Untitled Sermon

Intro: A fruit tree only grows fruit that is good if it is taken care of.

It needs light, proper watering, adequate protection, good temps, soil composition

If it doesn’t get those things, it may grow fruit, but it won’t be good fruit.

Similarly, you are a tree. You will produce fruit. The question is, what kind of fruit will it be?

Galatians 5:16–26 NASB95

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice 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. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Works of the Flesh

Gal. 5:19-21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

If you look at this list, they are all about people valuing themselves over anything else.

The works of the flesh are selfish, they make YOU the most important person

This list is not exhaustive

It’s not as though if you just don’t do these things you’ll be fine with God, it’s the heart behind it that ruins you

So, when you follow after yourself, you don’t value God, when sin is entering your life, you follow after the works of the flesh.

The fruit (or reward) of the flesh is terrible.

vs. 21 says that the works of the flesh yield fruit that is bad, you’re not right with God!

The Fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

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

But, if you follow after the Holy Spirit, then there’s a different fruit.

Paul doesn’t say how you get this fruit exactly, except that we are to walk in the Spirit. Live in the way that God wants you to live.

When we walk by the Spirit, we get the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Notice, first, that it isn’t “fruits” It’s fruit - singular.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit isn’t something where you can skimp on one for a different one, it’s the whole package or none.

But, the fruits can be split up into three pieces.

God focused: Love, joy, peace

Others focused: Patience, kindness, goodness

Self focused: Faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

In this way, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is supposed to affect all parts of you life.

The Conflict.

But, theres a tension here. We want to walk by the Spirit, but we naturally live by the flesh. So what are we supposed to do?

This is where Jesus comes in. You will never be able to have the fruit of the Spirit without Christ.

In the same way that Jesus was crucified for us, we are supposed to give up ourselves, our desire for the flesh, and put them on the cross. We give ourselves up to Him, because He gave Himself for us.