"Fruit Identity"
Isaiah 30:12-33:12
Galatians 5:1-12
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 23:22
We are in a battle each and every day. "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." (Galatians 5:17)
How goes the battle for you? Which side is "winning"? Matthew 5:16 says that we are recognized by our fruit. Looking at Galatians 5 gives us an opportunity to evaluation how things are going.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19-21)
When we see large list like that, sometimes we see some of the worst, and we think "at least I'm not..." and we fill in the blank with what we consider the "worst" fruit. But look at some of the fruit that can so easily sneak into our lives: jealousy... quarreling... selfish ambition... envy... are any of those fruits evident?
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against these things!" (Gal. 5:22-23)
This list is not the "gifts" of the Spirit, it's the "fruit". The important thing to realize is that they are the result of Christian maturity and allowing the Spirit to reign over the sinful nature. It takes an act of surrender to the Spirit to work in ones life, and and a firm decision to fight the sinful nature.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there." (Gal. 5:24)
To bear the fruit of the Spirit, we must aggressively fight what the sinful nature craves, and live in the freedom of the Spirit.
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." (Gal. 5:25)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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