圣灵的果子
加拉太书五章19至25节
19情欲的事都是显而易见的，就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、
20拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、
21嫉妒（有古卷在此有：凶杀二字）、醉酒、荒宴等类。我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人必不能承受神的国。
22圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、
23温柔、节制。这样的事没有律法禁止。
24凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。
25我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。
信息分享
「果子」是指到甚么？一棵长大成熟的植物或树，会自然生出果子。有些植物结果子的速度较快，但另一些却需要较长时间，但无论如此，大多数植物只要培植得宜，都会按时结出果子。
圣灵的果子是圣灵在人生命结出的果子，用以见证基督。别人借着结出来的果子，便看见耶稣基督在那人生命中的作为。
今天，让我们看看经文所列的头三个果子。仁爱、喜乐与和平全出于人的内心；它们更是三种最基本的特质，也是信徒其他表现之本。
仁爱所指的，不是我们一般所讲的爱心，而是基督之爱。圣灵帮助我们更多明白基督对我们的爱，激发我们更多爱主。而且，借着圣灵所赐的爱，我们还懂得爱那些不可爱的人，甚或是我们的仇敌，那是我们原初所办不到的。
喜乐也不是单纯的快乐。它是对神的一种默然信靠，乐意把一切交在神的手中，以致无论处于任何环境，也会有从心底里生出的喜乐。
同样地，和平的心境也并非仅限于事事顺利的时候才出现，反之，因着神的同在，以致我们能得着神所赐的平安，去面对各种境况。
当我们自我省察的时候，若发现自己没有仁爱、喜乐与和平，那么，就证明圣灵在我们的生命中的工作有限了。哪是甚么缘故呢？是否我们拦阻圣灵的工作？我们必须反躬自问，找出真正的答案。
反思：
基督徒的生命会自然成长。我们能否察觉自己在过去一年有多少成长呢？
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:19-25
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Message
What do we mean by 'fruit'? Fruit is produced naturally by a plant or a tree showing that the tree or plant has reached maturity. On some plants fruit takes a long time to form. Other plants or trees produce fruit quickly.
The fruit of the Spirit is what the Spirit produces in a life yielded to Jesus Christ. It gives a picture of Jesus Christ, in that life.
Let's look at just the first three mentioned. Love, joy and peace all belong to our inner life or experience. From these three qualities all the rest of our life seems to flow.
The love referred to is not human love, but Christ's love. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand more of Christ's love for us and so our love for Christ increases. He does more than that, however. He gives us a love for the unlovely and even for our enemies. That is not natural is it? But the Spirit of God can do it if we will allow him.
Joy is not merely being happy about everything. It is quiet confidence that we are in God's hands so we are happy in all circumstances.
Peace, too, is something which comes, not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God. It underlies all the rest of our lives.
If we don't have love, joy and peace, then the Spirit of God Is not being allowed to work in our lives. Who is stopping him? Could we look in a mirror and see the answer?
A THOUGHT:
Growth is part of Christian experience. How much have we grown this year?