Works of the Flesh or Fruitage of the Spirit? God’s holy spirit rests only upon those who obey God as ruler. (Acts 5:32) Jehovah does not give his spirit to those who practice “the works of the flesh.” Those works are “fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21) True, in today’s world “the works of the flesh” are much in evidence. Yet, those who practice them do not enjoy genuine and permanent happiness. Rather, doing those things ruins one’s good relationship with relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Moreover, God’s Word states that those who “practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.” In contrast, God gives his spirit to those who cultivate “the fruitage of the spirit.” The qualities that make up this fruitage are “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22, 23) When we display these qualities, we create the conditions for having peaceful relationships with others and with God, which result in true happiness. (See box.) More important, by showing love, kindness, goodness, and other godly qualities, we please Jehovah and have the happy hope of everlasting life in God’s new world of righteousness.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:09:09 +0000
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