The Evidence Is In The Fruit // Evidences Of The Holy Spirit // Apostle Dr Josh

The Evidence is in the Fruit Main Scripture: Galatians 5:19–23 “The acts of the flesh are obvious…” Galatians 5:19 The evidence of what is happening inside of us must eventually show on the outside through our character. The works of the flesh are obvious. In the same way, the fruit of the Spirit must also become evident in our lives. The ultimate agenda of God is that we become people who can inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:22–23 speaks about the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We cannot encounter God in parts. When we encounter God, we encounter Him in His fullness. The fruit of the Spirit must therefore be evident in every area of our lives. If we fail to produce one area of the fruit, it reveals an area where God still wants to work in us. YOU CANNOT MANUFACTURE THE FRUIT The fruit of the Spirit cannot be manufactured from the outside. It must come from within. Fruit is produced through relationship. The closer we walk with God, the more His character becomes evident in us. 1. FRUITS THAT POINT INWARD Love, Joy and Peace These fruits point toward God and our relationship with Him. 1.1 LOVE, AGAPE Agape is the God-kind of love. It is unconditional love. Agape is not simply something you fall into. It is something that grows within you as you grow in God. It is not self-satisfaction; it is self-devotion. Agape teaches us to love beyond what is physical, emotional or convenient. It allows us to love people even when there is nothing to gain from them. God’s love in us makes us love beyond the physical. 1.2 JOY Joy is different from happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances. Joy depends on God. Happiness can disappear when the situation changes, but the joy of the Lord remains even in difficult seasons. Joy gives us the ability to rejoice in everything. You can have tears in your eyes and still have joy in your heart. 1.3 PEACE Peace means to bind back together what was torn apart. True peace begins with reconciliation with God. When we are reconciled to God, His peace becomes established within us. These fruits can begin privately within us before they become visible to others. 2. FRUITS THAT POINT OUTWARD Long-suffering, Gentleness and Goodness These fruits affect how we relate to other people. They cannot remain hidden because they become visible through our actions. 2.1 LONG SUFFERING Long-suffering is patience with people. Especially with people who provoke us. It is the ability to remain patient when someone tests your character. The question is not only, “How do I behave when people are good to me?” The question is: “What fruit comes out of me when people provoke me?” 2.2 GENTLENESS / KINDNESS Gentleness expresses itself through usefulness. It is doing something for somebody without expecting something in return. Kindness is not merely an emotion. Kindness has action. You see a need, and you respond. You see someone hurting, and you help. You have the ability to bless someone, and you do it without looking for recognition. 2.3 GOODNESS Goodness is going one step further. It is seeing where people are hurting and being willing to step into that place. It is being able to discern where help is needed and becoming part of the solution. Goodness asks: “Where can I make a difference?” THE FRUIT MUST BE VISIBLE Fruit cannot hide. You don’t have to tell people that a tree has fruit, the fruit speaks for itself. In the same way, we should not have to announce that we are walking with God. Our character should become the evidence. What is happening inside of us must eventually become visible through the way we love, respond, forgive, serve, endure and treat people. THE EVIDENCE IS IN THE FRUIT. The question is not only: “Have I encountered God?” The question is: “What fruit is my encounter with God producing in me?”