Walk in the Spirit
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25)
Many believers confuse the fruit of the Spirit with the gifts of the Spirit. These two are not interchangeable. The fruit builds your character, while the gifts represent the power of God flowing through you to others. However, both are essential. Don’t expect to operate effectively in the gifts if you aren’t developing any of the fruit. Before God grants you gifts to minister to others, He cultivates fruit to transform you more into His image. Yes, the gifts of the Spirit are wonderful and powerful, but without fruit, the gifts can become dangerous. I’ve seen preachers who may possess gifts flowing from the platform but lack love flowing from their hearts, leading to a short-lived ministry. Power without purity is a problem. Pastors who are full of power and anointed but lack gentleness in their lives risk harming others.
Paul concluded this portion of his letter by saying, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” This refers to how we conduct our lives. You are called to prophesy and be patient. You are called to move in miracles and be meek. These are not either-or concepts. Don’t just crave the gifts without allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate your character as well.
Practical Application
Pray about the fruit of the Spirit and ask the Holy Spirit today in prayer which one you need to focus on more and allow Him to develop in you. Your development of the fruit will give you greater access to the gifts.
