READ: Galatians 5:16-26
“…walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)” – Ephesians 5: 8, 9
After you are born again, you may grow into the spiritual maturity stage which is dominated by the spirit, resulting in the fruit of the spirit and fruits of righteousness.
When you are spiritually mature, you are dominated by the spirit and not by the flesh. You are dominated by the spirit because the spirit is so big, strong and mature that it dominates the flesh which is now weaker than the spirit. Because your spirit is the stronger and dominant part of you, we see more of the fruit of the spirit.
A mature Christian, therefore, has many fruits of the spirit. “…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15: 4).
As you stay in Christ you start to bear fruit. Every tree that stays planted in the ground for some time begins to bear fruit. As you stay connected to Jesus and are mature in the Lord, you begin to bear much fruit.
Mature Christians have more joy, love, peace and patience. Mature Christians are more gentle and full of goodness. When you come close to a mature Christian, you see meekness and humility. Immature Christians are full of pride and over-confidence. Immature Christians are educated people without true Christian love and patience. Immature Christians may speak in tongues, but they are immature when they lack goodness, kindness and temperance. There are even pastors who lack maturity. Why would I say so? Some pastors lack patience and Christian love. When a pastor is full of jealousy, bitterness and hatred, it is a sign of immaturity.