JUICY JULY 2022| DAY 4

THEME: BUT FOR THE SHOWERS WE PLEAD

TOPIC: FURNISHED WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

TEXT: GALATIANS 5:22-23

BIBLE STUDY: LUKE 13:6-9, JOHN 15:1-8

 

Hello, sisters!

 

Welcome to Day 4 of the Juicy July Experience 2022.

 

I hope you have been following through powerfully. The Lord is our strength in Jesus’ Name.

 

From the topic, you can see what we shall be doing today, right? Exactly! Don’t zoom off and say ‘Oh, it’s not deliverance session today’. Just fully surrender to God and key into the subject of today. You will experience the Power of the Lord greatly, I tell you. So, today, we shall be pleading for the showers of the fruit of the Spirit into our lives. Halleluyah!

 

LET US SING THIS SONG AS WE BEGIN. SING IT WITH A VERY OPEN HEART AND CONNECT TO THE THRONE OF GRACE. AMEN.

 

HOLY SPIRIT, COME FILL THIS PLACE BY CECE WINANS

Holy Spirit, come and fill this place

Bring us healing with Your warm embrace

Show Your power make Your presence known

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

 

My heart is longing just to hear from You

My soul is waiting to know someone who

Can take us higher help us make it through

So will You please come and set us free

 

Holy Spirit, come and fill this place

Bring us healing with Your warm embrace

Show Your power, make Your presence known

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

 

Breath of God we need a touch from You

Shine down on us with the light of truth

Stir our hearts and set our spirit free

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

 

Our hearts are hungry for Your perfect peace

Our souls are thirsty for the joy You bring

So send Your glory make Your praise complete

Send down the rain, touch us once again

 

Holy Spirit, come and fill this place

Bring us healing with Your warm embrace

Show Your power, make Your presence known

Holy Spirit, come fill this place

 

Welcome back, dear sis.

 

WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?

As believers, the most important person that makes us effective in our walk with God is the Holy Spirit. We can never be all that God would have us be without the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit, we are able to know all that God would have us be and do in establishing His agenda here on earth.

 

One of the most important ways the Holy Spirit helps us fulfil God’s counsel for our lives is by producing fruit in us.

The fruit of the Spirit is a kind of fruit that testifies to the fact that we have deserted our worldly lifestyles and have fully embraced kingdom lifestyles. Now the scripture calls it “fruit” not “fruits”.

 

A mango fruit has different characteristics which are not the same as an apple. Both of them are fruits but they have attributes that make them qualified to be called mangoes or apples. If you see just one big seed in an apple, you will begin to question its identity.

 

The same goes for the fruit of the Spirit. It is not just any kind. It has certain characteristics prescribed by God Himself and expressed through His Spirit.

 

WHY DO WE NEED THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?

 

John 15:8 tells us that bearing fruit is a proof that we are truly Christ’s disciples. This means that if we are following Christ indeed, there has to be an outward expression that will certify that the life of Christ has been rubbing off on us.

 

The goal of every believer should be to “mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Hence, our relationship with God should make us become more like Christ every day. As we continue to behold Him, we should be transformed until we look like Him. This transformation happens through the instrumentality of the fruit of Holy Spirit.

 

Many times, Christians are inclined to focusing more on the gifts than the fruit. The gifts are great but the problem is that it is dangerous to have a life loaded with gifts but lacking fruit.

 

Such a life will make a shipwreck of the gifts. If you examine the characteristics of the fruit, you will see that they point to character formation which is exactly what believers are called to—a formation Christ-like character.

 

EXPLORING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Love: If you are thinking about that mushy feeling you have for people, then you are missing the point. Love is more than a feeling; it is a choice. The perfect description of what love is can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. In fact, you will discover that it encompasses some of the other characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. This kind of love is one you give without expecting anything in return. It is the God-kind of love (agape) that you should channel towards any and every one.

 

Joy: This is usually confused with happiness. Joy is dependent on an internal source—God; so it is unchanging in circumstances. On the other hand, happiness is dependent on external sources like achievements, wealth, fame, etc. These factors are variable so you can only be happy when they are present. When they are not, you are sad. That means you can lose your very expensive phone and be unhappy but still have joy.

 

Peace: Peace is another characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. It doesn’t have to do with the absence of war alone. In fact, it can abound in the midst of chaos and turbulence. It is the assurance that all is well because you have a God who never loses control of situations. He is always in charge in the good and bad times. It is that experience of unshaking rest that the Spirit births in the heart of a believer. Peace encompasses wholeness and harmony with God and men, and mental and physical safety and security.

 

Patience: This is the ability to bear and stick through pains, challenges, trials and hardship. It also the ability to wait on God. Many times, we rush through prayer times and study times because we lack this virtue of patience. God wants to speak with us and show us deep things. He wants a real and personal relationship with us but we don’t have the patience to get into the ‘deep’. Patience is also the ability to hold on to Him for the manifestation of His promises for our lives. Sometimes, we may experience what seems like delay but when we are saturated with patience, we are able to hang on as long as is necessary.

 

Kindness: This attribute stems from love. It is being respectful to and considerate of others, and extending kind gestures towards them. It also involves being helpful to others by using your God-given resources to bless them.

 

Goodness: This is the state of being good at heart and also expressing it in actions. It is similar to kindness. Goodness manifests in the performance of the good works that Christ created us for, which we can do only by the Spirit’s help.

 

Faithfulness: This is total commitment to God. It is rooted in our own faith in God and not just a moral understanding of the importance of commitment. Faithfulness is being trustworthy and dependable in our relationship with and service to God and people because we believe that God can be trusted and we can stake our lives on that.

 

Gentleness: In today’s world you’re encouraged to speak up and stand up for your right. While that is okay, it could sometimes come with violence, not just external, but internal too. Little wonder scripture talks about women clothing themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit. Gentleness is not weakness but meekness. It is expressing your strength in the calmest way ever. And you can never do that by your human strength. You need the backing of the Holy Spirit.

 

Self-Control: This is the ability to tame fleshly desires. You may wonder, “But it’s the fruit of the Spirit. What is the business of ‘self’ here?” It simply means that as the Holy Spirit helps you, you also have a part to play. The Holy Spirit will prompt you to get off social media, stop eating too much sugar, sleep early so you can wake up early but you still have to make the choice. Proverbs 25:28 says, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” This means that such a man is time-bomb waiting to explode. His life is exposed to danger.

 

Seeing what the characteristics of the fruit and how important they are, how then can we bear this fruit?

 

By the Spirit!

 

It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit in us. The Bible enjoins us that “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). If we are truly children of God and have been born of the Spirit, then our lives must be guided by the Spirit.

 

Jesus also said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5).

 

It is important that we abide in the vine through prayer and the word so that we can see these characteristics manifest in and through our lives in greater measure.

 

Why Should You Pray?

One or more of these may be the reason(s) you need to pray:

– Some of these characteristics are absent in your life

– You have shut out the Holy Spirit and aborted the process of the production of the complete fruit in your life.

– You possess these characteristics but you need them in greater measure.

 

CONCLUSION

The possession or lack of the fruit of the Spirit will manifest in different areas of our lives—in our walking, talking, relationship with people, work ethics, relationship with God, habits, lifestyle; name it! It will determine how effective we will be as Christians.

 

Examine your life. Which of these characteristics do you possess? Which do you lack? Which do you need in greater measure? Have you ignored the Holy Spirit’s working of any of these characteristics in you because the process seemed tough?

 

As we call upon the Lord today in sincerity, He will quicken His Spirit’s work in our lives.

 

LET’S SING THIS SONG AS WE GO TO PRAY

 

SELAH III (Fruits of The Spirit) by Hillsong Young & Free

(It is such a short one, so, sing it as many times as you can to allow it sink in and spur you into prayers)

You give me

Love, joy, peace

Patience and faithfulness

Your goodness is here now

Self-control, kindness and gentleness

Oh, You give Your heart to me

You give Your heart to me

Love, joy, peace

Patience and faithfulness

Your goodness is here now

Self-control, kindness and gentleness

Oh, You give Your heart to me

Oh, You give Your heart to me

Oh, You give Your heart to me

 

LET US PRAY

Praise God For what who He is.

Thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do for you. Mention those things.

Express your love to Him.

Magnify Him above the challenges and needs in your life.

 

CONFESSION

Open your heart to the Holy Spirit and let Him search your heart.

Confess all known sins: the things you did wrong and the things you ought to do but did not do.

 

PREPARATION

Ask God to strengthen you for the prayer session before you.

Pray against every distraction in your environment.

 

PRAYING FOR THE FRUIT.

Some verses have been outlined under each fruit and a prayer point raised from each of them. But please DO NOT limit yourself to the prayer points raised.

 

Let the Holy Spirit pray through you as you meditate on the verses.

 

 

LOVE

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Pray: Pray in all the attributes of love mentioned in the verses above

 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet 4:8)

Pray: Father, help me to love others from the core of my heart. Let love for others grow deep roots in me in Jesus’ name

 

JOY

You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. (Isaiah 9:3)

Pray: Father, increase my joy in the name of Jesus. Cause me to rejoice in you always no matter the situation.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Pray: Father, fill my heart will joy even in the midst of unpleasant circumstances as I trust you

 

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Pray: Father, let your joy be my strength every day of my life.

 

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:10-12)

Pray: Father, I see that one way to be filled with joy is to be obedient to you. Help me to keep Your commands so that my joy will overflow.

 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Romans 14:17)

Pray: Holy Spirit, infuse my heart with joy unspeakable in the name of Jesus.

 

 

PEACE

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Pray: Lord Jesus, let your peace rule and reign in my heart.

 

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

Pray: Lord, I receive your peace into my heart and life as I continue to trust you through all of my life’s experiences.

 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Pray: Oh God of peace, give me peace at all times and in every way in the name of Jesus.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil:4:6-7)

Pray: Father, banish every form of anxiety and worry from my heart. Help me to learn to lay all my burdens at Your feet.

 

PATIENCE

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Pray: Father, strengthen me to be patient and to wait on you. Help me to be patient in your presence. Give me strength to wait upon You.

 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)

Pray: Father, help me to be patient with others. Help me to accommodate their weakness and frailties, understanding that I am not perfect.

 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Psalm 37:7)

Pray: Lord, even when others seem to be moving fast in life in dubious ways, help me to be patient enough to trust your timing.

 

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Pray: Holy-Spirit please take charge of my temper especially in my relationships with others.

 

KINDNESS

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Pray: Father, help me to be kind to others. Fill my heart with the fruit of kindness and help me to express it.

 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)

Pray: Father, clothe me with the garment of kindness.

 

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)

Pray: Father help me to persist in kindness the way you persist in kindness towards me.

 

GOODNESS

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

Pray: Father, please uproot every seed of evil that may be resident in my heart and fill my heart with goodness so that all my expressions in words and deeds will be saturated with goodness.

 

But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. (Luke 6:27)

Pray: Father, help me to be good to everyone, especially in situations where it is difficult.

 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

Pray: Lord, strengthen me to do good. Help me not to be tired of good works.

 

FAITHFULNESS

Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)

Pray: Holy Spirit, empower me to be faithful in keeping your commands.

 

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (Matthew 24:45-46)

Pray: Lord, help me to be faithful in the assignments you have placed in my hands.

 

GENTLENESS

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

Pray: Lord Jesus, You are the perfect example of gentleness. Help to learn humbly from you.

 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Phil 4:5)

To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. (Titus 3:2)

Pray: Lord, teach me and help me to be gentle in my words and my actions.

 

Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (I Peter 3:4)

Pray: Father, please clothe me with a gentle and quiet spirit.

 

SELF-CONTROL

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

Pray: Holy Spirt, You are the one who can help me attain self-control. Please work it out in my life in Jesus’ name.

 

No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor. 9:27)

Pray: Holy Spirit, help me to keep my body under control.

 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11-12)

Pray: Father, I tap into the grace you have made available for me to deny fleshly passions in Jesus’ name.

 

NOW PRAY WITH A GREATER FERVENCY:

Lord, Jesus, You manifested the perfect expression of the fruit of the Spirit when You were on earth. Please give me a humble and teachable heart to learn of You.

 

Lord, please break me down. Melt every hardness of heart that is making me unwilling to yield to the production of the fruit of the Spirit in my life in Jesus’ name.

 

If You had been doing a work in my life that I resisted and because of Your gentle nature, You didn’t strive with me, sweet Holy Spirit, I’m sorry. Resume Your work in my life. I’m ready to be built into the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ.

 

Holy Spirit, please do a thorough work in me. Don’t leave me alone until Christ is fully formed in me.

 

Lord, help me to keep beholding You through Your word, prayers and worship so that I will continue to be transformed into the image of Christ.

 

Lord, if there is any of these characteristics of the fruit I’m lacking, furnish me with it. For the ones You’re already working out in me,  please fill me with them in greater measure.

 

In the name of Jesus I declare that my spirit, soul and body cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He furnishes me with the fruit of the Spirit.

 

Lord, every characteristic in my life that is in dissonance with the fruit of the Spirit, please take it away in Jesus’ name.

 

Dear Holy Spirit, baptise me with the spiritual fruit of gentleness in Jesus name

 

Dear Holy Spirit, baptise me with the spiritual fruit of goodness in Jesus name

 

Dear Holy Spirit, baptise me with the spiritual fruit of faith in Jesus name

 

Dear Holy Spirit, baptise me with the spiritual fruit of meekness in Jesus name

 

Dear Holy Spirit, baptise me with the spiritual fruit of temperance in Jesus name.

 

Let Your heat O Lord, consume my will, in the name of Jesus.

 

Let the flame of the Holy Spirit blaze upon the altar of my heart, in the name of Jesus.

 

Holy Spirit, let your power flow like blood into my veins.

 

Dear Holy Spirit, order my spirit and fashion my life in Your will in Jesus name

 

Sweet Spirit of God, let Your fire burn all that is not holy in my life in Jesus name

 

Dear Holy Spirit, let Your fire generate power in my life in Jesus name.

 

Sweet Holy Spirit, impart to me thoughts higher than my own thoughts in Jesus name

 

Holy Spirit, come as dew and refresh me, in the name of Jesus.

 

Holy Spirit, guide me in the way of liberty, in the name of Jesus.

 

Holy Spirit, blow upon me such that sin would no longer find place in me, in the name of Jesus.

 

Holy Spirit, where my love is cold, warm me up, in Jesus’ name.

 

Dear Holy Spirit, continue to show forth your manifest presence in my life in Jesus name

 

Continue Praying as led.

 

When you are done, raise your prayer journal and cry to the Lord ‘Oh ye requests of mine, I command you to begin to turn to me now for testimony in the Victorious Name of Jesus!’

 

ROUND OFF WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD HYMN TITLED ‘WIND WIND, BLOW ON ME’ AND ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT’S BREATH SEEP THROUGH ALL OF YOU:

 

Chorus:

Wind, wind, blow on me;

Wind, wind, set me free;

Wind, wind, my Father sent

The blessed Holy Spirit.

 

1. Jesus told us all about You

How we could not live without You

With His blood the power bought

To help us live the life He taught.

 

2. When we’re weary You console us;

When we’re lonely You enfold us;

When in danger You uphold us

Blessed Holy Spirit.

 

3. When unto the church You came

It was not in Your own but Jesus’ name.

Jesus Christ is still the same

He sends the Holy Spirit.

 

4. Set us free to love each other;

Set us free to live for others

That the world the Son might see

And Jesus’ name exalted.

 

GOD BLESS YOU!!!