Introduction

The Holy Spirit is actively working in the lives of believers, producing fruit. This fruit is the result of developing a relationship with God through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It brings about a noticeable change in our attitudes towards everything.

The power of the Holy Spirit goes beyond enabling us to do supernatural things. It empowers us to transition from doing what pleases our flesh to doing what pleases God. This journey is not easy, but we are not alone in it. We have been given the Holy Spirit and the church to help us become the person God intends us to be.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Let's read Galatians 5:22-25 together (stand and read it out loud):

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit..."

The book of Galatians, written by the Apostle Paul, addresses a church in Galatia that was divided due to false teachings. Some were teaching that in order to experience God's blessings fully, one had to become a Jew first and then a Christian. This led to a split between Jewish and Gentile believers.

Paul writes to remind them of the freedom found in Christ's gospel, which is available to all who call on His name. He emphasizes that this freedom is superior to following religious rules and rituals. He also highlights that this freedom does not give us a license to sin but rather empowers us to live rightly.

Throughout the book, Paul emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. The Holy Spirit instructs, guides, leads, and empowers us to bring about positive changes. On the other hand, when we follow our fleshly desires, it leads to criticism, anger, judgmentalism, and competitiveness. This happens when we lose sight of love as our motivation.

In Galatians 5:13-14, Paul reminds the Galatians not to use their freedom to indulge in sinful desires but to serve one another humbly in love. He urges them to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh and the Spirit are in conflict with each other, so we must choose to be led by the Spirit and not be bound by the law.

Paul then lists the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, which include sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, and wild parties. He warns that those who live according to these sinful desires will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

However, there is good news! We have been given the Holy Spirit who empowers us, guides us, leads us, and instructs us on how to live a life that pleases God. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits are not produced through human effort alone but through the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

It is important to note that the fruit of the Spirit is not a checklist for salvation. It is the result of faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit and rely on His power to produce this fruit in us.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us respond to this message by praying a prayer of surrender. Let us acknowledge that we have a free will and can resist the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. However, why would we want to? Let us come forward and pray, "Lord, I surrender all of myself to you and your will. Produce in me the character of Jesus Christ."

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