SF622 - HIS FRUIT - THE HOLY SPIRIT ( Galatians 5 16-25)
SF622
THE HOLY SPIRIT: HIS FRUIT
Galatians 5:16-25
INTRODUCTION
Three Works of the Spirit...
His work for us... Salvation
His work through us... Service
His work in us... Sanctification
Someone has well said that trying to live the Christian life apart from the Holy Spirit is like driving a car with the breaks on.
Two Commands Which are key to living life in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
What is the evidence that we're living a spirit filled life? Some would say it is a gift, it is this gift or that gift. Or it is this manifestation or that manifestation.
We are to Walk (Live) in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 25)
Galatians 5 tells us that the sign that you are filled with the Spirit is that your life produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Two basic ways people try to Walk in the Spirit (16-18)
Legalism - series of external rules; Christians are set free from the bondage of the law - No spiritual checklist
Relationship - This is the internal guiding of the Holy Spirit, He does not give “directions” - He takes you, he doesn’t send you.
1A. THE SPIRITUAL CLASSIFICATION OF MANKIND
1B. The Natural Man
(1 Corinthians 2:14) "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The natural man is controlled by sinful desires
The natural man has no spiritual desire
The natural man has no spiritual discernment
2B. The Carnal (Worldly) Man
(1 Corinthians 3:1) "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly‑‑mere infants in Christ."
The carnal man is still controlled by the flesh
"karnos" or the Greek word "sarx" which means fleshly
The carnal man is spiritually immature
They self-centered
They are self-serving
3B. The Spiritual Man
(1 Corinthians 2:15) "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:"
He is a Spirit filled believer
He is a maturing believer
He is able to apply the Word of God
2A. THE EXTERNAL MANIFESTATION OF THE FLESH
1B. The Sexual Sins (19)
Sexual immorality - physically seeking to fulfill sexual desires in an illegitimate way
Impurity - to be controlled by nasty thinking
Debauchery - to come out of the closet with your sin
2B. The Spiritual Sins (20)
Idolatry
Witchcraft - pharmakeia: drug use
3B. The Social Sins (20b-21)
Hatred
Discord
Jealousy
Fits of rage
Selfish ambition
Dissensions
Factions
Envy
Drunkenness
Orgies
Such like sins - a summary of sins
4B. The Solemn Statement (21b)
3A. THE INTERNAL MOTIVATION OF THE SPIRIT (22)
1B. Facts about the Fruit
The Fruit is singular
The Fruit is the product of a lifestyle not a leap
The Fruit is visible
The Fruit is consistent with the tree
The Fruit is for the benefit of others
2B. Flavors of the Fruit
Group 1 - Perspective
Love - Agape
Joy - a spiritual relationship of faith in God
Peace - not the absence of problems but the addition of power
Group 2 - Practice
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Group 3 - Personality
Faithfulness (faith) - standing true
Gentleness - being submissive to God's teaching and leadership
Self control - not controlled by gratification of the flesh
APPLICATION
The Power is Available (24)
(Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Dog on a chain - used to the chain, that is the way many us are. Christ broke the chain!
The Performance is Achievable (25)
Step by step - we follow his lead!
Apple Tree Illustration
Tree was trying hard to produce apples. Let what is inside you come out and do the Work. He did and the apples came.
That is how you will walk in the Spirit and produce the Fruit!
The Principle Applicable (6:7-9)