Begetting Desired Fruit

BEGETTING DESIRED FRUIT

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

The verb “beget” is not a word used very often.  As a matter of fact, the lists of who begat whom in scripture are very often glossed over on our way to what we consider meatier passages.

However, scripture is careful to describe Jesus as the only “begotten” Son of God.  It describes his lineage —who He came from. Mary was overshadowed by the Spirit of God, the power of God rested upon her, and she carried within her the Son of God—Jesus, the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20).

Mary could not will herself to become pregnant.  It was the power of God that came upon her that brought about Jesus’ miraculous conception.  Mary needed only to be willing.

When we look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit, we see a similar lineage.  To bear spiritual fruit requires a similar submission to, and overshadowing of, the Holy Spirit.  We need the power of God to rest upon us, because like Mary, we are unable to bear spiritual fruit apart from God.

The fruit are the lineage of the Spirit in our lives. Every fruit first comes from the love of God implanted in our hearts.  As we submit to and are overshadowed by the Spirit of God, the fruit matures and can give birth to the next.  Love begets joy.  Joy begets peace, and peace begets forbearance (patience)...

When we lack a particular spiritual fruit, we have but to examine which spiritual fruits precede it that remain immature, and submit to the overshadowing of the Spirit in those things. The power of God then will rest upon us, and once that fruit has matured, it can give birth to the next.

Father, we are anxious to see the maturing of certain fruits, but we cannot rush ahead of Your plan.  Holy Spirit, come! We submit ourselves to You.  Overshadow us!  Do Your maturing work within us, so endurance will have its perfect result, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4).  Lord, make us fruitful, and may Your fruit within us remain and be multiplied!  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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