Fruits

Galatians 5:16–26 NKJV

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

“It is of no use for any of you to try to be soul-winners if you are not bearing fruit in your own lives. How can you serve the Lord with your lips if you do not serve Him with your lives? How can you preach His gospel with your tongues, when with hands, feet, and heart you are preaching the devil's gospel, and setting up an antichrist by your practical unholiness?” Charles Spurgeon.

(16) Walk in the Spirit, what does this really mean? It means to have communion with the Spirit.

To not fulfill the desires of the flesh which is our sinful nature that Satan will use against us. Ephesians 2:3 “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

As we live our lives dependency on and obedience to, the Holy Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

(17) Flesh and Spirit are at battle; flesh is not just physical but anything we put before God! Romans 7:23 “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

Spirit and Flesh have different wills for us, one seeks the Father God’s will the other seeks Satan’s will. 1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

(18) The Spirit not the law sanctifies.

So what does it really mean to be led? Horses are led by halter and lead rope. Dogs are led by leashes. Cattle are being led by cowboys driving them. We are led differently by the Spirit.

Led comes from the Greek word (ago) which means to bring, carry, or led by influence. We are being influence by either the Holy Spirit or the Flesh but if we are led by the Spirit we are no longer under the law but under grace.

(19-21) Fruits of the Flesh

Sensual sins: adultery (cheating), fornication (sex outside of marriage), uncleanness ( filth of the heart or mind which defiles a person), lewdness(debauchery) excessive indulgence of anything), drunkenness & revelries (orgies)

Superstitious sins: Idolatry (anything before God!), Sorcery (pharamkeia) where we get our pharmacy from, use of drugs.

Social sins: Hatred, (enmity: being an enemy of someone), contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath (anger), self-ambitions, heresies, envy, murder, dissensions.

Fruit of Spirit (22-23) The contrast between works and fruit, a factory machine works but it cannot produce fruit. Fruit must grow out of life and it comes from the life of the Spirit.

Works are effort, strain, toil, pain, and labor

Fruits are beauty, quietness, unfolding of life, refreshing, and beneficial for the entire body

Love (agape) one way unconditional love

Joy- when we love we find joy that is inward peace and sufficiency that outward circumstances cannot affect

Love+Joy= Peace

Long-suffering- courageous endurance without suffering

Kindness-gentleness

goodness- love in action

Faith- faithfulness, dependability

Meekness-right use of power and authority- power under control

Self control-temperance

Living in the Spirit (24-26)

Verse 24, NASB reads it correctly, “those who BELONG to Christ. Galatians 3:26 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

If we belong to Him and are being led by the Holy Spirit, we have (crucified) put to death the flesh and it’s desires. Romans 6:6 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

If we are being led by the Spirit our strength, help, comfort, and knowledge comes from Him.

Conceited legalism has no need for the Spirit’s help, which believes it receives salvation apart from the Spirit. This causes three selfish sins:

Boastful

Challenging

Envy

Applications

Christ is our justification while the Holy Spirit does the sanctification.

Faithful Christians live a life under the direction and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Fruits of the Spirit creates Kingdom Praise: Love, Humility, and Joy

The Spirit-led life is a life of conflict, because it is in constant combat with the old ways of the flesh which continues to tempt and seduce the believers.