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.

WHAT EVERY MAN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

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Awakening Values: The Power of the Spirit

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” This power is not just for spiritual leaders or biblical heroes—it’s available to every believer today.

The Holy Spirit is not a vague force or an emotional experience; He is the third person of the Trinity—co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son, as declared in the Nicene Creed (AD 381). The Holy Spirit is God, and understanding Him is essential for every man who wants to live a life of true spiritual strength and purpose.

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Living a Supernatural Life

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It is impossible to live a spiritual life without the Spirit of God. The infilling of the Holy Spirit enables believers to live beyond their natural capacity. This power shows up in many ways—through courage, wisdom, discernment, and the ability to witness boldly. Acts 1:8 makes it clear: it is through the Spirit that we are empowered.

The Holy Spirit’s work is comprehensive:

• He empowers (Acts 1:8)
• Encourages (Acts 9:31)
• Convicts (John 16:8)
• Teaches (John 14:26)
• Leads (Romans 8:14)
• Intercedes (Romans 8:26)

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God Dwells in What is Dedicated to Him

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In the Old Testament, God filled a physical temple (2 Chronicles 7:1–3). But after Christ’s sacrifice, the human heart became His dwelling place. The New Testament declares: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

From John the Baptist’s prophecy in Matthew 3:11 to the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, we see a consistent truth: God’s Spirit now fills people, not just places. He doesn’t just visit; He indwells. Whether it was Samson, David, or John the Baptist, the Spirit of the Lord would “rush upon” them. Today, that same Spirit is available to all believers who are consecrated to Him.

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Evidence of the Spirit Within

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3How can you know if the Holy Spirit dwells within you? The answer is seen in the fruit of your life. Galatians 5:22–23 outlines the 9 Fruits of the Spirit:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control

These qualities aren’t produced by sheer willpower—they are the result of a Spirit-filled life.Additionally, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts for the benefit of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:8–10). These 9 Gifts of the Spirit include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation.

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Consecrate, Be Filled, and Walk in Power

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Your body is a temple. Your heart is the altar. And you are a living sacrifice. If you fully dedicate yourself to God, His Spirit will dwell in you. The Spirit of God isn’t reserved for the spiritually elite—it’s available to every man who desires to live with power, purpose, and purity.