Surprise! Surprise! I bet you did not know that a perfect definition for the nine succulent Fruit of the Spirit Bible verses outlined in Galatians 5:22-23a could be found in Acts 4:32a thru 4:35b and one verse in John 15:16. Yes, God hid them through the ingenuity, cleverness and trappings of Saint Paul’s writings.

Every now and again, the Holy Spirit challenges me to a ‘quickie’ pop quiz. Sometimes I receive a high mark, other times I head for the wood shed. But this time I believe I did pretty good. Let’s see how well you do…

Patience	Acts 4:32a All the believers were one in heart and mind.	Restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions or desires. Self-control.
Love	Acts 4:32b No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.	Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
Peace	Acts 4:33a With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.	Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.
Kindness Forbearance	Acts 4:33b And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all… Acts 4:34a …that there were no needy persons among them.	The quality or state of being kind; affection. The refraining from the enforcement of something as a debt, right or obligation that is due.
Faithfulness Gentleness	Acts 4:34b For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales… Acts 4:35a …and put it at the apostles’ feet,	Faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted. The quality or state of being gentle; honorable; mildness of manner; or disposition.
Joy	Acts 4:35b …and it was distributed to anyone who had need.	Delight; the expression or exhibition of such emotion.
Goodness	John 15:16 “…but I chose you…so that you might go and bear (good) fruit–fruit that will last…”	The quality or state of being good. (Only GOD is Good. He alone enables us to bear fruit, not we ourselves.)

Even though there are nine descriptive words for the Character of the Holy Spirit, there is no “s” at the end of fruit! Why? Well, here is what the Holy Spirit conversed with me. “Since I am the Third Person of the Trinity…and God is the First and Christ Jesus is the Second, nevertheless, We are only ONE SPIRITUAL FRUITY ANOMALY! Grammatically, there is no need for an “s”. And more importantly, against such things there is no law.

My Solemn Prayer…

Dear Lord Jesus, I sincerely pray that You will order my steps and make me prepared to let go of my inflexibility and become one with the rest of my church community. Do me, Lord, just as You and the Father and the Holy Spirit are One. In the Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

Scripture Lesson: “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)

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