Humility, Compassion, Kindness, Patience, Forgiveness, Joy, Peace, Faithfulness, Holiness or Self-Control, these 9 subjects covered during the past few months only touch on the fruit of the Holy Spirit growing in the new creation Christ creates in every Christian. Let us continue to grow in the grace & knowledge of Christ by looking into some of the synonyms the New Testament uses to fully describe the fruit of the Holy Spirit. There are 12 words in His description.
- Love, Gal. 5:22
- Joy, Gal. 5:22
- Peace, Gal. 5:22
- Patience, Gal. 5:22
- Goodness, Gal. 5:22, Eph. 5:9.
- Faithfulness, Gal. 5:22
- Kindness, Gal. 5:22
- Gentleness, Gal. 5:23
- Self-control, Gal. 5:23
- Holiness, Romans 6:22
- Righteousness, Ephesians 5:9, Hebrews 12:11, James 3:18
- Truthfulness, Ephesians 5:9
In the field of Botanical Reproduction, scientists have learnt that fruit is distinguished from vegetables as any flowering growth from the plant that has it’s seeds inside (except for the strawberry) Botanists have given fruit 12 different general characteristics. Every fruit has at least 12 parts.
The following parts are AROUND the seed
1. Exocarp (outer skin)
- Mesocarp (flesh of fruit)
- Pericarp (flesh around seed, usually higher in fructose)
- Endocarp (material around seed) in peaches it is the stone.
- Pedical (part of stem which goes inside the fruit)
The following parts are all INSIDE the seed
6. Endosperm, 7. Scutellum, 8. Cotyledon, 9. Plumule, 10. Hypocotyl, 11. Radicle and
12. Coleorhiza.
There are over 300,000 species of flowering plants that bear fruit, the majority have these 12 parts in them. This is the result of a Designer, we believe Our God, who made physical fruit also grows spiritual fruit. Do you notice how the seed is packed with parts? If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, it begins there. This is why Jesus teaches on the work of God being in believing! See John 6:28-29 & Ephesians 2:4-10 to see how Paul put this work in our hearts to mature the new creature in Christ.
Epaggelia 