Fruit Examined Series

Fruit Examined

Galatians 5:22-23

Intro

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Good morning. I am glad that you could join us today.

Last week we started a series looking at some of the things the Holy Spirit produces and provides and we started with the Fruit of the Spirit and we learned some truths about what fruit actually is.

We saw that others that come to trust in Jesus Christ through you are fruit.

It is exciting to be able to see some of this fruit being produced in our church as people are inviting friends and we are seeing some visible growth and people are trusting in Christ and following Him in obedience. That is just one type of fruit that the Bible speaks of though.

We also saw that our good conduct done for Christ’s glory is fruit.

And that fruit is also our character being transformed into His likeness.

This morning, I want to examine these last fruits,

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those character traits that are given in Galatians 5:22-23 a bit more closely so we can truly see if we are bearing this type of fruit in our life.

So, turn with me to Galatians 5:16-25.

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We are going to begin a little further back from where the actual fruits of the Spirit are listed so we can get the context of what Paul is talking about.

Galatians 5:16-25

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19 The acts of the sinful nature 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, patience, 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 sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Pray

Sin Nature vs. Spiritual Nature

Ok, before we look specifically at the fruits, I want us to see an overview of what Paul is saying. He says that we have these 2 natures, the sinful nature and the spiritual nature that are in conflict with each other and depending upon which nature you are living according to, there will be different outcomes in your life.

Living according to the Sin Nature, will lead to “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.”

Living according to the Spirit will bear the fruit of “love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Now, this morning I want to Examine these Fruits so we might see how they manifest in our lives so we can see if they are being produced in our life and if not, how we might prepare the soil so that fruit can be produced and produced abundantly.

Now it is important to realize that these are Fruits of the Spirit, meaning that without the Spirit of God in us, these fruits will never grow. But we have also got to realize that we have been given a role in helping these fruits of the Spirit develop.

That is what the parable last week talked about. When there was no fruit found on the fig tree, the servant said, ’leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.’ (Luke 13:8).

That is the same thing that Paul is saying when he says in Galatians 5:25 that “since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

It is by the power of the Spirit that there is the ability to keep in step with the Spirit, that is cultivate an environment in our lives where the Spirit will produce fruit.

Farmer and seed

It would be like the farmer who without seed will never have a harvest, but even after the seed is planted, he helps that seed to have an environment conducive to having a harvest, by watering it, and by keeping the weeds out of the field.

Similarly, as we understand these fruits and what they look like and how they grow, we can keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) so that we will bear much fruit to the Father’s glory (John 15:8).