The Fruit of The Spirit; walking in the Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The fruit of the spirit
Monte Houston
Galatians 5:16-25
John 15:1–5
Go ahead and open with me if you would to Galatians 5 :16; and then also open to John 15:1-5
Introduction:
The fruit of the spirit has 9 components to it. Whereas the acts of the flesh has 15 components.
Look what Galatians 5:17 says.
Galatians 5:17
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011),
List of sins that are the works of the flesh:
1. Sexual sins (19-21)
(1) Adultery
(2) Fornication
(3) Uncleanness
(4) Lasciviousness
(5) Drunken revellings (orgies)
2. Superstitious sins (20)
(1) Idolatry
(2) Witchcraft
3. Social sins (20-21)
(1) Hatred
(2) Emulations or jealousy
(3) Wrath
(4) Strife
(5) Seditions and heresies (divisions and cliques)
(6) Envyings
(7) Murder
The old nature must be daily crucified (v. 24). The believer is to identify with Christ (Romans 6) and let him live through him (Galatians 2:20) by daily filling him with the Holy Spirit for the power to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Point I. Works vs. fruit.
Warren Wiersbe says this:
The contrast between works and fruit is important.
A machine in a factory works and turns out a product,
but it could never manufacture fruit. Fruit must grow
out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life
of the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).
Look at the difference that Paul uses: the works of the flesh are plural; and the fruit of the spirit are singular.
Galatians 5:17
“The acts of the flesh are obvious”
The word used for acts that Paul uses here is “ergon”
ἔργον (ergon). n. neut. work, duty, task, workmanship. Refers to a task, or set of tasks, that is accomplished by someone.
Ron Clark and Dougald McLaurin III, “Duty,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
This makes me think why we; or just I am always so tired.
Point II. How can we get rest?
Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
When I think of walking by the spirit I think of Genesis 3:8
Genesis 3:8.a
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day
Look at how the acts of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit are different.
In the HCSB; “acts” are translated “works”.
I can work and I can leisurely work, but any way you look at it; it is still work.
Yesterday I mowed my yard. I told Toby that I was not going to rush because it was hot, and I waited to do it in the afternoon. So; I took several breaks, more than I normally would. I usually like to just rush and get it done. No matter what though when I got done I knew that I had worked.
We can work or hardly work but no matter what we are still going to be working.
Point III
I would rather stroll in the Spirit than work in the flesh.
Galatians 5:24–25.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
First we have to crucify the flesh.
Warren Wiersbe says this: The work of the Spirit is to make us more like Christ for His glory, not for the praise of men.The cultivation of the fruit is important. Paul warns that there must be a right atmosphere before the fruit will grow (Gal. 5:25–26). Just as fruit cannot grow in every climate, so the fruit of the Spirit cannot grow in every individual’s life or in every church. Fruit grows in a climate blessed with an abundance of the Spirit and the Word. “Walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) means “keep in step with the Spirit”—not to run ahead and not to lag behind. This involves the Word, prayer, worship, praise, and fellowship with God’s people. It also means “pulling out the weeds” so that the seed of the Word can take root and bear fruit.
I love the way that he says “pulling out the weeds”.
If you have a garden and you neglect the weeds what happens? The weeds will overtake the garden and choke out the good fruit or vegetables. You see Weeds can't live among a garden because it robs the good plants of all the nutrients needed to grow.
Daily we need to pull out the weeds, or “crucify” the flesh.
We need to be diligent.
We need to walk, in step with the Spirit/God/Jesus.
As the old hymn says:
I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Conclusion:
Don’t work so hard at having a relationship with Christ; he doesn't want it to be work. He wants it to be a stroll. It is meant to be pleasant, not painful.
We are running a marathon not a race.
Heb 12:1.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
When Christ was walking on the water what was going on?
The disciples were straining at the oars because the wind was against them.
Mark 6:48.
He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Can’t life get like that.
We strain against the oars.
God wants more than that for us, He wants us to stroll with Him and keep in step with Him.
John 3:16 says that He Loves us
What is the first fruit of the Spirit? LOVE, the rest comes out of LOVE.
love,
joy,
peace,
Forbearance, or patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness and
self-control.
D.L. Moody Illustrates How to Grow Spiritually
In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principle like this: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” But Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter it.” Finally after many suggestions, he picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing Christ to take full possession.
From a sermon by Nathan Johnson, Someone Stronger, 11/13/2009