Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to see all of you here today, gathered in His name, ready to receive His Word and His wisdom. We're gathered here, not merely as individuals, but as a community, a family, united by our faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Today, we're going to turn our focus towards a critical aspect of our Christian walk – the Fruit of the Spirit, our spiritual steps, and how we can live a life led by the Spirit.

The well-respected Charles Spurgeon once said, "A good character when established is not easily overthrown." This quote resonates deeply with our topic today because it reminds us of the importance of cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It's not a temporary endeavor, but a lifelong commitment to Christ-like character development.

Our Scripture for today is from Galatians 5:22-26, which reads,

"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. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

This passage beautifully encapsulates the essence of our Christian walk. It's not about rules and regulations, but about the fruits of the Spirit.. These are the fruits that we're called to bear as followers of Christ.

As we stand on the precipice of this sermon, let's take a moment to bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together today. We thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we turn our hearts and minds to Your Scripture today, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts to receive Your truth, and our minds to understand Your wisdom. Help us to bear the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, to walk in step with Your Spirit, and to live lives that are pleasing to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, are we ready, family of God, to embrace the Fruit of the Spirit, to walk in His steps, and to live a life led by His Spirit? Are we ready to be molded and shaped by His hand, to be His vessels in this world? Let's get started.

Manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit

When we think about the fruits of the Spirit, we are considering the qualities that should be evident in the life of a believer. These are not just traits that we strive to have, but they are the evidence of the Spirit's work within us. They are the outward manifestation of an inward transformation.

The first fruit mentioned is love: This is not just any kind of love, but it is the agape love that God has for us. It is a selfless love, a love that seeks the best for others, even at a cost to ourselves. This kind of love is not natural to us, but it is the love that God has shown us through Jesus Christ. And as we grow in our relationship with God, this love should become more and more evident in our lives.

The next fruit is joy: This is not a fleeting happiness that is dependent on our circumstances, but a deep-seated joy that comes from knowing God and being in a relationship with Him. This joy is not shaken by the trials and tribulations of life, but it remains steadfast because it is rooted in the unchanging nature of God.

Then we have peace: This is not just the absence of conflict, but it is a sense of calm and tranquility that comes from trusting in God. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances, but it is dependent on our relationship with God.

Forbearance, or patience, is the next fruit: This is not just the ability to wait, but it is the ability to endure with a good attitude. It is the ability to bear with others, to forgive, to show mercy. This patience is not something that we can muster up on our own, but it is something that the Spirit produces in us.

Kindness is the next fruit: This is not just being nice to others, but it is showing genuine concern for their well-being. It is treating others with respect and dignity, regardless of how they treat us. This kindness is not something that we can fake, but it is something that flows out of a heart that has been transformed by the love of God.

Goodness is the next fruit: This is not just doing good things, but it is being good in our character. It is living a life that is pleasing to God, a life that reflects His goodness. This goodness is not something that we can achieve on our own, but it is something that the Spirit produces in us.

Faithfulness is the next fruit: This is not just being reliable or dependable, but it is being faithful to God and His Word. It is standing firm in our faith, even when it is not popular or convenient. This faithfulness is not something that we can maintain on our own, but it is something that the Spirit sustains in us.

Gentleness is the next fruit: This is not just being soft-spoken or mild-mannered, but it is being humble and considerate. It is treating others with gentleness, not harshness. This gentleness is not something that we can put on like a garment, but it is something that the Spirit cultivates in us.

The last fruit is self-control: This is not just the ability to control our impulses, but it is the ability to control our thoughts, our words, and our actions. It is the ability to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. This self-control is not something that we can develop on our own, but it is something that the Spirit empowers in us.

Maintaining Spiritual Steps

As we consider the words of Paul in Galatians, it becomes clear that the fruits of the Spirit are not merely attributes to be admired, but rather, they are the very steps that guide our spiritual journey ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO