FRUIT

Galatians 5:16-23

Good morning!

A while ago, I was at a good friend’s house, and we were watching the Texas and Texas A&M game, because for whatever reason, this guy is not a Notre Dame fan. And we just continued to watch the game, and I remember his girlfriend came over, and immediately she pulled out pomegranate from the fridge and started preparing it. Now, I’ve never been particualrly adventerous when it comes to food, especially fruit and vegetables if you can’t tell, and well, at this time I was feeling pretty adventerous because I was very hungry. I was so hungry that I was chewing on gum with no flavor, okay. It had been gone for hours, because thats just how it goes.

And so, the next thing I know, once she’s done preparing it, and she’s in the middle of lifting her head up and asking if we want any, and she’s just shocked to see me already standing there with my hand in the bowl, throwing pieces in. It was delcious, and although she was a little upset at my lack of manners, she was just thrilled to have me enjoy this delcious fruit I had never had before. Okay, there is no other point of this except to say that fruit is very tasty, and a good thing. Now, lets read our Passage today,

Galatians 5:16–23 “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.”

-Physical Fruit is good, but spritual fruit is better,

-Professional fruit is good, but spiritual fruit is better

-Familial fruit is good, but spiritual fruit is better

MAIN IDEA: How do we grow great fruit?

Point One: Deep Roots

-Roots are hidden

-After the burning bush, Moses was hidden in the desert for 40 years. After I was called, I started a bible study that failed, and then hid in spiritual isolation for 2 and half years

-Hiddenness, is your relationship when the door is closed. In your prayer closet. Your relationship with God when no one is watching. Your firm foundation.

-Roots are gross

-Roots may not taste good, and they aren’t for others to enjoy. Roots are dirty and tangled, but through them beautiful fruits are enjoyed.

Story about how I once tried to dig to the center of the earth

has anyone tried roots before? theyre gross

Roots are not easily dug up

-Roots are where the water is

*80-90% of fruit tree roots grow in the top soil where the water is, according to orchardofflavours.com. The Holy Spirit is the water.

On a widespread scale, one great way to grow deep roots is through prayer. How long are we gpoing to keep letting the old ladies in our church be the only ones growing roots?

Point Two: A Community of Trees

-Roots are interconnected.

-I’ve never been to California, but if I were, I would want to go see the Sequoia trees. They’re these huge trees, bigger than any here in Indiana by a large margin. Really they belong in texas, because I thought everything was bigger there.

-these trees dont have very deep roots though. Which is not encouragement to not have a personal relationship with your FATHER.

-But these trees do have deeply interconnected root systems with one another, where they are able to survive because of interdependence on each other.

-our community is our roots, and no communtiy is dnagerous, because if drought comes, or a harsh storm, or yoiu’r epruned up, it is quite hard for trees to survive without depending on each other

-The early church thived with communal roots.

Acts 2:42–47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Point Three: Living Water

Psalm 1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

in this psalm, we see that those who walk with the Lord are like trees planted by water.

Again, water is often a sign for the Holy Spirit

Without the Holy Spirit in our story, our growth is hollow, fake, and fruitless. No fruit can blossom without water

theres been seasons of my life where ive been a very kind person, or a passionate leader, but nothing changed because i wasn’t in union with the Holy Spirit. Because without the Holy Spirit, all glory is for ourselves which jsut wont work, and all justice is our own, with when we’re all flawed, is inherently bound to fail

Good fruit needs roots dipped in water, living on water, abiding in water

THESE ARE THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT: THESE CAN ONLY BE GROWN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE FATHER, FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT, BY THE SON

Daniel Nash isn’t famous like Chalres Finney is, but they actually did ministry together. now during the revival, Nash didn’t preach, but instead he would get to town weeks before Finney was supposed to, find one or two intercessors, and just pray and fast for weeks. And then, when Finney got to town, Nash would let him know that the Holy Spirit was there

Lastly Fruit is for other people. A tree does not grow fruit for itself to enjoy, but for the birds, the bees, the deer, all of nature. It does not pick who deserves fruit and who doesn’t, but it gives it freely. Do you pick and choose who deserves your fruit?

We do not bear fruit for our own consumption; we bear fruit that others might be fed and helped, and that Christ might be glorified.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Ill end with a question,

AW Tozer said “i would like to be able to ask every Christian in the world this question: Are you really interested in God’s producing in you the beautiful fruits and fragrances of the Holy Spirit?

Historically, fruit trees like the apple tree have roots that can extend far beyond what is visible above ground. An apple farmer once spoke of how in winter, the trees seemed lifeless. Yet beneath the surface, their roots were growing deeper and stronger in preparation for spring. This silent growth mirrors our spiritual journey; much of our growth happens beneath the surface, where God is nurturing us for what lies ahead. It reminds us that growth, like faith, often happens in hiddenness before we can see its beauty.

ALTAR CALL: Perhaps you’ve been trying your hardest to be a good person, but it just hasnt been enough, if you want the Holy Spirit to empower you, I want to invite you down to the altar today.

Perhaps you’ve been in struggling season, and it’s hard to find the love and the grace of God, if thats been you, come on down to the altar, and lets us pray over you for annointing and revelation. If you want God to work through even this, come on down.

Perhaps, you’ve been rooted, and you’ve been going through a storm and youre looking around those that you thought would be there for you arent there anymore, and youre trying to look, trying to find something to latch onto, well latch onto the Rock brothers and sisters! After service, meet us that connection table.

Lastly, I dont want to close out any service without a chance for someone to accept God as their Lord and Savior

Questions to think about:

What does Galatians 5:16-23 say about the relationship between the Spirit and the flesh?

According to the sermon, how did the Sequoia trees survive despite having shallow roots?

What does the sermon suggest is essential for producing good spiritual fruit?

How can you ensure your roots are deep and hidden in your relationship with God?

Reflecting on AW Tozer's question, in what ways do you want to see the fruits of the Spirit manifested in your life?