1. FRUIT IS PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS, NOT EXCLUSIVELY THOUGH

John 15:8(ESV)"8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

The proof of being a disciple is the fruit in your life.

Galatians 5:16-23(ESV)"16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Works of the flesh are obvious:Galatians 5:19-21(NLT)"19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

Let the reborn/recreated man dominate, not the flesh!

You can tell by your fruits if you are being led by your carnal flesh or the Spirit. If your flesh is dominating, your sinful nature is obvious (Galatians 5:19-21). If walking in the Spirit, your fruits will easily identify you as a follower/believer of Jesus (Galatians 5:22-23).

Everyone wants their spouse, manager, person in traffic to deny their flesh, but most are not willing to themselves!

The reality is that we often expect others to keep their flesh on a leash while excusing our own lack of self-control. True fruit becomes evident in those challenging moments—when you remain patient despite someone's rudeness, when you choose kindness even when you're exhausted or unwell, or when you maintain patience with a slow checkout person instead of giving in to frustration. These are the moments when the fruit of the Spirit shines brightest. Sometimes the most powerful impact you can make is not through words, but through the visible fruit others witness in your life.

2. GOOD FRUIT TAKES TIME TO GROW AND DEVELOP

The qualities listed in Galatians 5:22-23 are the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit takes time to grow and develop. Just like natural fruit doesn't grow overnight and starts out tiny when it first appears, spiritual fruit begins small and requires cultivation over time. This is especially true when your life has been producing works of the flesh for so long, perhaps for most of your life. Turning that around and beginning to produce real fruit in the kingdom of God is a process that requires patience, persistence, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5(KJV)"4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;"

1 Corinthians 3:1-3(NKJV)"1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?"

The above scripture is in the letters from the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Corinth.

These people were already born again and filled with the Spirit, yet Paul called them carnal because growth takes time. Your body and mind didn't get saved—that's a process. Don't give up! Keep learning and growing. Say to yourself, "I am going to learn to walk in love and control my temper and behavior." Let God keep pruning and cutting the dead stuff off. "Lord, cut that part off!" It takes time, and after a while of being a doer of the Word, the next thing you know you've got a little fruit. When you get big fruit, don't forget and judge those who are just starting. Give grace.

3. FRUIT GROWS BY TIME WITH JESUS IN THE WORD AND PRAYER

John 15:3-5(AMP)"3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. 4 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing."

It is crucial to stay in the word read your bible, go to church, spend time in prayer and you will grow fruit.

You need all the faith, wisdom, and grace you can get! Your life may be going good right now (health, job, etc.), but you need to be prepared for whatever is coming your way. You better stay abiding in the word and not just when things start going bad. You need to abide in him that way when the circumstances of life come your way, you're ready and got the fruit and faith to deal with that because you been abiding in the vine Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-11(NIV)"5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

When this life is over, and you step into the Kingdom, how great would it be to hear these words?!

Matthew 25:21(NKJV)"21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

I want that kind of entrance and I'm sure you do too. It comes from abiding in Jesus and letting fruit grow. As we continue this series we will learn how to be a strong Christian and let this happen in your life. Let's prune off that bad/dead stuff, and lets bring forth more fruit into the kingdom of God.

Jesus loves you, make Him Lord of your life today!