What does it mean to say that something is a fruit of the Spirit? Why is learning to bear these fruits important in the life of a Christian? Battles are either won or lost on the grounds of choosing this day whom we will serve. While there is a choice to be made, there is, however, much more than a choice that is going on within the heart of man.
The process of sanctification is a long, arduous process in which the believer is not left to himself. If the believer was left to himself, simply put, the sanctification process would not be. There would be no life, there would no fertile soil, there would be no growth, and there would be no development into the person that God desires us to be. Therefore, while there is a choice to be made to bear fruit for God and become more like Jesus, there is also an inner and even outer working of God that must happen if He wants His children to become like Himself.
One of the greatest places to see what a Christian is to look like in his daily life is found in the popular passage, Galatians 5:22-23. In this portion of Scripture, a number of character traits, or “fruits of the Spirit” as they are called, are listed. One of these fruits of the Spirit is peace. Prior to this point in Galatians chapter 5, Paul tells that there is a war going on between the flesh and the Spirit. He also tells us that the way to conquer the flesh is by walking in the Spirit.
Paul lists a number of sinful acts, behaviors, and attitudes that the flesh craves. But Paul does not leave us there; he moves on to tell us what walking in the Spirit is. It is at this point that he presents to his readers the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To conquer the flesh, one must learn to walk by the Spirit and bear fruit.
Put off and put on
It may seem too simple to be the case. It may seem too archaic and out of date. It may not be what the newest psychological trend would present to you as the way of escape and life. However, in biblical counseling, this is one of the bulwarks in our fight against the flesh, the world, and the devil. When it comes to sinful behavior, you cannot and will not ever be able to simply stop indulging in sin. The only way to develop as a Christian is to turn from sin, but then also put on new righteous behaviors.
As an example, if someone finds himself struggling with pride, he will not be able to stop unless he also learns to be humble. If someone finds himself hating everyone that he meets, he will continue down that path until he learns to love. Where there is a sin to put off, there is a righteous quality to put on.
Jesus and His disciples
Of these fruits, a very important one to take note of is the fruit of peace. An illustrative picture is shown in the book of Matthew 8:23-27 of the peace of Christ and the lack of peace in the disciples. In this portion of Scripture, Jesus and His disciples get into a boat. As they are sailing across the sea, Jesus falls asleep, but as He sleeps, a storm arises on the waters. The Bible tells us that the boat was being engulfed by the waves that were crashing into it.
The disciples at this point are terrified and cry out to Jesus in fear: “…Lord, save us: we perish” (Matt. 8:25). The disciples are a wreck. They lack the peace of God in their hearts during this trying time in their lives.
Jesus awakes and responds to their request. He confronts their little faith and calms the storm. While it may seem like a scary situation to be in, Jesus was in the boat. It is on this point that we recognize that fear had no place in their hearts; rather, they should have been at peace.
It would not have been wrong to wake Jesus. It would not have been wrong to want the storm to stop. It was the response of their hearts and their distrust in God during the storm that merited a rebuke.
An inner peace, an inner calm, would have been just what they needed to stay level-headed in the midst of the storm. It is also what you will need to stay calm and level-headed in the midst of the storms in your life. The question is not whether or not storms will come. The question is, “When will they come?” The peace of God will help you to remain steadfast and immovable, all the while trusting in Christ.
But how do we cultivate the peace of God? It is important to note in discussing the fruits of the Spirit that the fruit is something the Spirit produces. At the same time, there is a responsibility that is laid upon man to walk in the Spirit. Look at the following Scriptures and see for yourself how both the work of the Spirit of God and the responsibility of man tie together:
• Justification brings peace (Rom. 5:1) – When someone is made right with God, also known as being legally declared righteous, the peace of God will follow. He transitions into a reconciled state with God. This literally means that he moves from being at enmity with God to being at peace with God.
• Faith brings peace (Rom. 15:13) – This portion of Scripture is a part of Paul’s prayer for the church in Rome. In it, he prays that the God of hope would fill the hearts of the believers with peace. However, he prays that God will fill their hearts with peace in believing. He attributes the peace of God coming into their hearts through the avenue of faith.
• Acquainting yourself with God will bring peace (Job 22:21) – When someone genuinely turns to the Lord and comes to know God, there will be a peace that oftentimes quickly accompanies this. This acquainting one’s self with God also consists of agreeing with God. It is impossible to be at peace with God and disagree about His ways. Agree with God, acquaint yourself with God, and watch the peace of God come back into your heart.
• Loving God’s law will bring peace (Ps. 119:165) – Developing a love for God’s law is a must in walking through life with a peaceful disposition. You will not be at peace while you harbor bitterness toward God and His law, all the while wishing that portions of His law were not there. This passage tells us that “great peace” will come for those who love God’s law. This is a yielding to God’s law, a submission and a reverence for God’s law, and a firm belief that His law and ways are best.
• A spiritual mind brings peace (Rom. 8:6) – This one point cannot be overstated in cultivating peace in your life. It is possible that the main reason why you are not at peace is that your mind is uncontrolled and carnal. The Scripture says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” When someone has an uncontrolled, carnal mind, it will promote death. There is no peace in death but rather restlessness, fear, and anxiety. However, when one is spiritually minded, the peace of God will be his ongoing experience. Scripture says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26:3). Fix your mind on Christ, and the peace of God will come.
Practical application
Depend upon the Spirit of God to bear fruit in your life. Depend upon Christ, as He is the vine and you are the branches. Justification is a work of God, and He brings it about in the life of a believer. Faith is a gift that grows by the grace of God, and in each opportunity you have, exercise it and don’t shrink back. Acquaint yourself with God, learn to love His law, fix your mind on Christ, and watch the peace of God come rushing in.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for offering Your peace to me. Help me to walk in Your peace despite the trying times in my life. Help me to trust in You more and to fix my mind on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.