Ephesians 5:9 (KJV)

“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”

In the Scripture, the word “FRUIT” as written in Galatians 5:22 is used in the uncountable form and this is a metaphor that helps us to see our faith as a tree with branches that may or may not produce fruit, depending on how well the tree is taken care of. If the tree is given adequate nourishment, which is God’s word then it will grow bigger and be more productive. If weeds and insects – sinful tendencies – are kept away and dealt with accordingly, then the healthiness and fruitfulness of the tree is preserved.

Remember that in John 15:1, God is referred to as the Husbandman, the Vinedresser. He is the One who helps to keep the tree healthy and fruitful. No Christian can keep growing without submitting to the pruning and oversight of God through His Spirit and His servants. It is expedient for every Christian to know that fruitfulness in the Kingdom is more of a function of obedience than just prayer.

A Christian who does not exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit will at best experience stagnation, that is, no growth and at worst, death because every unfruitful tree will be cut down and burnt with fire. Reading Galatians 5:19ff, you will the list of the works of the flesh but you must note that on days when you are not manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, definitely, you will be exhibiting the works of the flesh. And when this happens, you need to keep going back to Christ for cleansing and transformation until you are changed. Never agree with the state of stagnation or unfruitfulness.

Confession: I yield myself to be pruned by the Husbandman so that I might continually be fruitful.

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