THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Text: Galatians 5:1, 13-26
Galatians 5:1 - Galatians 5:13 -26 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (13) For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. (14) For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (15) If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (16) Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. (17) For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, (21) envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. (26) Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another (NRSV).
Someone once asked a question that I am sure that we could all relate to given that it has happened to you. Does our lifestyle illustrate a walk that bears God’s name? “When was the last time you took a bite from a beautiful orange only to be disappointed by its flavor? Instead of enjoying a sweet, juicy taste, you only tasted dry fruit. It looked like an orange, smelled like an orange, and even felt like an orange. But it did not taste like an orange should taste: sweet and juicy. Instead, it was sour and dry. The Christian life can at times be likened to an orange that is sweet and juicy, producing as expected. However, many believers are offering a life that is the exact opposite: sour and dry.
A believer is to walk bearing God’s nature: a life that is marked by the Fruit of the Spirit. A life that is sweet and juicy.
Note that the fruit which is produced in the life of the believer is the fruit of the Spirit. God is in the business of producing top-quality fruit which is abundant and eternal. The believer has done nothing to deserve this kind of fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is an act of the mercy and grace of a loving God.” (Practical Illustrations. Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001, p. 129). Have you ever wondered why love is at the top of the list of all of the nine fruits that are listed? Is it possible that none of these fruits can reach their potential without the gift of love? It seems that Paul is emphasizes the importance of being Spirit filled, and Spirit led.
SPIRIT FILLED
Paul mentions a list of characteristics that of the nature of the flesh. Someone (Warren Wiersbe) classifies Paul's catalogue of fifteen into three categories.
1) The sensual sins: First, there is the sensual sins [bodily pleasures as experienced through the senses]: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (lust), drunkenness, orgies/ revellings. (Warren W. Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Volume 1. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989, p. 718).
2) Superstitions: Next, there is the superstitious sins which are idolatry and witchcraft. Side note: Consisder what I Samuel 15:23 says: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (KJV). Incidentally, the Greek word for witchcraft is "pharmakeia" from which we get our English word "pharmacy". "Pharmakeia" literally means the "use of drugs". Side note: By the way, drug dealing and Devil worship are linked in one way or another as partners in crime. We will explore this more in a moment.
3) Social Sins: Third, there are what Wiersbe calls them social sins. Hatred, strife (selfish ambition), emulations (jealousy; rivalries), wrath (outbursts of anger), seditions (divisions), heresies (cliques that uphold a doctrine contrary to the truth), envy (grudges, coveting) murder (pp. 718-719). These are all things of the flesh which can rule in the lives of those who are not believers.
Can the sins of the flesh make a shipwreck of one’s soul and life? Remember a moment ago we mentioned that drugs and devil can be connected to one another? Consider this true story as an example. Mike Warnke, A former High Priest Satanist, now Christian Evangelist tells of how the dean of his college got him strung out on drugs, addicted and then enticed to join fellow occultists to get all of the money, drugs and immorality (sex) he wanted back in the 1960's. (The Satan Seller. South Plainfield: Bridge Publishing, Inc., 1972, pp. 18-56). They even have stores where you can buy herbs and other items for casting spells. I happened to stop somewhere in Columbia to ask for directions for Epworth Children's Home only to discover such a place by accident.
The fruits of the Spirit stand stark contrast to the works of the flesh.
1) Godward: As someone (Warren Wiersbe) has noted these first three fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace) are "Godward" (p. 719).
2) Manward: The next three (patience, kindness, generosity) express the "manward" aspect of Christian life." (p. 719). Longsuffering (perseverance), gentleness ("kindness"), goodness ("love in action"). (p. 719).
3) Selfward: The final three are selfward: faith ("faithfulness, dependability"), meekness ("the right use of power and authority under control"), and temperance (self- control). (p. 720). We cannot do good that is fruitful on our own because we are dependent upon the Spirit's help. By himself, a man cannot conduct himself as he would like to: "I do not know what I am doing. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do. ... For what I do is not the good that I want to; no, the evil I do not want to do ---this I keep doing" (Romans 7:15,19 NIV).
SPIRIT LED
This Sunday is the last Sunday before Independence day.
1) Independence Day: Even though we will celebrate our independence as a nation, we cannot realistically declare that we are independent of God. In I Corinthians 13 Paul, makes the point over and again that without love all of the accolades and honors we might receive will not mean a thing without love. Is that why Paul put love as the very first fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22?
2) Christian freedom has a context: Someone (Charles B. Cousar) put it this way: “Freedom is the basis for love, and love is the proper exercise of freedom”. (James L. Mays. Series ed. Charles B. Cousar. Interpretation: Galatians. Atlanta; John Knox Press, 1982, p. 133).
3) Spiritual integrity: In drama or acting, they say that one has gotten out of character when one leaves the context of the role he/she was playing. Concerning the fruits of the Spirit, we as Christians are out of character when we do not live in harmony with the fruit that bears evidence to these genuine qualities within us that the Holy Spirit tries to bring out. Is that what Paul was getting at when he said “God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children?” ( Romans 8:16 GNB).
Does staying in step with the Holy Spirit happen by default? Of course not. We have to work at it.
1) God’s working in us: In order to maintain our spiritual health, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in us, enabling both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).
2) Practice enhances precision illustrated: How many times have you ever seen a half time show at a football game? I was amazed every time I watched my oldest daughter CeCe play in the pit during the half- time show. She played with such awesome precision! How many times did you observe how everyone in the marching band strives to stay in synch with the music and the marching? It did not happen by default, they had to work at it.
3) When failure is our fault: Someone (Tommy Tenney) has said that “If God has a bad reputation in the world today, it is our fault”. (Tommy Tenney. God’s Dream Team. Ventura: California: Regal Books, 1999, p. 39). We might not like to hear that, but it is true! As Christians we will often find ourselves at work playing our roles in the field of this world and when we get out of step or play out of harmony with the music of God’s love others will notice.
Does what we do as Christians make ripples? How many of you have ever skipped rocks across the water?
1) Ripple effect: Every time the rock came in contact with the water it made ripples. What we do matters.
2) The crucifixion should remold our behavior and belief: Paul tells us that those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
3) Altar-ed lives: In the words of Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, made the following statements in that book: “Jesus did not die on the cross so that we could have comfortable lives. Every act of our lives strikes some chord that will vibrate in eternity. … the problem with a living sacrifice, is that it can crawl off the altar and we often do that.” (The Complete Guide To Christian Quotations. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Publishing, Inc, 2011, pp. 116, 121, & 227). It is only by staying in step with God’s Spirit that we can accomplish what God wants us to accomplish because the flesh and the spirit are in opposition to each other (Galatians 5:16, 17).
What kind of ripples does our love make? Since we are called to be both salty and bright (Matthew 5:13-16), our love will be provocative. Someone (Charles B. Cousar) said, “Love must never shrink from conflict, lest it degenerate into mere sentimentality.” (James L. Mays. Series ed. Charles B. Cousar. Interpretation: Galatians. Atlanta; John Knox Press, 1982, p. 130). Neither must love be boastful, envious, rude, arrogant, insist on its own way or keep score of the wrongs but rejoice in the truth (I Corinthians 13:1-5 paraphrased). John 8:32 reminds us that having a relationship with Jesus enables us to know the truth that makes us free.
So what’s love got to do with all of the things Paul was talking about? “A man and his friend were playing golf one day, and one of the guys was getting ready to make his chip shot. As he prepared to stroke the ball on the green, he saw a long funeral procession on the road next to the golf course. The man took of his cap, got on his knees, and bowed his head to pray, His friend said, “Wow! That is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen. I can’t believe how great it was for you to stop your golf swing because of a funeral procession passing by. What thoughtfulness! The man replied, “Yeah, well we were married for thirty-five years. I figured that was the least I could do”. That’s what a lot of us give to God, as we continue with business as usual. First love is more than functional love. It’s fiery love.” (Tony Evans. Tony Evans’s Book of Illustrations. Chicago: Moody Press, 2009, p. 198). Remember the message of Christ to the Church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation? Consider the two verses that I am referring to: Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV).
God truly does use the fruits of the Spirit to advance His kingdom. Consider how John Wesley demonstrated the fruits of the Spirit as was recorded in his journal.
A single page from the journal of John Wesley reads:
Sunday A.M., May 5--Preached in St. Ann's; was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday P.M., May 5--Preached at St. John's; deacons said, "Get out and stay out."
Sunday A.M., May 12--Preached at St. Jude's; can't go back there either.
Sunday P.M., May 12--Preached at St. George's; kicked out again.
Sunday A.M., May 19--Preached at St. Somebody Else's; deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.
Sunday P.M., May 19--Preached on the street; kicked off the street.
Sunday A.M., May 26--Preached out in a meadow; chased out of meadow when a bull was turned loose during the service.
Sunday A.M., June 2--Preached out at the edge of town; kicked off the highway.
Sunday P.M., June 2--Afternoon service, preached in pasture; 10,000 people came.
(David P. Barrett. ed. More Perfect Illustrations For Every Topic And Occasion. [Citation: Bob Hartman, Plugged In (9-16-97), p. 6; submitted by David Holdaway; Stonehaven, Kincardinshire, Scotland] Nashville: Tyndale, 2003, 205). There was no question that he demonstrated the fruits of the Spirit.
How can we evaluate how well or poorly we are using our Christian freedom?
Someone (Raymond T. Stamm) suggested that Paul’s exposition of how we as Christians exercise our freedom described three tests in the book of Galatians which were … “Is it helpful? Is it constructive? Is it to the glory of God?” (George A. Buttrick. ed. The Interpreter’s Bible. Volume 10. Thirty-fifth printing. Raymond T. Stamm. “The Epistle to the Galatians: Introduction and Exegesis”. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1984, p. 569). Are we fanning the flame of the Spirit’s influence in our lives or quenching the Spirit? How well would we pass these tests? Remember the orange example from the beginning? If we are salty, bright, loving and contagious in our witness because the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then we will taste sweet in God’s approval.
