This post, and many corresponding ones in weeks to come, is an extension of How is Your Root System? and The Analogy of the Oak Tree posts.

I have been so discouraged by the lack of power and conviction among believers. Me included. I had become do discouraged by my life’s circumstances, and truthfully some of which were self-inflicting, that I had allowed the enemy to convince me I was not a true follower of Christ. That the truth I speak of and write about was misconstrued and misunderstood because my life wasn’t demonstrating the fruits and power I thought it should be.

But thanks be to God, in relinquishing control over the Bakery and other things in my life, I’ve been able to dedicate the time I always needed (and desperately wanted) in being with my Heavenly Father. In my personal study time, He graciously has reminded me that I was never far away. The truths He spoke to me before were still the same truths I’ve come to understand and grow in.

I made some choices that blocked my sight and ears from Him, but He was never far away; I was never far from Him. I didn’t lose my salvation in believing in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Relating this to the other posts, How Is Your Root System and The Analogy of the Oak Tree- I had been planted and sown in good soil with roots growing deep in the Truth of God’s Word, but I lacked the ability to intertwine my roots with other deeply rooted believers to ensure I could withstand the elements of my life, of my circumstances.

So even though I was rooted, I was bowing under pressure. I attempted to grow fruit from withered, nutrient-deficient limbs. And when the lack of fruits was evident in my life, I seriously doubted the foundation in which I was planted.

But my conviction came that this is just what the devil tries to do; and it’s much like the stories of other believers, unfortunately. This is a trap of the enemy to try and convince us that we aren’t who we know we are, in Christ. He tries to blind our eyes from the Truth and if we’re not intertwined with other rooted believers, we more easily succumb to the lies of the enemies.

But God, rich in mercy and grace, reminded me about these truths, all of which are connected- How’s Your Root System?, Analogy of the Oak Tree, Fruits of the Spirit, and Self-Love: It’s Not What You Think.

As I sit here and write in my notebook, then type on my computer all that’s flooding my mind, I am learning that there will be many more posts shared in regards to the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. For now, as an introduction, let’s dive in to what the Bible says about these Holy Fruits and the believer of the faith.

Bearing Fruit Takes Time and Commitment

When we are planted in good, receptive soil, soaking in the nutrients from our roots for which the Truth of God is planted, we begin to grow; we begin to bear fruits. But not regular fruits a we know them, or even the world, but fruits of the Holy Spirit.

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

There is a pre-requisite to bearing these fruits though. But not a “you gotta constantly grind hard to earn them” kind of pre-requisite. It’s a one-and-done pre-requisite.

To bear fruit, one must first believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. That’s the pre-requisite.

After you’ve made that choice to be made new in Christ through the sacrificial blood of Him who died to wash you clean of your sins and make you a new creature in Him, you begin to let Him change you from the inside out, transforming you into the likeness of Him through His Holy Spirit.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ…” (2 Cor. 1:21)

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14)

When we meet that pre-requisite of coming to faith in Jesus Christ, we are planted in the good soil, ready to grow and be made alive in Christ! Read Ephesian 2:1-10. Truly, pause for a moment and read it in a separate tab.

Pruning will have to take place to ensure a harvest of plenty, and it will hurt at times. The pruning of the Spirit is contrary to the flesh, so it will come with difficult choices, but standing firm in faith, being intertwined with others of the faith will help us stay encouraged for the fruits that will surely come in due time, according to the Father’s will.

Even though your salvation is a one-and-done pre-requisite to growing and bearing Holy Fruits, you do have to make the choice daily to submit to your Heavenly Father’s authority in whom you are planted (reference Matt. 10:38, AMPC), or you can choose (intentionally or subconsciously) succumb to the elements of your environment which will try to snatch you away from the roots in which you are growing.

I shared a bit about a season of spiritual pruning I’ve experienced recently- still experiencing actually. It’s a pruning that has been taking place over the expanse of my years of life, but one I am coming to an understanding of and one of which I am thankful for, even though it hurts. Read Self-Love: It’s Not What You Think.

Diving Deep Into Each Holy Fruit

The day in which I write this is March 26, 2023. Over the course of the next nine weeks I will be diving deep into what each of these Fruits of the Spirit are- what they mean, looking at the Greek root of the words, what they look like, how are they demonstrated in scripture, and how God may call us, once we produce a harvest, to share these others.

I had hoped to be able to share them all here, in this post. But in writing it all out, it would be an injustice to try and cram it all here. There’s too much goodness to potentially leave out for the sake of not losing readers because a post is “too long.”

I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, subscribe to Transparency in Love or follow Transparency in Love on Facebook. I promise I will not bombard you with unnecessary emails or posts. I currently have 10,637 unnecessary unread emails at this very moment, trust me, I won’t do that to you.

The Truth the Lord is speaking to me in this current season of pruning, I don’t want you to miss it either. His Spirit is moving and the “hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:22-24)

I want you and me to be ready when He returns. I want us to be some of the true worshipers whose eyes and ears were not blinded by the deceitfulness of the world but were rooted deep in God’s Word of Truth, bearing His Fruits.

Subscribe to Transparency in Love below and receive a notification in your inbox when I post about each of the Fruits of the Spirit, along with other content.

Until then, pray about how God might be trying to grow you or prune you in the Fruits of His Spirit- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Or maybe you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior and you want to take that first step. If that’s you, send me an email and I’ll help connect you with a body of believers who can help lead you in this amazing, life-changing decision.

---

Subscribe to Transparency in Love!