Jesus = Life Pt 2

We read in Luke 4:17-21 an account of Jesus, as His ministry was beginning. He went into the synagogue at Nazareth…and said these words.

Luke 4:17–21 CSB

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. 20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

Near the end of His ministry on Earth, Jesus begins to make a point to tell His disciples…after I am gone…my Father will send you a gift…the Holy Spirit.

Now you might be thinking....the Holy Spirit, I thought we were talking about Life....chasing life.

Last week, we talked about Jesus words about life. Remain in me…I’m the vine you’re the branches.

Apart from me you can do nothing. That’s pretty succinct.

I think what He’s saying is this…apart from me, you can’t have the life you were meant to have.

And Jesus also said…fruit grows on the branch…only as the branch is attached.

The vine ultimately produces the fruit. Jesus does…but through us…willing followers.

We live through Jesus.

We don’t prove ourselves … we can’t… we need Him to live.

Today we’re going to look at what Paul writes about. The fruit of the spirit.

First we’ll read through this passage…its simple…Paul is making a contrast here.

The acts of the sinful nature…vs. the fruit of the spirit.

Context - Judaizers are present in this church. You have to’s....in order to be found worthy. So Paul starts a church. Has people look to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit…for life…and for salvation.

And then these other guys are coming in and then adding to that.

Well, Jesus is all good and that…but you also have to obey the Law of Moses to be good before God.

Problem is…we’re all sinners and are found unworthy.

Only Jesus is going to be helpful here. And Paul is trying to show them the change that Jesus has brought…the forgiveness that Jesus brought…the salvation that Jesus brought…that the Law was incapable of doing.

So here’s the passage…I’m going to start reading…and some words I will change for the sake of our all-age audience here.

But Paul is showing a contrast....the sinful nature vs. the fruit of the spirit.

Two big questions:

What does sin produce?

What does the spirit produce?

Galatians 5:16–26 NIV

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self control.

There’s another list that Paul writes about. It’s Paul’s definition of love…love through the spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

A picture of what love is....moreso…a picture of what the spirit filled life looks like.

Fruit that grows on the branch. Fruit that only grows when the branch is attached to the vine. Fruit that others will see…and hopefully…will wonder where it comes from.

This fruit is evidence that you’ve began to attach yourself to life…Jesus = Life.

Most of the time, people will see you living a different way. Glimpses of life the way God wants you to life…which is the best life ever.

Small added tip. This is not a list of gifts. Paul writes about the gifts of the spirit. Things we do.

These passages that we read today…they detail HOW we do things. How we live. Not what we do in the Kingdom.

So you can’t get away with just saying…well, I’m not that good at the patience part…that’s just not my gift. The fruit of the Spirit is patience regardless of what you’re doing. These are things that lead to, point to, help others see…help you enjoy…a full life the way God intended.

And it only happens when you’re attached to the ....vine.