Growing a Faith that Lasts

The Holy Spirit

Can you imagine spending 7 years on the same project? What kinds of hobbies do you have? Have ever perfect at something on the first try?

Hard work cannot get us to heaven.

We have forgiveness of sin and eternal life with God only because of the work Christ did. But that’s not what we are talking about today. We are talking about our daily struggle to live Christ -like lives. We’re called each day to invest ourselves in pursuing Christ.

Galatians 5:16–18 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.

“live by the spirit”?

What do you think that means? What about to gratify the desires of the flesh? What does that look like?

Galatians 5:19–21 LEB

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, things which I am telling you in advance, just as I said before, that the ones who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Does that mean true Christ followers don’t struggle with those things?

Well then what is he saying? Paul is saying that someone who constantly lives that way, is probably not a true Christ follower.

Let’s continue in the verses.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Let’s write these on the board.

Fruit of your labor

Anyone ever heard of the fruit of your labor? What does it mean? We all know that the fruit from an apple tree is apples, right? What if I were a carpenter or an artist?

How is the fruit of the Spirit’s presence in our lives similar to the fruit of a carpenter or an artist?

The fruit of the spirit is the results of the spirit working in our lives.

Galatians 5:24–25 ESV

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.

The fruit of the spirit are a choice, and something that we have to work towards. Just like the little vacuum motor we talked about. It wasn’t perfect on the first try. They spent 7 years on that project. These are more like Christ-like character traits.

Crucify the flesh

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control