Empowered: Living in the Spirit week 3

“Fruit of the Spirit”

Last week, we discussed the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Remember with me, that the Holy Spirit lives within us for our benefit, but He flows from us for the benefit of others.

We also talked about the key to getting into the flow of the Holy Spirit; this key is growing in discernment.

Finally, we discussed that the way we grow in our discernment is through trial and error.

Mistakes will occur, and when they do, we will cover each other with the love of Christ and choose to learn from our mistakes.

Today, I want to talk about the fruit of the Spirit.

Key thought: The fruit of the Spirit provides the foundation upon which the Gifts of the Spirit operate.

Why do I believe this?

Any structure is as strong as it’s foundation.

Understanding and establishing the Fruit of the Spirit as our foundation ensures the mind of Christ as our continual pursuit.

Pursuing the Gifts of the Spirit without the Fruit of the Spirit serving as our foundation will result in an unhealthy expression of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.

What does an unhealthy expression of the Holy Spirit’s gifts look like?

Manipulation of God’s sovereignty

Focus on manifestations

Titles

Independence

Works of the flesh:

Jealousy, anger, divisions, envy

In contrast, having the Gifts of the Spirit to function on the foundation of the Fruit:

Flow

Focus on Jesus

Function over titles

Interdependence

Kingdom impact

Introduction:

The apostle Paul writing a group of churches in Galatia; a region of present-day Turkey.

The letter’s purpose was to address the attempt of false teachers presenting the belief that circumcision was needed for salvation.

Paul takes a strong stance against this false teaching, and places emphasis on the fullness of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ.

In the latter portion of the letter, Paul describes life in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16–26 (ESV)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let’s begin with some opening observations.

First, Paul states that the desires of our flesh work against the Holy Spirit.

We are in a constant war with the flesh pulling against the spirit.

This applies to functioning in the Gifts of Spirit as well.

The list of fruit contains the characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s development within our hearts and minds.

As we grow in the fruit of the Spirit, we become readily available for the Spirit’s gifts to become fully operational.

Second, Paul states that we as followers of Christ must “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.”

This statement indicates that we must continually bring our flesh nature to the cross of Jesus.

The attempt to function under the anointing of the Holy Spirit while maintaining an area(s) in our life unsubmitted to the cross will result in deception; both for the individual and for the congregation.

Finally, Paul states that we are to “keep in step with the Spirit.”

Here we understand that keeping in step with the Spirit” indicates we must walk with the Spirit on a continual and daily basis.

Keeping in step will require us to see where the Holy Spirit is walking and join Him on the journey.

2 important foundations:

Faithfulness

Self-control

Faithfulness:

“Assurance, faith, confidence, the reliability of a person”

This reveals the Holy Spirit’s pursuit of someone who He can have confidence of their reliable availability.

Our faithfulness is developed through continual response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

Self-control: “The Spirit made me”

A false concept which has come into churches is that the Holy Spirit comes upon us in such a way as to over power us.

This is to suggest that we have no say or control over how the Spirit chooses to operate. In 1 Corinthians 14:32-33 we read:

[1Co 14:32-33 ESV] 32 “and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”

We will explore this in upcoming weeks, but for now, let us understand that the Holy Spirit looks for cooperation in responding to His will.

To suggest that the Holy Spirit forced us to do something beyond our will would indicate that He disregards our freewill in an attempt to accomplish His will.

In addition, a claim of this nature also removes us from taking responsibility of the times we get in the flesh rather than the Spirit.

If I can claim that “the Spirit made me do it,” then I can remove accountability from myself and place it onto the Spirit.

Even in tongues and interpretation, which we consider to be a “spontaneous” act of the Holy Spirit, the individual must still choose to make themselves available to the Holy Spirit for His move.

As we continue to grow and develop in our response and receptivity to the Holy Spirit, the outcome will be “joy, peace, and goodness.”

As we just read, “God is not a God of confusion.”

The enemy would like nothing more than to “steal, kill, and destroy” the move of the Holy Spirit in our midst through acts of confusion.

It is my belief that this is why Paul addressed the issue of women speaking in the church in the latter portion of 1 Corinthians 14.

The women speaking out in the corporate setting across the isle from their husbands with questions that needed to be asked at home was producing confusion.

If women are excluded from functioning under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, then we find ourselves in contradiction with the promise stated in Joel.

[Joel 2:28-29 ESV] 28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”

We see clearly in Acts 2 Peter proclaiming the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was in fulfillment of the promise in Joel.

Therefore, I believe it is safe to suggest that women are fully qualified and eligible for operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the corporate setting. (More on this in upcoming sermons)

Now, back to our text.

Paul states that as followers of Christ we must “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Each of us has sin areas in our hearts requiring a greater surrender to the cross of Jesus.

The answer to such issues is the continual surrender to the cross by “crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Crucifixion always involves death.

We must “die” to our flesh desires and passions.

The way we do this is by choosing to make Jesus both Savior and Lord over every area of our lives.

To choose Jesus as Lord of our life is to make the daily choice of full surrender establishing Jesus in the seat of control.

He has the say because we belong to Him.

Walking in the Spirit . . .

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Consider with me for a moment the act of walking.

When we walk, we keep our heads up, our eyes on what is in front of us, and we maintain balance with each step.

In like manner, walking with the Spirit will require us to keep our heads up, our eyes focused on Jesus, and work to maintain a proper spiritual balance.

So how do we keep in step with the Holy spirit?

Keep our head up . . .

I am using the phrase metaphorically to say that in the times we feel down or discouraged, we must choose thankfulness in order to remain in step with the Holy Spirit.

I can’t stay in step with the Spirit only when I am having a good day.

I must continually stay in step even when the day is going every way except the way I would like.

Keep our eyes on Jesus . . .

The Holy Spirit will always lead us to Christ. His purpose is to bring glory and honor to Jesus as He leads us into His Truth.

[Heb 12:2 ESV] 2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Maintain spiritual balance . . .

What does spiritual balance look like?

It is interesting to note that when we walk, we are actually catching ourselves in mid-fall.

With each step, there is a momentary loss of balance resulting in a fall forward.

We “catch” ourselves by placing a foot out in front of us.

The same happens spiritually. When we find ourselves losing balance, we “catch” ourselves by placing Scripture in front of us.

Scripture will enable us to “fall forward” as we continue to grow in Christ.

Summary:

The fruit of the Spirit provides the foundation for the gifts of the Spirit to function.

The fruit of the Spirit is in full alignment with God’s law. (Circumcision was unneeded)

We must crucify the works of the flesh in order to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.

We keep in step with the Spirit by keeping our heads up, keeping our eyes on Jesus, and by learning how to maintain spiritual balance.

Next week . . .

“Gifts of the Spirit”- everyone receives a gift.

What are the gifts of the Spirit?

How can we discover and develop our gift(s)?