GOD'S WORD IS THE SEED OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23, and they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these virtuous qualities produced by the Holy Spirit, and they are the exact opposite of the the works of the flesh listed previously in Galatians 5:19-21. Once we hear the Word of God, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will incline our hearts to apply the Word we hear. The Word of God is the seed from which the Fruit of the Spirit grows. The Holy Spirit will not produce fruit within us without the Word of God. The more we read and study the Word, and the more we submit to the Holy Spirit, the more good fruit we will bear in our life. Therefore cultivate the Fruit of the Holy Spirit by sowing plenty of the good seed, the Word of God, in your heart daily and meditate on it (Psalm 1:1-3), and keep yourself filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Jude 1:20-21).
We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23, and they are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these virtuous qualities produced by the Holy Spirit, and they are the exact opposite of the the works of the flesh listed previously in Galatians 5:19-21. Once we hear the Word of God, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will incline our hearts to apply the Word we hear. The Word of God is the seed from which the Fruit of the Spirit grows. The Holy Spirit will not produce fruit within us without the Word of God. The more we read and study the Word, and the more we submit to the Holy Spirit, the more good fruit we will bear in our life. Therefore cultivate the Fruit of the Holy Spirit by sowing plenty of the good seed, the Word of God, in your heart daily and meditate on it (Psalm 1:1-3), and keep yourself filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Jude 1:20-21).
HOW THE WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE FRUIT
The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11) that is sown into a person's heart. We sow and water the seed into the heart, but God make it grow and bear fruit. Christians sow the seed and water it by preaching the Word to others and through personal Bible study, but it is up to God's Holy Spirit to make it grow and bear fruit (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). Without the Holy Spirit, the word will not change a person's life. A person who is ignorant of God's Word will not produce an abundance of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, because the Word informs the person of truth about love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23); but the Holy Spirit enables that person to understand and apply them in practice (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
The seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11) that is sown into a person's heart. We sow and water the seed into the heart, but God make it grow and bear fruit. Christians sow the seed and water it by preaching the Word to others and through personal Bible study, but it is up to God's Holy Spirit to make it grow and bear fruit (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). Without the Holy Spirit, the word will not change a person's life. A person who is ignorant of God's Word will not produce an abundance of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, because the Word informs the person of truth about love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23); but the Holy Spirit enables that person to understand and apply them in practice (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
BEING A BIBLE-WIZ DOES NOT MAKE SOMEONE MORE SPIRITUALLY MATURE AND MORE FRUITFUL THAN OTHERS; THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THAT.
In other words, Bible knowledge alone does not does not create spiritual growth and fruitfulness, the Holy Spirit is also actively involved.
Regardless of how much head knowledge, academic knowledge, or Bible knowledge you may have, you will only bear good spiritual fruit at the rate and efficiency which the Holy Spirit enables you to do so. Knowledge, in and of itself, is a gift from God, but Bible knowledge (God's Word) cannot be successfully applied and practice without the Holy Spirit working within the person. Myself, You, or anyone else can be one of the smartest Bible scholars around (even with seminary education), and yet still bear spiritual fruit only according to how the Holy Spirit himself works within us. Whether we bear a small amount, a moderate amount, or a tremendous abundance of spiritual fruit depends upon the will of the Holy Spirit and how He operates within us. Many of us bear no spiritual fruit at all, despite having a great deal of Bible knowledge. Yes, knowledge of the scriptures is important and frequent Bible study is also important, but the amount of scriptural knowledge alone does not determine exactly how much spiritual fruit you produce for the glory of God; it is the Holy Spirit that determines such things. In order for our accumulated knowledge of God's Word the Bible to profit us with the greatest possible level of spiritual fruitfulness, we must daily invite into ourselves a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit through prayer (Ephesians 5:18; Jude 1:20, 21), and, at the same time, we must humble ourselves, stop feeding our sinful flesh, and submit totally to the desires and influences of the Holy Spirit; that is, "walk in the Spirit" (Romans 8:5-14; Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:16-26; Galatians 6:7, 8; 1 Peter 2:11).
In other words, Bible knowledge alone does not does not create spiritual growth and fruitfulness, the Holy Spirit is also actively involved.
Regardless of how much head knowledge, academic knowledge, or Bible knowledge you may have, you will only bear good spiritual fruit at the rate and efficiency which the Holy Spirit enables you to do so. Knowledge, in and of itself, is a gift from God, but Bible knowledge (God's Word) cannot be successfully applied and practice without the Holy Spirit working within the person. Myself, You, or anyone else can be one of the smartest Bible scholars around (even with seminary education), and yet still bear spiritual fruit only according to how the Holy Spirit himself works within us. Whether we bear a small amount, a moderate amount, or a tremendous abundance of spiritual fruit depends upon the will of the Holy Spirit and how He operates within us. Many of us bear no spiritual fruit at all, despite having a great deal of Bible knowledge. Yes, knowledge of the scriptures is important and frequent Bible study is also important, but the amount of scriptural knowledge alone does not determine exactly how much spiritual fruit you produce for the glory of God; it is the Holy Spirit that determines such things. In order for our accumulated knowledge of God's Word the Bible to profit us with the greatest possible level of spiritual fruitfulness, we must daily invite into ourselves a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit through prayer (Ephesians 5:18; Jude 1:20, 21), and, at the same time, we must humble ourselves, stop feeding our sinful flesh, and submit totally to the desires and influences of the Holy Spirit; that is, "walk in the Spirit" (Romans 8:5-14; Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:16-26; Galatians 6:7, 8; 1 Peter 2:11).
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