One of the outcomes of a Spirit filled life is a fruitful life. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians that believers filled with the Holy Spirit will have nine qualities. He called them as the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22). Let us analyse these spiritual qualities one after the other.
The fruit of the Spirit can be divided into three groups of three each; the first three points towards God, the second three towards others and the last three towards oneself
Love: This is an attitude to try to be always right with God and others. This is shown by putting God and others ahead of you. Love will motivate you to give, to sacrifice and to forgive.
and de things. Joy: This is the Spirit of gladness which is shown by worship and adoration to the Lord. It expresses itself when we deal with others and
Peace: This is the inner calmness present in a person even when everything around him is in turmoil. it is due to the peace of God which passes all understanding
Long-suffering: This is the patient reaction to the unexpected turn of events and it helps to maintain relationships with patience and calmness Kindness: This is showing mercy to others by treating others as we expect them to treat us.
Goodness: This is taking steps to be always right with God and others by being open, honest, blameless and upright.
Faithfulness: This is living a life of trust in the sight of others and God, having a life of trustworthiness and dependability in relationships.
Gentleness: This is a quality in which you will treat others gently, tenderly and graciously.
Self Control: This quality gives you control over your lust and physical desires.
All these qualities will be present in you if you are controlled by the Holy Spirit or filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that in this all the law is contained (Gal. 5:23). These are not nine fruits but one fruit with nine qualities.
The Bible says in Galatians 5:22, 23 that the Holy Spirit bestows on believers the fruit of the Spirit the nine virtues. Jesus Christ said that a good tree ‘bears good fruit’ and ‘by their fruit’ we will know them (Matt. 7:17-20). So the mark of the person being filled with the Holy Spirit is having the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A believer who is filled with or received the Holy Spirit will have these nine virtues. This is the true mark of the Spirit because this grace of God can be attained only by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, Paul wrote that there are works of flesh like adultery, fornication, uncleanness, hatred, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness and other sins (Gal. 5:19-21). If a believer continues to practice these works of the flesh and claims that he is filled with the Holy Spirit or has received the Holy Spirit, then his claim is misleading as per the teaching in this passage. The true mark of the Holy Spirit is having these nine virtues of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and ‘against such things there is no law.
