How can we tell if the Holy Spirit is working in our lives? Listen as Susie welcomes evangelist Matt Brown back to the studio. We spend some time unpacking the fruit of the Spirit and talk about how to cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
As we progress in patience, love, and joy, that’s how we know we’re growing closer to Christ. Susie points out that we tend to equate passion with maturity, but the true mark of a Christian is a Christ-like character. As Matt put it,
“I believe in the Great Commission, but not at the expense of the Great Commandment… There’s a time to speak the truth, but always in gentleness. Always with respect.”
Matt points to the contagious nature of gentleness and peace. These traits point others to Christ while they refine us. Love, in particular, can spread from person to person and transform entire families and communities. Matt and Susie say that while someone may have a call on their life, it’s not fruitful to step on others to accomplish that. In everything, we exercise love through seeing others as valuable and respected and that fruit points them to Christ.
How do we cultivate these traits? Matt says, at times God will put us in situations where we need to lean on Him and seek this fruit. When you meet someone who is overflowing with joy, it is often because of the trials they’ve walked through. God takes us through seasons of pruning, and it’s in those seasons when the fruit of the Spirit is grown and can flourish.
Key Scriptures: Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 4:18-19
Theme Song: Love Take Me Over by Steven Curtis Chapman
Highlight : Fruit of the Spirit
This program has been previously aired.
