Galatians 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit: Noticeable Attributes of a True Christian Life

By Roy Anthony Duodu Sarpong MBA PhD

This book, Galatians 5:22-23, is an exciting spirited tribute to the teaching of Apostle Paul's work for the development of every Christian's spiritual life--"The Fruit of the Spirit." This write-up by the author is to remind the people of God of the significance of the principle of being spiritually motivated to live a selfless and humble life by example for fulfillment and manifestation of the Holy Spirit in you.Although the emphasis of this book is to encourage and serve as a reminder for a reality check attributes for the true Christian. It will also be of interest to those yet to come to Christ or outside Christianity to explore the book for keys to a healthy spiritual life through the Holy Spirit.It is "accordingly with gratification to advocate this book to all peoples who worship God--the Christians and also the non-Christian." It is to strengthen the love for God and to live a life so proclaimed by the Lord that we are created to worship, and glorify Him. "Even everyone that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (Isaiah 43:7). To the non-Christian, you are encouraged to explore and use this book as your spiritual benchmark to see the love of God and be ultimately saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit to live a healthy spiritual life.We strongly believe that this book will continuously demonstrate more imperative ways in a manner that is very real for realistic quandaries of everyday life of the Christian. This is your key to the developmental processes of the Holy Spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098023027

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Galatians 5:22-23 Fruit of the Spirit

Noticeable Attributes of a True Christian Life

Roy Anthony Duodu Sarpong, MBA, PhD

ISBN 978-1-0980-2301-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-2302-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Roy Anthony Duodu Sarpong, MBA, PhD

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Introduction

Every Christian's Reality Check

PART ONE

Overview of the Holy Spirit

The New Man, the Old Man

The Holy Spirit is our Spiritual Strength

Manifestation of the Holy Spirit

The Indweller—the Holy Spirit

PART TWO

Fruit of the Spirit

Love: Fruit of the Spirit

Joy: Fruit of the Spirit

Peace: Fruit of the Spirit

Patience: Fruit of the Spirit

Kindness: Fruit of the Spirit

Goodness: Fruit of the Spirit

Faithfulness: Fruit of the Spirit

Meekness: Fruit of the Spirit

Self-Control: Fruit of the Spirit

PART THREE

The Holy Spirit in Perspective

The Fruit of the Spirit: To Do and Not To Do

Spiritual Reality Check

Conclusion: Walk in the Spirit

Notes

References

Index

About the Author

Galatians 5:22–23

Fruit of the Spirit

Noticeable Attributes of a True Christian Life

Dedication

I have everything to be thankful for putting this book together, but most of it all I am thankful to my Lord God through Jesus Christ for all the things that He has done for me in my life, and for that matter I dedicate this book to Him who's the Most High God.

It dropped in my Spirit instantly to write this book without a prior thought of it. It just so happened and I just did. I am not an authority of the Word on Holy Spirit or a biblical scholar and neither am I a theologian nor a pastor. But the drive that got me going was awesome and trust very well in the name of our Lord Jesus that, this book tailored toward the reality check of our lives as Christians would bear its own fruit for the readers of this book on the Fruit of the Spirit.

I thank my God for His grace, which is more than enough for each new day for giving me the opportunity to add this book of the Fruit of the Spirit to the innumerable works of His Works to strengthen mankind both Christians and non-Christians who may come to acknowledge God's salvation and take on the new man shroud.

I am also forever grateful for His continuous abundant blessing for every day of my life, my wife's life, and my children's life which we cherish.

For the purpose of this book and for our spiritual development, I would continue to give thanks to the Lord Jesus for His love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control toward me, my wife, and my children. I thank my God for His protection in every area of the daily unrevealed calamities that comes in our life. I call them the near misses.

Thank you, God.

Acknowledgment

I would like to give thanks to my Lord Jesus for the spiritual strength for putting this write-up and biblical compilation for this book as a perpetual reminder to Christians and even the non-Christians who want to develop their spiritual life and build a relationship with the Lord.

I would continue to acknowledge my Lord God and thank Him for the opportunity of growing in a Christian home and more so my wife a well-bred lady from a Presbyterian background. The principles of the Word of God struck the fear of the Lord always in our hearts wherever we go whether found ourselves sitting at scornful places or backsliding of a kind or in a temptation that we needed to resist. It is incredible seeing His power at hand in such circumstances.

What then shall I render unto my Lord to acknowledge His supernatural blessings upon me and my family? Without Jesus Christ, we cannot do anything of any eternal significance. This is why we owe all our praises to Him in all that we do. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5).

I thank the Lord for His blessings upon my life and the life of my beautiful and God-loving wife Gina and our three children, Milva, Rachel, Roy II (Jr.), and grandchildren.

My gratitude to our old family friend and man of the authority of the Word of God, a great teacher and counselor—Reverend Andrew Asare, founder and Senior Pastor of Omega Church, a mentor, a man of sage—who never gave up on me and my family—and always there for us rain or sunshine. May the Lord continue to bless him and use him across the community of nations and the continents of the world—you are a true man of God and a man of integrity.

To Pastors Dwight and Marty Klesos, may I thank you so dearly for your continuous support in prayers and encouragement for my family and I always. Most of all, for your discerning grace and spiritual-filled gifts for which I am grateful.

To our Pastor, Robie Symons, founder of Hope Bible Church formerly Harvest Bible Chapel, Oakville, a great educator, teacher, a man of authority of the Word and uncompromising Preacher of the Word of God, I say thank you for your powerful sermons. You are a man of honor, and brilliance. May the Lord continuously bless you and grow the church body and missions around the world.

To our very special family friends Glen and Pamela Shakell and the entire Shakell family, we thank you for your warmth and the love of God we share together with equal passion. You are such an amazing family we shall always cherish in Christ. May the love of God continue to reign in your hearts.

The greatest gift God has given us is love and loving our friends and families. So to all my friends; and family friends, far and near who bless our lives so richly: Aunt Cecie the Queen of Heart, Janet the prayer warrior, and Pastors Joe Sechere and Charles Chum our inspirational teachers and prayer partners.

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 116:12–19, KJV).

Thank you, my Lord Jesus.

Introduction

Every Christian's Reality Check

A book is only worth a book in hand and for reading if it is captivating and satisfactory to the readers or audience targeted. This scriptural profile is an attempt to inspire the Christians in their walk of life as Christ-followers for a spiritual growth through the Holy Spirit that dwells in the new man. To some extent, this book could help as a constant reminder for the Christian as a reality check to a healthy spiritual life.

Jesus said, By their fruits, you will know them (Matthew 7:20, NKJV). As Christians, we are Disciples of Christ Jesus. Just saying with your lips that you are a Christian is not enough to the unbelievers. Your life as a Christian is under a microscope by all the people around you.

Accordingly, people should be able to discover under their lenses to see a Fruit of the Spirit in your life. The bottom line is as a Christ-follower and a branch of the vine tree, you should be able to produce a Spiritual Fruit. Jesus said, By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:8, ESV).

This book is a compilation of nothing new outside of the Gospel which by the love and mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ has been laid down for Christians from all corners of the world.

A lot of sermons and biblical insight has been given by many men of God with authority on the word of the Fruit of the Spirit which is the developmental growth and power of the Holy Spirit in every Christian.

To the reader or the Christian, our walk-in Christ to determine who we are is how the nine Fruit of the Spirit should be watered to bear the fruit required by the Holy Spirit as a true Christian. This book serves as the building blocks for the true Christian and must accordingly be every Christian's reality check and also as a reminder for all Christians to strengthen their spirituality.

I am not a pastor. I am neither a theologian nor am I an ordained priest nor a reverend nor an authority on this topic at the time of writing this book. I am a Christian and my faith and belief tells me that it is of paramount importance for Christians who subsist and walk with the word of God tell between themselves with the guide of the Holy Spirit stated by Apostle Paul in the Fifth Chapter of the Book of Galatians from verse 22 through to verse 23 (Galatians 5:22–23).

This brings me to the central discussion of this book on the subject—the Fruit of the Spirit. From my perspective, I strongly believe without a doubt that the Fruit of the Spirit is a spiritual-filled tool for all Christians, as a reality check and a progression for Christians at any level of spiritual maturity, internally and externally to ignite the fire in us—the Holy Spirit.

To all Christians, whether conscious of the fact or not I must emphasize that the greatest power in the world is the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that permits believers of Christ to be filled with the Spirit and loving more than they could ever be without it.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Galatia Christians was very aware that the Christians there were regressing and were accordingly going back to their old ways and sins. Paul wrote to urge them that they should love one another through love and reminded them that they should love their neighbors as themselves.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:13–16). What the Galatians needed was to keep in step with the Spirit.

As a result of what went on with the Galatia Christians at this time, Paul went on to write out the spiritual fruits of the Fruit of the Spirit of love that transcends all love for the spiritual life of every Christian—that Spirit would transform our lives—the Holy Spirit in us:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). So what we have to do here is to put our faith in God, repent of our sins, and accept to be baptized. Once this cycle is complete we can have the Holy Spirit and other spiritual gifts. And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Do you know why the nine (9) fruits of the spirit have common characteristics with each other? Considering the tree with many branches and nodes, the Fruit of the Spirit is attached to the same stem to yield the expectant fruit of the Spirit. To bear fruit, you have to attach yourself to this stem as a branch to produce fruit. The key is to stay attached to the stem of the tree and produce fruit all the time to the glory of God—in this case, Jesus Christ who's the true vine (stem).

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned (John 15:1–6, ESV).

It's easy to see how the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit overlap and relate to each other. Meekness and gentleness relate very closely to love, longsuffering—being patient and not short-tempered, kindness and self-control. That's the way to be obedient and glorify the Lord.

I believe that this book, "Galatians 5:22–23, Noticeable Attributes of a True Christian Life and Every Christian's Reality Check to a Healthy Spiritual Life would be helpful for many who needs to grow their spiritual life in Christ. It's simply a check-mate" to encourage all Christians.

It has been compiled with references from the Bible and by reading and listening to many men and women with the authority of the Word on the Holy Spirit. The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit should certainly be a devotional and a facilitator for every Christian growth. If the Holy Spirit is not in you—you are not of God. In short, I call it the nine (9) Commandments of the Holy Spirit. Failing to grow all the characters of the fruit is ungodly…that is you are not loving God.

You do not love Him because the Scripture intrinsically reverberates that: You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).

This is a key to our spiritual reality check and ethical biblical integrity with our walk and intimacy with our Father in Heaven.

Just like the ten (10) Commandments you cannot fulfill one of them and break the others. The Fruit of the Spirit must be developed in your life to glorify the Lord God. To me, this is the spiritual pathway to the Gifts of God. If you don't have it in you as a Christian, you are empty. Get down to it, work on it, pray to the Lord to lead you to glorify His Holy name.

How great art thou oh Lord?

Your love is always unconditional toward us

From the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun you are God.

You shall reign forever from coast to coast, and from everlasting to everlasting.

You have done for me what no man can do

To you alone be the glory.

END OF INTRODUCTION

PART ONE

Overview of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23

Fruit of the Spirit

1

A Stream contaminated from upstream is not easy to be de-contaminated downstream.

Character and behavior is a reflection of your life. And the result of your actions today becomes

a mirror of your life. Therefore the choice is yours today.

—Roy Duodu Sarpong Sr.

Chapter 1

The New Man, the Old Man

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy

people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

—Ephesians 1:17–19

…choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

—Joshua 24:15

In chapter 1 of the book of Ephesians, verses 3 through 20, the Apostle Paul states: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (verse 3–4).

Yes we are blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ and richly blessed by all accounts. We have something that the greater part of people does not have. All because we are in Christ, and we have the most eternal blessings and the most final riches. Glory be to the Most High God that we have responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we cannot live a Christ-like life without this spiritual blessing from God the Father. And this spiritual blessing from the Father is the Holy Spirit breathed in us. To some the spiritual blessing, that is—the Holy Spirit was breathed in us the moment we were born and to some the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon us the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour. This then separates and sets us free from our old past and therefore we become a new man, the old man of our past is no more.

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace (verse 6–7).

When the Father blesses it is a whole blessing without any blemish, a complete spiritual redemption that necessitates a continuous development of our spiritual life.

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, (verse 13). In other words within you dwells the Holy Spirit."

So the onus is upon us as Christians to live clean as Christ would do so that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit residing in us. If our house is dirty and blemished, our spiritual life is demoralized because God does not live in dirty places physically or spiritually.

What furthermore do we do as Christians to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit? What do we do to be seen as true Christians or servants and disciples of the Lord Jesus? What will be our good example to the world of the unbelievers? These are aspects of reality check analysis we ought to do as Christians constantly. Again the choice is ours—it stares at us all the time.

This reminds me of Joshua's proclamation to the Israelites—at this point in your Christian life, the option is yours—are you continually going to stay loyal to your vows or contaminate it with filth. You are a new creation—a new man as soon as you become repented and baptized to follow the Lord as your personal Savior and Christ. You cannot put one foot inside the house of the Lord and one foot outside. Joshua's assertion then ascends if you are acting in the manner presented—choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.

Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:14–15, ESV).

Whether we worship him or not He is always God. We have to prove ourselves as the real ambassadors of our Lord Jesus by filling our body and soul with the Spirit. So we must consequently live unwavering with each one of the principles of the Fruit of the Spirit and morals of the Holy Spirit.

That said we Christians must by all means not underestimate the power in the Fruit(s) that necessitates the Holy Spirit. Biblically the Fruit of the Holy Spirit sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life which is an indication of visible growth as a follower of Jesus Christ. A reality check by the un-Christian or an unbeliever from a distance should clearly show the fruits of a true Christian in Christ.

The scripture states and teaches that the Fruit of the Spirit is not an entity of fruits. As Christians we cannot elect to choose and pick and apply as we wish. There is no in-between. The Fruit of the Spirit is a one-nine fold Fruit. For those who live and walk in Christ distinguish themselves in the Holy Spirit. This is a pass-through to the nine gifts of the Gift of the Spirit.

Not to confuse with the subject of this book, the nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit is just icing on the cake if Christians will live and practice the nine-fold Fruits of the Holy Spirit with their heart. As Christians the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are no doubt the reality check for everyone's life in our walk with Christ. This nine-fold attribute