Weapons for the Believer: 4 – The Fruit of the Spirit

Weapons for the Believer: 4 – The Fruit of the Spirit

According to Paul, there are weapons of warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We are considering ten weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked at the first three in previous posts. If you haven’t read them I encourage you to take time to do so.

The next weapon on the list is in itself a list. These are referred to as The Fruit of the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:8-11 (ESV)

… Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light (KJV says Spirit) is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Galatians 5:19-24 (ESV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Weapon #4: Bear the fruit of the Spirit – love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I have seen this list presented a little differently, as I typed it in the statement above. It asserts that the Fruit of the Spirit is love. Then, after inserting a colon, the remainder of this list is given as the Fruit of Love. I don’t believe it would be wrong to consider this notion. I began contemplating this and came up with the following:

The Fruit of the Spirit is love.

Joy is love’s emotion.

Peace is love’s guide.

Patience is love’s behavior.

Kindness is love’s demeanor.

Goodness is love’s action.

Faithfulness is love’s testimony.

Gentleness is love’s approach.

Self-control is love’s constraint.

As I stated at the outset of this study, I believe God has given us principles by which to live our lives that will keep us from most reasons to fight. This weapon is no different. When we allow the Fruit of the Spirit, which is simply the life of Jesus being manifested in us, we will extinguish most fires before they reach an unmanageable state. When the enemy comes to provoke us, to get us to lash out at others in an unseemly way, our response will determine the outcome.

Considering love to be the Fruit of the Spirit, the indwelling presence of God, makes sense to me. The first 2 weapons considered were: 1) Love God. 2) Love others as you love yourself. Then the third weapon was: 3) Speak the truth in love. This is one of the reasons Jesus came to earth; to reveal the Father’s heart for us. God is love, and His heart is to show His love through you and me.

So, love. Be joyful. Follow peace. Live with patience. Display kindness. Respond with goodness. Remain faithful. Act in gentleness. Stay true to the mission. We are the Body of Christ in the earth. Let others see Jesus through you.