Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit

Spirituality and “the Fruitage of the Spirit”

Gospel writer Luke stated that God’s holy spirit was poured out on Jesus at his baptism and that Jesus was “full of holy spirit.”

John the Baptist baptising Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus too was baptized.+ As he was praying, the heaven was opened up,+ 22 and the holy spirit in bodily form like a dove came down upon him, and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you.”+ (Luke 3:21, 22)

4 Then Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness+ (Luke  4:1)

32 John also bore witness, saying: “I viewed the spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him.+ 33 Even I did not know him, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me: ‘Whoever it is upon whom you see the spirit coming down and remaining,+ this is the one who baptizes in holy spirit.’+ 34 And I have seen it, and I have given witness that this one is the Son of God.”+ (John 1:32-34)

Jesus, in turn, impressed upon his followers the importance of being guided by God’s holy spirit, or “active force.”

2 Now the earth was formless and desolate,* and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep,*+ and God’s active force*+ was moving about over the surface of the waters.+ (Genesis 1:2)

9 So I say to you, keep on asking,+ and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.+10 For everyone asking receives,+ and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 11 Indeed, which father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish?+12 Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? 13 Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”+ (Luke 11:9-13)

 3 For I will pour out water on the thirsty one*+ And flowing streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your offspring*+ And my blessing on your descendants.(Isaiah 44:3)

17 Every good gift and every perfect present is from above,+ coming down from the Father of the celestial lights,+ who does not vary or change like the shifting shadows.*+ (James 1:17)

Why is that so important? Because God’s spirit has the power to transform a person’s mind, so that it begins to resemble the mind of Christ.

12 Therefore, I appeal to you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies+ as a living sacrifice, holy+ and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.+ 2 And stop being molded by this system of things,* but be transformed by making your mind over,+ so that you may prove to yourselves+ the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ((Romans 12:1, 2)

The holy spirit produces in a person such qualities as “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” These qualities — which the Bible calls “the fruitage of the spirit” — mark a truly spiritual person.

22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,* kindness, goodness,+ faith, 23 mildness, self-control.+ Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires.+ (Galatians 5:22, 23, 24)

9 for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth.+ (Ephesians 5:9)

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,+ then peaceable,+ reasonable,+ ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits,+ impartial,+ not hypocritical.+ (James 3:17)

In short, a spiritually-minded person is one who is guided by God’s spirit.

Jesus displayed the fruitage of the spirit throughout his ministry. Such qualities as love, kindness, and goodness were particularly evident in the way he treated those who were considered lowly members of society.

36 On seeing the crowds, he felt pity for them,+ because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.+  (Matthew 9:36)

Note, for example, an incident described by the apostle John. We read:

“As [Jesus] was passing along he saw a man blind from birth.”

Jesus’ disciples also noticed the man but saw him as a sinner.

“Who sinned,” they asked, “this man or his parents?”

The man’s neighbours also noted the man, but all they saw was a beggar.

“This is the man that used to sit and beg, is it not?”

they said. Jesus, however, saw the blind man as an individual who needed help. He spoke to the blind man and cured him.

9 As he was passing along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him: “Rabbi,+ who sinned, this man or his parents, so that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered: “Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it was so that the works of God might be made manifest in his case.+ 4 We must do the works of the One who sent me while it is day;+ the night is coming when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the world’s light.”+ 6 After he said these things, he spat on the ground and made a paste with the saliva, and he smeared the paste on the man’s eyes+ 7 and said to him: “Go wash in the pool of Si·lo′am” (which is translated “Sent Forth”). And he went and washed, and came back seeing.+

8 Then the neighbors and those who formerly used to see that he was a beggar began to say: “This is the man who used to sit and beg, is it not?” (John 9:1-8.)

What does this incident tell you about the mind of Christ?
First, Jesus did not overlook lowly ones but treated them with tender compassion.
Second, he took the initiative to help others.
Do you see yourself following this pattern set by Jesus? Do you see people as Jesus did, giving them the help they need to improve their life and brighten their future? Or do you tend to favour those who are prominent and overlook those who are not? If the former is the case, you are doing well in following Jesus’ example.

12 For he will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. 13 He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives* of the poor he will save. 14 From oppression and from violence he will rescue them,* And their blood will be precious in his eyes. (Psalm 72:12-14.)

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Preceding articles:

Looking for True Spirituality 1 Intro

Looking for True Spirituality 2 Not restricted to an elite

Looking for True Spirituality 3 Mind of Christ

Looking for True Spirituality 4 Getting to Know the Mind of Christ

Next: Looking for True Spirituality 6 Spirituality and Prayer

Dutch version of this article / De Nederlandse versie van dit artikel:

Op zoek naar spiritualiteit 5 Vrucht van de geest

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Find also to read:

1. He has given us the Pneuma, the force, from Him
2. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
3. Followers with deepening
4. Bearing fruit
5. You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone

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Worcester Black Pear. On a tree at Hartlebury Castle- The tree bearing fruit appears on The Worcestershire county coat of arms. The pear itself appears on the Worcester city coat of arms. The fruit is very hard and if stored carefully will keep right through to the following spring. It needs to be cooked slowly. (Photo: Bob Embleton)

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