Empowered: Living in the Spirit week 3b

“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 to benefit 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.

**It is important to note that as we pursue the full operation of the Holy Spirit’s gifts for our congregation, that we establish the fruit of the Spirit in our lives as the foundation upon which the gifts of the Spirit function.

Our text for today is found in Galatians chapter 5.

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.

[Gal 5:22-25 ESV] 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Let’s begin with some opening observations.

First, the apostle Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit.

This list 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.

Secondly, 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.

Our flesh nature is listed in Galatians 5:19-21

“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.”

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.

Why fruit? . . .

Used as a figure of speech to describe the fruitful outcome of righteous actions.

The teaching of Jesus in John 15: 4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

2 important lessons from Jesus:

We must “abide” in Jesus if we want to experience fruit.

To abide is to remain

Remaining in Christ begins with salvation.

Jesus said as we remain in Him, we will “glorify the Father, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

Producing fruit is then seen as the positive evidence for devoted followers of Jesus

How does the fruit of the Spirit establish our foundation for the gifts of the Spirit?

How the fruit serves as the foundation for the gifts:

Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit as:

[Gal 5:22-23 ESV] 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Love serves as the Driving Force:

Love is the greatest commandment and the first fruit of the Spirit.

Without love, the exercise of any gift is meaningless and can even be harmful.

As Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, without love, our actions, no matter how gifted, are empty.

Joy and Peace serve as the Atmosphere:

Joy and peace create a healthy atmosphere for the gifts to operate.

They cultivate an environment where the Holy Spirit can move freely and the congregation can receive with open hearts.

Patience, Kindness, and Goodness serve in Application:

Ensure that the gifts are applied with grace and compassion.

Patience allows us to wait on God’s timing,

kindness ensures we consider the well-being of others, and

goodness ensures our motives are pure and aligned with God’s will.

Faithfulness and Gentleness serve in Stewardship:

Faithfulness in the use of our gifts reflects our commitment to God and His purposes.

Gentleness ensures that we handle the gifts with care and respect, never using them to harm or manipulate others.

Self-Control serves in Operation:

Self-control is crucial in the exercise of spiritual gifts.

It helps us to remain humble, avoid pride, and maintain a clear focus on God’s glory rather than our own.

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 forces 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.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The Call to Crucify the Flesh:

Paul's command to "crucify the flesh" is a call to a radical commitment to holiness and spiritual integrity.

It means we must consistently and deliberately bring our sinful nature and its desires to the cross of Jesus Christ.

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.

The Danger of Unsubmitted Areas:

Attempting to function in the Gifts while maintaining areas in our lives unsubmitted to the cross leads to deception.

Harboring unsubmitted areas can deceive us into believing we are spiritually healthy when we are not.

It creates a false sense of security and spiritual pride.

Example: A leader who is gifted in teaching but secretly harbors bitterness or pride may eventually fall into greater sin or lead others astray.

“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.

How do we keep in step with the Holy spirit?

Keep your 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.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus . . .

[Heb 12:2 ESV] 2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

Understanding Spiritual Balance:

Lacking the fruit of the Spirit as our foundation will result in spiritual imbalance.

Spiritual balance is the harmonious integration of the fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit in our daily lives.

It involves living a life that reflects the character of Christ while actively using the spiritual gifts bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit.

This balance ensures that our spiritual walk is both powerful and grounded, preventing us from veering into extremes.

When a church becomes out-of-balance:

Become at risk for false teaching

Places a stronger emphasis on the manifestations rather than the Master.

Places a stronger emphasis on programs rather than Presence.

What does a church in balance look like?

When we walk, we are constantly catching ourselves in mid-fall.

With each step, there is a momentary loss of balance as we shift our weight forward.

We "catch" ourselves by placing our foot out in front of us, thereby preventing a fall and continuing our forward motion.

This process is continuous and dynamic.

It requires coordination, awareness, and the ability to react to our body's movements to maintain balance and momentum.

Similarly, in our spiritual journey, we are constantly moving forward, navigating the challenges and uncertainties of life.

There are moments when we might feel off balance.

Maintaining spiritual balance involves recognizing these moments and "catching" ourselves by grounding our actions and decisions in Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture as Our Footing:

Just as we place our foot forward to catch ourselves physically, we place Scripture in front of us to catch ourselves spiritually.

The Word of God provides the solid foundation we need to regain our balance and continue moving forward.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit acts as our internal guide, much like our sense of balance helps us walk.

He prompts us, convicts us, and empowers us to live according to God’s standards.

Practical Steps to Maintain Spiritual Balance:

Daily Devotion and Scripture Reading:

Make it a habit to read and meditate on God’s Word daily.

Scripture provides the wisdom and guidance needed to navigate life's challenges.

Practical Tip: Set aside time each morning or evening to read a passage from the Bible, reflect on its meaning, and pray for understanding and application.

Active Prayer Life:

Engage in regular, heartfelt prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strength.

Prayer keeps us connected to God and sensitive to His leading.

Practical Tip: Develop a prayer routine that includes praise, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Be open and honest with God about your struggles and seek His help.

Fellowship and Accountability:

Surround yourself with a community of believers who can encourage, support, and hold you accountable.

Fellowship provides the mutual support needed to maintain spiritual balance.

Practical Tip: Join a small group, Bible study, or prayer group where you can share your experiences, receive encouragement, and offer support to others.

Regular Self-Examination:

Periodically assess your spiritual health and balance.

Reflect on your walk with God and make necessary adjustments to stay in step with the Spirit.

Practical Tip: Take time each week to reflect on your spiritual journey. Ask yourself questions like, "Am I growing in the fruit of the Spirit?" and "Am I using my spiritual gifts effectively?"

Summary:

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

We must crucify the flesh by continually coming to the cross of Christ.

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

Next week . . .

“The Gifts of the Spirit”

What are the Gifts of the Spirit?

How can we discover and develop our gifts?