Spiritual Fruit

Galatians 5:16-26

1. Walk by the Spirit   2. Bear Fruit   3.  Crucify the Flesh

1. Walk By The Spirit (16-18)

• • What does the Holy Spirit do?

• The Holy Spirit Saves

• • • • He is the primary agent working in salvation
      • John 3:5-6 – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

• The Holy Spirit is the author of the scriptures

• • • • 2 Peter 1:21 – For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

• The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin

• • • • John 16:8 – And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment
      • The legalistic person tries to do the job of the holy spirit.  The religious person says, “I got it, I’ll convict you, I’ll make sure to show you all your faults, failures and flaws.

• The Holy Spirit empowers us to understand the scriptures

• • • • 1st Corinthians 2:10 – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

• The Holy Spirit strengthens us

• • • • Ephesians 3:16 – that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being

• The Holy Spirit Sanctifies us

• • • Romans 15:16 – to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 
    • The Holy Spirit intercedes in prayer for us. (Eph 2:18)
      • The Holy Spirit gives us discernment and direction in life (1 Cor 2:11-16)
      • The Holy Spirit seals us and guarantees us our eternal security (Eph 1:13-14)
      • The Holy Spirit comforts us (2nd Timothy 1:7)
      • The Holy Spirit produces fruit. (Gal 5:22)

• How Do You Walk by the Spirit?
• To walk in the Spirit means that you yield to His control.  You follow His lead. You live in a state of constant awareness of your relationship with Him.
• To walk in the flesh means that you seek pleasure over God, you seek self gratification over God, you live not for God but for yourself.  You do what you want, not what He wants. 

2. Bear Fruit (19-23)

• • Fruit of the Flesh
    • Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality (Lust not love) – Porneo – its at the top of the list.  Some of you are struggling with sexual sin.  God wants you free of that. 
    • Idolatry, Sorcery – anyone or anything that is the gravitational center of your universe.  And it is often a good thing that we love too much.  Parents who worship their kids, some guys worship fishing, or hunting, or golf.  Reputation, money, or comfort.  
    • Enmity, Strife, Jealousy, Envy Rivalries, Dissensions, Divisions – Social sins.  Sins against others. Hatred and unforgiveness, coveting (we want what other people have)
      • Social media exists in large part to show off what you have and make other people jealous or envious of what you have.  Man look at that model, I wish I could look like that.  Man, look at where they are traveling. I wish I could do that. Man, look at their family, it seems so perfect.  Why can’t our kids behave like theirs?

• You can’t rejoice and celebrate others because you are too busy being jealous of them

• • Fits of anger (not Gentleness) – how many of you are like, “I hate this” great! We have arrived at yours.  
  • Drunkenness, Orgies (not self-control)
• Fruit of the Spirit
  • Love – an act of the will. It is not based on fickle things like feelings or emotion.  It is a decision to return good for evil.  To bless those who persecute you.  To forgive, and to reconcile with those who wound you deeply.  To turn the other cheek. 
    • Some of us may think. “There is no way it can mean that. That’s impossible”  But it does mean that.  It is a supernatural thing. It comes from above.  It is the fruit of the Spirit.
  • Joy – Joy is not the same as earthly happiness. It does not mean you get the easy life.  This joy comes in hardship, trial, and suffering.  It is an abiding delight in that which cannot be taken from us.  Jesus Christ.
  • Peace – A peace that surpasses all understanding.  When life becomes a raging turbulent ocean, and wave after wave of chaos and despair hit our boats.  When painful news threatens to blow us away.  The fruit of the Spirit is a strong and secure anchor for our souls. Peace, no matter what comes.  
  • Patience – For the Christian who trusts in Christ, He trusts that God is moving, He is working, and that His timing is best.  We want nothing more than for God to come, for Him to save us, for Him to fix what is broken in our lives and in the world.   But we also know that if He is waiting, there is a reason why.  And the patient Christian will remember that God’s plans are Higher than our plans, His ways are higher than our ways, and even if it means we suffer for a bit longer.  We desire His will, not our own. 
  • Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, – How we behave toward others.  
  • Self Control – Discipline.  
  • There is no law against these things

• Tim Keller – “The real fruit of the Spirit always grow up together. They are one. 
• Jonathan Edwards – “you do not get one part of the fruit of the Spirit growing without all the parts growing.”

3. Crucify the Flesh (24-26)