In conclusion of our look into indicators of someone who is “Walking in The Spirit”; we have to ask ourselves: How do we know if we are, or are not, walking in the Spirit? The answer is: Fruit.
Jesus taught the identifiers of one who would call themselves a disciple of Jesus in Matthew chapters 5-7. There we see Him say these words: “Ye shall know them by their fruits… Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (16-20) Jesus taught His followers to identify the people’s true spirituality through the fruit of their lives. The subject of fruit is used many times in scripture. In John 15 it is in relation to the “fruit of the vine” and our fellowship with Jesus directly. That fellowship produces a certain kind of fruit, and certain kind of quality of fruit.
For the purpose of this study: Fruit is a public testimony to a believers sensitivity to and dependency on the Holy Spirit. Fruit is the single thing that sets you apart from the ‘producers’ (those who go through motions doing life in their own power). The person who depends on the life-sustaining presence and abiding nature of God in us is one who bears fruit. The person who strives on their own power to ‘produce’ the things only derived by promises and grace, is frankly tiresome and moronic. Who hasn’t done that?
The person who bears fruit is no longer just a possession of God—He is under His personal influence. Intimidation is no longer their game. They do not rely on personality and trumped-up enthusiasm to win you over. They have the life in them and that is bearing fruit whether you are there or not. They look as if they are confident and filled with peace, when in reality their confidence is only gained by letting go of their own confidence. Their peace is gained by allowing themselves to live in any environment as long as God is there. They look abnormal to those around them, yet stir jealousy in others for what they possess.
In a church: if the fruit is as the Pharisees, just produced actions from the flesh, then there will be disastrous consequences. I believe this is why people don’t surrender. They feel like they could ‘never do what that person does’. This is truly sad because that ‘producer’ is doing it all out of the flesh. You would never know what you were capable of and probably more if you would be led by the Spirit instead of producing fruit in your own power by way of your own flesh. Stop trying so hard in the flesh like the producers do. Instead, decide to let go and let God.
Conversely, the one who is sensitive to the Spirit has an uncanny ability to know when they have hurt someone, without being oversensitive or finding themselves on pens and needles. They also know the difference in someone genuinely derailed (offended) or someone who is abusing them by manipulating their good graces. How can someone be able to do this by just “abiding”? They have reconciled themselves to the fact that they are sinners also. They do not exaggerate the reality within themselves and therefore in others. They also recognize that they have within them the power of the Holy Spirit to rise above their own fleshly appetites and desires including their fears and dispositions. They can say no to speculations and yes to difficulty in the same breath, because they are dependent on the Spirit in the consequences of both decisions.
Paul wrote a list of 9 identifiers of someone who would walk in the Spirit. These are actually labeled “fruit” in Galatians 5.22-23. None of these are severable. They are together as a whole “fruit” in the singular case. They are not fruitS, but one bunch of fruit you manifest by abiding walking in the Spirit. They are the “fruit of the Spirit” so you do not produce them anyway. They are as natural coming from a Spirit-filled person as peaches are from a peach tree. The problem with analyzing the details of each of these separately is simple—you will stop depending on the Holy Spirit and start trying to produce again. For instance, you will find yourself asking God to forgive you for not being very “kind”. ‘I need to be more kind’ you will say. Which is wrong! This is not your fruit, it’s His! This is why Paul stated this list and moved on.
You see disciple, it isn’t what you do but what He does in you! He is the producer and it is His produce—you are just the bearer. Fruit of the Spirit was never intended to be a demonstration of our dedication and resolve. It was never to be a work of the flesh. Quite contrary, it is like demonstrating power over the flesh by chasing not to sin. We don’t have the power, just the decision to make. This is not about the strength of the person, but a yieldedness and closeness to the Holy Spirit.
Believer… if you would be a Disciple of Christ, you must be filled with the Spirit by walking in the Spirit. If you need to see evidence, just look at your life.