Galatians 5:16-26 | The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Announcement

Next Sunday, October 12, at our Quarterly Business Meeting, we’ll vote on launching a nine-month pastoral internship to help raise the next generation of ministry leaders. A young member of our congregation, desires to explore God’s call to ministry through hands-on experience and mentoring. The North Central District has given $10,000 toward this initiative, with the remainder from church funds. This is a kingdom investment—an opportunity for Morris EFC to equip and send future workers into God’s harvest.

Pray for meeting and for message

Intro. Today I want to talk to you about transformation that lasts, what the Bible calls the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s why this topic matters: Everybody wants to experience change. Everybody wants to experience growth.

The Bible speaks of deep transformation that lasts, a transformation not based on willpower, but on the person and the work of the Holy Spirit.

But the reality is that at times, we will feel stuck.

Take this passage for example. Notice the expectation vs. reality:

Galatians 5:13–15 “13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

If you are not careful, If I’m not careful, we we will take the good news, the gospel, and turn it into good tips: You are not ___; You should be ___;Therefore, do or be ___!

That approach works for a little bit, but eventually you will get tired and become discouraged.

Tension. We can all identify with the Christians in Galatia. Perhaps your week could be summarized as, “biting and devouring one another.”

Marriage

Parenting

Family reunion

Work

Transition – How do you go from “biting and devouring one another” to a life of freedom to serve one another in love? The reality is that people cannot, in their own power. But God has provided the Holy Spirit: God’s Empowering Presence.

Listen to God’s Word.

Galatians 5:16–26 “16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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. 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. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

This passage is all about the Holy Spirit’s work in us.

Three things about what it means to walk by the Spirit.

(1) Walking by the Spirit has a direction and destination.

The destination: to be transformed into the image of Jesus (Ro 8:29)

The direction: the path of the Holy Spirit.

Everyday, you and I face with two choices: The path of the Holy Spirit or the path of the flesh.

These two paths are completely opposite from one another.

Galatians 5:17 “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.”

Brothers and sisters, we are in the middle of a war zone! It is a war within our heart.

What is the flesh?

Romans 7:18 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

Romans 8:6–8 “6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The flesh is the sin-oriented desires as opposed to the Spirit-oriented desires: “My will be done” vs. “Thy will be done”

The destination: to be transformed into the image of Jesus (Ro 8:29)

The direction: the path of the Holy Spirit.

(2) Walking by the Spirit is a continual dependence for victory

The word “walk” implies the need to move everyday towards total dependence on the Holy Spirit in order to experience transformation.

One of the titles of the Holy Spirit is helper. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the trinity – not JV. So we must stop treating him like a spare tire – I’ll use it if I need it.

You and I need to continually depend for the Spirit’s help – as in every hour I need the HS

(3) Walking by the Spirit is a life of abiding.

Life by the Spirit is neither legalism nor license—nor a middle way between them. Being led by the Spirit does not imply passivity but rather the need to allow oneself to be led. Responding to the Spirit is described by three mutually interpreting words in vv. 16, 18, and 25—“walk” (ESV), “led,” and “live.”

God is not a killjoy; he just opposes what kills joy. —John Piper

Do you want to experience transformation? The answer is found is in a life of abiding. John 15:4–5 “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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

You and I are not called to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our own. It is supernatural!

Application

Rest in the promises of God. Walking in the Spirit is a walk of faith. Walking in the Spirit is resting in the promises of God.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 3:5 “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—”

Pray for help. What is walking by the Spirit? It is trusting and resting in the promises:

Casting our cares

Laying down guilt

Surrendering greed

Casting out fear

The Holy Spirit will produce spiritual fruit as you abide in the precious promises given to you.

Examples:

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

2 Peter 1:4 “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

Step out in faith. Whenever the Holy Spirit shows you something, step out in faith:

“You need to apologize”

“Give generously”

When facing a difficult conversation, pray and yield to the Holy Spirit.

When the HS brings someone to your mind, pray/intercede for that person.

Practice acts of love and kindness