation.
  
• Kindness: Integrity wrapped in gentleness. A warm heart that translates into helpful action.
  
• Goodness: Moral courage in action. Doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.
  

Disciplinary – How You Govern Yourself

• Faithfulness: Loyal. Dependable. A man of your word.
  
• Gentleness: Not weakness, but meekness—strength under control.
  
• Self-Control: Mastery over your desires. Not ruled by emotion, impulse, or appetite.

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Gifts vs. Fruit

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The gifts of the Spirit—healing, tongues, prophecy, wisdom—are powerful, but they don’t tell the whole story. Gifts are given. Fruit is grown. One shows God is with you. The other shows God rules you.

Paul told Timothy that the qualifications for leadership weren’t spiritual gifts, but fruit: “self-controlled,” “a lover of good,” “disciplined” (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). Why? Because fruit is what makes your witness credible.

We are to pursue both. “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 14:1). But love—first in the list—is the foundation. As one preacher put it:

“Joy is love rejoicing. Peace is love resting. Patience is love enduring. Kindness is love serving. Goodness is love caring. Faithfulness is love trusting. Gentleness is love yielding. Self-control is love mastering.”

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Final Challenge

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Brother, if you want to grow this kind of fruit, you need to:

• Abide in Christ (John 15:4–5) – Fruit comes from the Vine.
  
• Walk in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25) – Stay in rhythm with His leading.
  
• Practice the disciplines – Prayer, fasting, Scripture, and fellowship.
  
• Welcome pruning – Let God cut away what’s hindering growth.
  

This fruit is not about performance—it’s about transformation. It’s not what you do. It’s about who you’re becoming.