Fruit of the Spirit or Gift of the Spirit?

One thing among many I have always struggled with in my life as a Christian is I know the bible is true yet, I know that I have no Self Control. Now scripture tells me it is a fruit of the Spirit. I had been taught it is a gift given to me when the Spirit of God came to dwell inside of me. So then why do I not have any self control? I remember asking a Pastor about this many years ago and he told me "well of course you do just take it, accept the gift that has been given and use it." I never did get it... understand it or be able to use it... huh, how do you do that. his answer to me was "you just do" years later when I was teaching a ladies Bible study on the Fruit of the Spirit I resorted to humor and so teased and said "well I guess that is just one God forgot to give me, I must have been busy looking for the chocolate when He was passing out that particular Fruit of the Spirit"

Yesterday all that changed, I learned that Self Control is not something I can make myself have, it is a fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT! Not of Kathy. If I could make myself have Self Control then it would be a fruit of Kathy, It is not it is a fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT! It is not up to me to make myself Self Controlled. Self Control comes out of my communion and relationship with God, my fellowship with God. It is something He does in me. Wow what freedom i found in that! What a release of guilt, What an excitement is building inside as I seek His power to take over and produce in me Self Control.

God as the Holy Spirit is doing His work in me, this is not about me doing a work on myself it is the indwelling Holy Spirit working in me. This is what the New Covenant is all about. Under the old covenant God had established with Abraham there was something the people needed to do to get right with God they needed to make a sacrifice. They needed to do this. Today under the new Covenant As a child of God who has received salvation as a gift from the only one who can save me, Jesus Christ the only Son of God, I need not do anything. God is the one who will make the changes in me. Christ lives in me. His word is written in my heart not just on tablets of stone. I have all I need I have God to help me embrace it and to live it!