For the believer who believes in the finished work of Christ and now has the Holy Spirit, you should understand that the Holy Spirit in you is the helper and the one that helps you live out the Christ-like character you so desire.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
As a believer, it is always emphasized that you should strive to become like Christ, to look like Christ and to exude all that can be found in Him.
On this basis, it is important to ask yourself: Have I really given myself to the workings of the Holy Spirit for the work of perfection in me? How well have I exuded the gift of the Spirit? How well have I lived like Christ?
Before the death of Jesus, men used to live by the law, which was seen as a guide and by their own natural effort tried to live a perfect life conforming to what the law stated.
Galatians 3:12
New King James Version
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them.
When you look at the people who tried to live by the law, you discover that many times they did the opposite of what the law said but Jesus put to death the habits the law prohibited by dying on the cross.
Galatians 3:13
New Kings James Version
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)
And then He gave you the Holy Spirit to serve as a regulator and as a guide. So this means that for the believer who believes in the finished work of Christ and now has the Holy Spirit, you should understand that the Holy Spirit in you is the helper and the one that helps you live out the Christ-like character you so desire.
Galatians 5:22-23
New King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The Holy Spirit in you is what works out the perfection of your Christ-like character exuding the fruit of the spirit: peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Jesus' transforming presence through the Spirit in you is the key to living a life filled with the expression of the fruit of the Spirit and this should be evident to anyone who comes in contact with you. Can people look at you and be aware of your standing in Christ without you trying to convince them?
You have a helper in the Holy Spirit, one who through constant yielding helps you to know your areas of lag and helps you to understand what exactly it is that you need to let go of. Sometimes, it could be your lack of self-control when it comes to certain things and sometimes he can yield your heart towards long suffering.
Take note that the fruits of the Spirit are not worked in one day, they are not exhibited by the believer in one day, but through a gradual process developed by the workings of the Holy Spirit upon your mind, character, and your way of living.
It should be a constant desire to represent Christ properly, to do things the way He will have you do them, to relate with others in love, to be kind at all times, to stop a particular habit and so on.
Galatians 5:25
New King James Version
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
As much as it should be your desire to live like Christ, you need to always remember that a life where the fruit of the Spirit can only be achieved by the help of the Holy Spirit again and not by anything you can do. It is the Holy Spirit working in you that will help you to be restrained in situations that will naturally cause you anger. Our works cannot sustain our life in Christ.
Galatians 4:19
New King James Version
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
Christ can be better formed in you by the help of the Holy Spirit when you continually study the word, pray and diligently live a life that duly represents Christ's character.
The Word of God sheds light unto all you are holding on to that does not allow a full expression of the fruit of the Spirit in you.
And in the place of prayer, a work is done in you when you take your heart and thoughts to the Lord.
Though the fruit of the Spirit doesn't just start in you at once, there is a daily surrender in which you constantly walk with the Lord; the onus still lies on you to seek the help of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Father, help me to always live a life that shows the character of Christ. Help me yield to the workings of the Holy Spirit so I can be better formed in Christ Jesus.
