PsalmTree

 The Fruits of the Spirit…Galatians 5:22, 23

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice 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. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Context: In Christian teaching, the Holy Spirit is far more than a distant force; He is God Himself, living inside believers to give life, guide, convict, empower, and transform them into Christ’s image.

• The Spirit gives spiritual life at conversion, making believers “new creations” and taking up permanent residence in them (e.g., Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:13–14).
• He opens the mind to Scripture, illuminating God’s will and character so believers can understand and follow Christ more clearly (John 14:26; 16:13).
• The Spirit brings inner conviction of sin, prompting repentance, turning from selfishness, and returning to obedience.
• The Spirit gradually reshapes character, producing the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control (Galatians 5:16–23; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
• The Spirit gives power to witness, serves in the church, and dispenses spiritual gifts (e.g., Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12), so Christ’s work spreads through ordinary people.
• The Spirit marks believers as God’s own, assuring them of adopted‑son status and guaranteeing they will reach final glory in Christ (Ephesians 1:13–14; Romans 8:16–17).
  

Explanation: In Galatians 5, Paul presents the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as the character that the Holy Spirit produces in believers as they walk by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. Several Christian interpreters and theological traditions describe the fruit of the Spirit as not only Christian virtues, but the very traits of God Himself—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control—emanating from the Holy Spirit and drawn into human character.

It’s not about me…it never has been. The Holy Spirit is the vehicle by which God “claims, keeps and commissions” us. In that sense, “Walking by the Spirit”, is not manufacturing a façade of goodness but being conformed to the inner moral nature of God as He reveals it through the Spirit.

Illustration: In college I was a Theater major (for a short while). I remember a class when we were practicing Method acting on stage. I was a bit curious when the professor instructed us, “when you are finished, do not react…go straight to your seat without a word.” 

Why? I found out…

I was on stage with a girl…we were the first pair. We were at opposite ends of the stage and were instructed to walk backwards toward the middle slowly. When we felt our bodies touch, we were to turn around and deliver our lines. As we stepped backward we were to focus on the line we prepared (what ever we chose) and think only about that; how we wanted to deliver it, what it was intended to convey and do it with conviction.  With each step I became less aware of my surroundings and more aware of the line I was about to deliver. I began to feel it. I began to believe it. I became excited with the opportunity to deliver it.

I was so immersed in my task that I was a bit surprised when our bodies bumped together. We turned around.

In the sweetest, most authentic voice, she said “I love you.”

I barely heard it but roared out my line; “Go to hell!”

Her eyes snapped open wide. The audience gasped, then clapped… In a split second, I realized how inappropriate my line was in light of what she had just said. I was so embarrassed, I reached out and said “I’m sorry!”

The professor chastised me. “I told you, don’t say anything…go sit down.”

I went to my seat totally embarrassed; not at the words I spoke by by how totally destructive they felt at that moment.

I understood the professor…

After class I sought out the girl and apologized. She laughed and said “you were awesome!”

Application: I found out Method acting is total inward immersion in in my role and it becomes truly authentic. The actor fuses themselves with the character, using real emotions, memories, and instincts so the performance “feels” lived rather than manufactured. They “live” the role on and off camera, letting that environment slowly shape their posture, speech, and even private habits. 

Philippians 2:5-8 tells us this is what Jesus did…"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” He didn’t just “act” like us; He became us…even while He was still God. And, it was so authentic that it provided redemption for all humanity that believed it.

The alternative theory is Character acting (outer disguise) The actor builds a role from the outside in: accent, posture, mannerisms, costume, and behavior are carefully crafted to produce someone clearly different from the actor. The environment is not so much “lived” as stylized: the actor steps into a clear, often exaggerated, persona rather than trying to become the character in the deepest emotional sense. The Apostle Paul is explaining the “religious elite” were just Character actors; their religion was merely an outer disguise. 

God wants us to become “method actors”…becoming fully immersed in the Holy Spirit, to the point it completely transforms our character. Only then will we become Disciple-makers.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before You acknowledging that the fruit of Your Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self‑control—are not just ideals but the very character of Your Son, Jesus, and of Your Spirit who lives in me. I ask You now to help me fully immerse myself in this character, as a method actor submits to a role, except that this is far more real: this is who You are calling me to become in my inner life and outer walk.

Lord, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Root out the habits of selfishness, pride, and fear that shape my responses, and replace them with the Spirit’s way of seeing, speaking, and acting. Let my thoughts be saturated with Your truth, my heart softened by Your love, and my will aligned with Your will. Where I have relied on my own strength, my image, or my reputation, forgive me, and draw me back into the simple, daily discipline of “walking by the Spirit.”

May my life become an authentic reflection of Your fruit so that those around me will not merely hear about You but will see You in me—my words gentle, my anger patient, my joy unshakable, my love consistent. Use even my weaknesses, when surrendered to You, as opportunities to display the Spirit’s power instead of my own performance. Let my relationships, my work, my worship, and my silence all point people to the One who is changing me from the inside out.

I commit myself to this: to stay in step with the Spirit, to listen before reacting, to forgive where it is costly, to extend grace where it is unexpected, and to bear the fruit You have promised in Galatians 5, not as a put‑on performance, but as a life‑long apprenticeship with You.

In the name of Jesus, who is the perfect image of the Father and the author of our transformation,
Amen.

Live boldly out there today…