Fruit of the Spirit-Year Theme

Galatians 5:13–26 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The Fruit of the Spirit

We are going to study the fruit of the Spirit the next several months.

We believe that this is a really important aspect of what it means to be Christians, and what it means to be a church.

There’s a battle inside each one of us

Between the Spirit and the flesh.

Paul says this battle is so big and so important that we can’t by default just do what we want to do.

This battle isn’t always recognized by us. Sometimes we think this means ‘we are internally conflicted’.

Not the same. Sometimes we’re completely on board - with something that’s against the spirit.

Another way to think of this:

The Spirit is fighting against our default, destructive nature

It’s one thing to think of this as this duality of man. But it’s not that.

This is, the spirit against the destruction and death that comes from sin. And unfortunately - we’re the agents of that destruction and death.

The battle isn’t the good us vs the bad us - it’s the Good spirit vs the bad parts of us.

There’s a big thing we need to notice:

Our flesh is focused on pleasure - the Spirit is focused on fruit

Think about the list of acts of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19–21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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.”

The flesh is me and here and now oriented. Notice how it says ‘Acts’.

Compare against the fruit of the Spirit -

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

The spirit is Him and growth and later oriented. Notice how it says ‘fruit’.

The flesh works towards a right now gratification. The Spirit works towards a later growth of something that is real and eternal.

‘Walking in the Spirit’ is the key to life with Christ

This phrase, it sounds like a leisurely stroll

The phrase is actually a military term. Think about soldiers marching in formation.

The point isn’t violence - the point is discipline and structure.

The reason this is such a regimented term, is because the flesh is so dangerous

paul says, ‘Those who belong to christ jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires’.

We are here to reach the world - and the fruit is a giant part of doing that

Galatians 6:8–10 NIV

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Paul says - we will reap life from the Spirit. So then let’s do all the good we possibly can.

There is a harvest out there. There is a world that needs our message.

Before our services, and buildings, and equipment, and training - there’s the Spirit working in every single one of us to grow our lives into the kind of fruit that the world actually needs.

Let’s go back to this simplicity of faith and relationship with God.

This will result in a healthier relationship with God

A healthier and growing church

An impacted community for God