The Fruit of the Spirit and Their Opposites

In the sermon Feedback: Part 3 - Who We Should Be, Pastor Gregg reminds us that “a tree is known by its fruit.” Just as an Apple Watch or Oura Ring gives insight into our physical health, the kind of fruit we bear—through our words, actions, and attitudes—reveals the condition of our hearts. Jesus’ words in Matthew 12 remind us that good fruit can only come from a healthy tree. The state of our inner life determines the quality of what flows from us.

When the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts, we begin to see the fruit of His presence take shape in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each of these stands in direct contrast to the works of the flesh, or the habits and attitudes that naturally surface when our roots aren’t grounded in God. The following reflections explore these contrasts and the reasons we often drift from the Spirit’s fruit.

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Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Hatred, selfishness

Possible Reason: Wounded by others; self-protection; insecurity; unhealed bitterness

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Bitterness, despair

Possible Reason: Discontentment; comparison; unresolved guilt or shame

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Anxiety, conflict

Possible Reason: Living in chaos; fear of the future; unresolved relational tension

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Impatience, irritability

Possible Reason: Busyness; perfectionism; unresolved frustration or fatigue

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Cruelty, anger

Possible Reason: Past rejection; hardened heart; resentment; cynicism

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Corruption, compromise

Possible Reason: Moral confusion; lack of accountability; desensitization to sin

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Disloyalty, inconsistency

Possible Reason: Spiritual apathy; prioritizing comfort over conviction

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Harshness, pride

Possible Reason: Desire to control; ego-driven leadership; lack of empathy

Work of the Flesh (Opposite): Indulgence, recklessness

Possible Reason: Lack of discipline; escapism; seeking comfort in pleasure

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The health of our fruit reveals the health of our roots. Our speech, our reactions, and our daily choices all flow from what’s happening inside us. The goal isn’t to try harder but to surrender deeper—allowing God to transform our hearts so that good fruit naturally follows. When our roots grow deep in His love, the fruit of the Spirit becomes not just a checklist of virtues, but a living testimony that Christ is at work within you. To watch Pastor Gregg's full message, click here.

To help you reflect throughout the week, we’ve included the Fruit of the Spirit chart from Pastor Gregg's message below. Take a moment to save or screenshot it. It’s a simple reminder of what healthy spiritual roots look like and how quickly our fruit reveals the condition of our hearts.