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#96 My Life: Fruit of The SpiritDr. Stephen Phinney: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is not a checklist of virtues—it is the living evidence of Christ indwelling a surrendered soul. I had to learn the hard way!
HIS FRUIT - MY BLESSINGSLove that defies conditions, joy that transcends suffering, peace that silences chaos, patience that endures injustice, kindness that heals wounds, goodness that reflects His holiness, faithfulness that withstands temptation, gentleness that disarms pride, and self-control that dethrones the flesh—all flow from the Spirit, not self.These are not traits to be achieved, but manifestations of a Life received. When the believer abides in Yeshua, the Vine, the Spirit bears fruit that no law can condemn and no darkness can counterfeit. It is the aroma of heaven on earth, the signature of divine indwelling transformation. FRUIT FOR THE PICKIN’For years, I viewed the fruit of the Holy Spirit as a personal reward—evidence of spiritual maturity, a badge of honor for walking rightly with God. I measured love, joy, peace, and patience as traits to cultivate for my own growth, comfort, and affirmation. But over time, the Spirit began to dismantle that self-focused lens. Through trials, pruning, and quiet conviction, I came to see that the fruit was never meant to decorate my life—it was meant to nourish others. The Vine does not bear fruit for the branch to admire, but for the hungry to be fed. This revelation came slowly, often painfully.I watched people around me starve for gentleness, thirst for kindness, and ache for peace—while I guarded my spiritual harvest like a private garden. But Yeshua, the true Vine, whispered a deeper truth: “Freely you have received, freely give.” His Life within me was not a possession, but a provision. The fruit of the Spirit was His character expressing itself through my surrender, and its purpose was to reveal Him—not me. I began to understand that every act of Spirit-born love was a taste of heaven for someone else. Now, I see my soul as a branch—yielding to the Vine, bearing fruit not for display but for distribution. When others encounter patience in my presence, it is Yeshua they touch. When they find joy in my words, it is His Life they receive. Authentic fruit is never self-serving; it is sacrificial, fragrant, and healing. My journey has taught me that the Spirit’s harvest is not mine to hoard—it is heaven’s gift to a hurting world, delivered through a willing vessel. FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SOThe manifestation of Christ’s life within the believer is the divine mystery that transforms ordinary existence into sacred expression, THROUGH RELEASING His precious Life. It is not the imitation of holiness, but the indwelling of the Holy One Himself—Yeshua living His life through a willing vessel. When Christ takes residence within the soul, He does not merely influence behavior; He becomes the source of every word, every deed, every motive. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—is not the result of human effort, but the overflow of His life within. These virtues are not goals to achieve, but evidence of a life exchanged: our weakness for His strength, our striving for His sufficiency. I don’t practice any of them; I release them freely!This manifestation begins with death—the crucifixion of the self-life at the Cross. Only when the believer reckons themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Messiah can the Spirit bear fruit through them. It is in this sacred union, this abiding in the Vine, that the believer becomes a branch through which heaven feeds the earth. Every act of kindness becomes a touch of Christ’s hand; every word of peace, a whisper of His voice. The fruit is not for the branch to admire, but for the world to taste and see that the Lord is good. In this way, the believer becomes a living epistle, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, known and read by all. To release His fruit in all we say and do is to live from His life, not our own. It is to speak with His compassion, serve with His humility, and endure with His power. The world does not need more religious performance—it needs the fragrance of Christ. And that fragrance only flows from a life hidden in Him (Colossians 3:3), yielded to Him, and empowered by Him. When Christ is truly formed within, every moment becomes ministry, every conversation becomes communion, and every action becomes an offering. This is the essence of authentic Christianity: not Christ as our example alone, but Christ as our very life. It’s time to face the orchard’s secret: what many parade as “spiritual fruit” is just waxed behavior from the self-life—shiny, shelf-ready, and shipped straight from the flesh’s factory. It may look ripe, but it’s rootless. Only the indwelling Life of Yeshua produces fruit that’s heaven-grown, Spirit-fed, and ready to nourish the soul.We’ve learned how to mimic love, rehearse joy, and manufacture peace—but these counterfeits lack power because they originate from the self-life, not the Spirit. Fake fruit may impress the crowd, but it cannot nourish the soul. It withers under pressure, crumbles in conflict, and leaves others hungry for something real. The flesh can imitate virtue, but only the indwelling Life of Yeshua can produce fruit that heals, restores, and reveals the heart of God. I challenge you—stop cultivating fruit for your own benefit, and start releasing the fruit of Christ within.Let go of performance-driven religion and embrace Spirit-led surrender. The world doesn’t need your best version of kindness; it needs the kindness of Yeshua flowing through you. When you abide in Him, the Vine, His life becomes your source, and His fruit becomes your testimony. This is not about trying harder—it’s about dying deeper. Let the self-life be crucified, and let the risen Messiah bear fruit through your words, your actions, your presence. Only then will your life become a living orchard of grace, where others can taste and see that the Lord is good.Watch the video above. If it blesses you, consider donating to help us keep it free. HERE So ask yourself: Can I survive off of plastic, fake, fruit? Consider listening to “Fake Fruit.” Written by Stephen Phinney, with vocalists Elijah & Maria Musika. Check our 90+ My Life essays and media content HERE. The End Times Chronicles is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We want to extend our eternal gratitude to each of you for taking the time to read our publications and engage with our posts. Your support and interest mean the world to us, and it motivates us to continue creating content that resonates with you.
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