The fruit must speak, part 4
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The Last Two Fruits: Gentleness & Self-Control
Yesterday, we finished the list of the fruit of the Spirit by looking at gentleness and self-control. Scripture reminds us that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. In other words, we don’t live driven by impulse anymore; we live led by the Spirit.
Gentleness: Strength Under Control
Gentleness is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is the intentional decision to restrain your power, your words, and your reactions, even when you have every right to unleash them.
Gentleness reflects the heart of God. As Isaiah 55:9 reminds us, His ways are higher than ours. When we choose gentleness, we submit our reactions to His higher way.
Many of us didn’t grow up around gentleness. We learned to survive. We built walls. We reacted quickly because life required it. However, in Christ, those old patterns can be transformed and renewed. The Spirit rewires us.
- Gentleness shows up where anger once ruled.
- Patience replaces frustration.
- Kind words overcome harsh responses.
- Peace steps in where conflict used to follow.
As Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” The fruit must speak. Your progress may not be perfect, but it is powerful. Tell someone near you, “I’m proud of your progress.”
Self-Control: Protection, Not Restriction
If gentleness is strength under control, self-control is discipline under pressure.
Proverbs 25:28 says that a person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. In biblical times, a city without walls was exposed and vulnerable. In the same way, a life without self-control leaves us open to regret, broken trust, and unnecessary consequences.
Self-control is:
- Being quick to listen and slow to speak (James1:19).
- Guarding your words when emotions run high.
- Choosing wisdom over impulse.
It’s not about restriction, it’s about protection.
The story of Giuseppe and the toothbrush makes us laugh, but it highlights something real: self-control means choosing not to react, even when you feel justified. It’s saying, “I could… but I won’t.”
2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God has given us power, love, and self-control. That means we are not victims of our emotions; we are empowered by His Spirit.
The Fruit Must Speak
Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “By their fruits you will know them.” Fruit is visible. It is evident. It testifies without words.
When we stay connected to Christ, the Vine (see John 15:16), we bear fruit that remains. Gentleness guards our relationships. Self-control guards our future. Together, they guard our testimony.
The good news? What you were handed does not have to control you. Trauma, broken patterns, and inherited reactions can stop with you. Through the Holy Spirit, you can build a different legacy.
So today, choose the higher way. Let gentleness shape your tone. Let self-control guard your steps.
Because when the Spirit is at work within you, the fruit will speak, and it will speak life.
Pastor Julio
