Rotten or Ripe?

BIG IDEA: A ABIDE IN JESUS

Introduction

Tell a story about rotten vs ripe fruit: I am a BIG fan of clementines (cuties). THere’s nothing more satisfying than

Galatians 5:16–25 NIV

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Overcome Temptation

Jesus is the True Vine

Key Cross References

John 15:1–5 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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.

Jesus used the analogy of Himself as the "true vine" and the Father as "the gardener" to illustrate what the Christian life & experience is supposed to be like.

Romans 8:5–9 NIV

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

FLESHLY MIND = DEATH

SPIRITUAL MIND = LIFE AND PEACE

Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Comprehensive & Readable Theology By Reproducing Christ’s Character

Paul speaks of this fruit in Galatians 5:22–23, saying, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” These virtues were clearly in Christ to the highest degree and are also to be in all Christians, according to Paul’s teaching. Commentators have noted the importance of the fruit being one fruit (singular) instead of fruits (plural). The “fruit of the Spirit” in its entirety is to be present in all.

The Fruit of the Spirit should be “present” in every believer! But this doesn’t mean every fruit will be PERFECTLY present! Some fruit takes more work! Your love might be healthy but your self-control isn’t quite ripe yet…We are ALL works in progress - maybe a better way to say this is we are all “fruit in progress.”

We depend on the The Gardener (The Father) to tend to the branches (The Church). Sometimes (all the time!), we need pruning!

Conclusion

The Fruit Depends on the Root

Bad Roots = reliance on my ability

Good Roots = reliance on God’s ability

Which tree do you want to be?