Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
—Galatians 5:19-23

The Bible has many passages that speak of us bearing fruit and that compare the righteous to a tree. In John 15 Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches. And here is one more passage, which became the revelation I am sharing with you: “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” [Ps.1:3]

How many times have we tried to bear the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 and failed? I personally tried, without success, to produce the fruit of the Spirit by my own efforts for many years of my Christian life. And only when I put these verses side by side did this picture emerge: the tree does nothing to produce fruit! Its only task is to feed from the rivers of water by which it was planted. It doesn’t fuss, it doesn’t run around, it doesn’t hold evangelistic campaigns or hand out leaflets on the street. :-) It is at REST: it just stands there, drinks its water, enjoys the sunshine and nature, and depends completely on the one who planted it.

And the fruit is the natural product of its feeding. Lots of water and minerals from the soil — lots of fruit. If the tree is the righteous one, then its task is to feed on the water, which is the Word, which is Jesus! And feeding is a natural process and the natural desire of every living creature, so it is never a burden or something we do under compulsion. So how do we feed in order to bear spiritual fruit? We simply need to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word, and be rooted and grounded in love, and comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.

So simple? Yes, that simple! For as we listen to His word, the word of grace that He redeemed us with His blood, loved us and made us righteous, holy, a royal priesthood and so on… When we begin to believe this — and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God — then our mind will be transformed and the Holy Spirit will produce fruit in us!!!