Sermon
Walking in the Spirit - DJ Dickerson - 3/22/26
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
In your Bibles, I would encourage you to
-
go to that of Galatians chapter 5.
Galatians 5 chapter mention
-
Galatians chapter 5. And which we are
Galatians 5 chapter mention
-
going to be considering
-
something the kids that they've been
-
learning in this throughout this past
-
quarter. Uh our kids in their Bible
-
classes have been studying uh one of the
-
most beautiful descriptions of Christian
-
character found anywhere in scripture.
-
And we commonly note this as being the
-
fruit of the spirit. And in Galatians
Galatians 5 chapter mention
-
chapter 5, I want us to note, we'll go
-
go ahead and jump into verses 16 down
-
through verse 25. If you're turning over
-
there to Galatians 5:16-2,
-
I usually try to do lessons as we go
-
throughout the the evenings, but I had a
-
different plan this this uh this past
-
month during the quarter. And so I'm
-
going to try to fit it all in in one
-
lesson. We'll see how that goes. All
-
right. Uh Galatians chapter 5 beginning
Galatians 5 chapter mention
-
in verse 16. Let's read together 16
-
through 25.
-
I say then, walk in the spirit and you
-
shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
-
For the flesh lust against the spirit,
-
and the spirit against the flesh, and
-
these are contrary to one another, so
-
that you do not do the things that you
-
wish. But if you are led by the spirit,
-
you are not under the law. Now the works
-
of the flesh are evident, which are
-
adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
-
lwdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
-
contentions, jealousies, outburst of
-
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
-
heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness,
-
realies, and the like. of which I tell
-
you beforehand, just as I also told you
-
in time past that those who practice
-
such things will not inherit the kingdom
-
of God. But the fruit of the spirit is
-
love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
-
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
-
gentleness, self-control.
-
Against such there is no law. And those
-
who are Christ have crucified the flesh
-
with its passions and desires. If we
-
live in the spirit, let us also walk in
-
the spirit.
-
What we noted in this passage is the
-
apostle Paul contrasting two completely
-
different ways of living. On one hand,
-
he describes the works of the flesh,
-
which we would consider to be the very
-
natural behavior that flows from a life
-
that's controlled by natural man and its
-
sinful desires. He lists things such as
-
hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition,
-
drunkenness, and immorality. All of
-
those things, it's a quite an extensive
-
list. And these are called works because
-
they are the predictable
-
output of a life that's governed by the
-
flesh.
-
But then what Paul does in that text is
-
he turns our attention to something very
-
different. He writes again, "But the
-
fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
-
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
-
faithfulness, gentle self-control.
-
against such there is no law. And what I
-
want us to notice again as we kind of
-
zoom in on verses 22 and 23 is that that
-
Paul does not say fruits of the spirit.
-
Sometimes that's kind of the idea we
-
might sometimes throw out there. We say
-
fruits, but really if you look at it, he
-
says fruit and we know that to be
-
singular, right? It's not plural, it's
-
singular. So what we're gathering from
-
that is that these qualities together
-
describe the character that grows in the
-
life of a person who is truly walking in
-
the spirit. One who is walking with God.
-
And if we can kind of think about this
-
is several times you'll find this kind
-
of pictures or imagery throughout the
-
scriptures. Uh I was thinking about John
John 15 chapter mention
-
chapter 15 for for example. where Jesus
-
used a similar picture when he described
-
himself as the vine and his disciples
-
were what? The branches. He said that
-
those who abide in him, what are they
-
going to do? They will bear much fruit.
-
In other words, spiritual fruit is the
-
natural result of a life that remains
-
connected to Christ.
-
Kind of keep that imagery for a moment.
-
If we imagine walking uh into an orchard
-
that during harvest season, you think
-
about rows of trees that that just
-
stretch across the field. And we might
-
say and and think about the images here
-
of those that are loaded with uh bright
-
and beautiful fruit. Um think about
-
apples, you know, hanging heavy on the
-
branches, peaches glowing in the
-
sunlight and oranges full and ripe. But
-
then you notice something strange.
-
Something catches your attention that
-
one has tree one one of the uh tree has
-
leaves. They have branches and even
-
looks healthy from a distance.
-
Yet when you walk closer to inspect it,
-
there's no fruit anywhere on the tree.
-
Now imagine the owner walking beside you
-
and he stops at that tree and he looks
-
at it carefully and the leaves are
-
there. Again, the branches are there,
-
the roots are in the ground, but again,
-
no fruit.
-
And the question that naturally arises
-
is this.
-
If a fruit tree
-
produces no fruit,
-
what is wrong with the tree? That's
-
really the natural question.
-
In other words, when you think about the
-
illustration Jesus gives in Matthew
Matthew 7 chapter mention
-
chapter 7 and verses 16- 20, he hits on
-
this. Matthew 7 16- 20, you will know
-
them by their fruits. Do men gather
-
grapes from thorn bushes or figs from
-
thistles? Even so, every good tree bears
-
good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad
-
fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad
-
fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good
-
fruit. Every tree that does not bear
-
good fruit is cut down and thrown into
-
the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you
-
will know them.
-
Jesus is saying something very simple
-
here. Something I think we certainly can
-
understand is that fruit reveals the
-
nature of the tree.
-
Think about it. You can paint a a tree
-
trunk. You can polish the leaves. You
-
can decorate the branches. But you
-
cannot fake fruit.
-
can't do it
-
because fruit is the natural result of
-
what's happening where
-
what's happening inside the tree.
-
And the same is true spiritually. A
-
Christian life is not defined merely by
-
what we claim. Anyone can go around say
-
I am a Christian
-
by what we say or or what we know.
-
A Christian life is revealed by the
-
fruit that grows from it. That is why
-
Paul tells us in Galatians 5 that when a
-
person walks in the spirit as the title
-
of this lesson is when we walk in the
-
spirit certain qualities begin to grow
-
in their life. Again, what are those
-
qualities? Well, let's back it up for a
-
second here. Galatians 5:22 and 23.
-
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
-
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
-
self-control.
-
What he's saying, these are the fruit
-
that show the world that Christ truly
-
lives within us. And the question we
-
must ask ourselves this evening is
-
simply this. What kind of fruit is
-
growing on the tree of my life?
-
We're going to briefly consider these
-
qualities. character. And as you know, I
-
could certainly spend a lot of time with
-
each one of these, but again, I told you
-
I'm going to try to just encapsulate
-
each one the best that I can for this
-
particular lesson and summarizing.
-
So, let's let's jump to number one, and
-
that is what's listed first is that of
-
love.
-
And when I thought about love, love is
-
really the foundation of all Christian
-
character. I think we know that because
-
interestingly the first fruit that Paul
-
mentions is love. And again I believe
-
it's listed first for a reason because
-
love is the foundation upon which all of
-
the other fruit grow. Without love,
-
the rest lose their meaning
-
of love that we speak of. It's not
-
merely an emotion. It's not merely an
-
affection.
-
It is actually a deliberate commitment
-
to seek the good of another person.
-
We spent actually several lessons a
-
while it's been a while back now but if
-
you can remember of course the series
-
that was done a way more excellent and
-
that had to do with that of love in 1
1 Corinthians 13 chapter mention
-
Corinthians chapter 13 we know that is
-
to a passage there Paul was writing the
-
Corinthian brethren he speaks pretty
-
good uh depth there on that of love and
-
I'm not going to repreach all of that
-
but verses 1 through3 I would submit to
-
you to look at that one
-
he makes a really strong point Here he
-
said, "Though I speak with the tongues
-
of men of angels, but have not love, I
-
have become sounding brass or a clanging
-
symbol. And though I have the gifts, the
-
gift of
-
but have not love, I am nothing. And
-
though I bestow all my goods to feed the
-
poor, though I give my body to be
-
burned, but have not love, it profits me
-
nothing." Paul is simply emphasizing the
-
importance and the significance of this
-
very quality of love.
-
He's writing very simply that even if a
-
person could have all of these things,
-
possess all knowledge even or perform
-
great acts of sacrifice without love, it
-
would amount to nothing.
-
The greatest example that you find of
-
this love is seen in Jesus of course in
-
John 15 and verse 13 where he said
-
greater love has no one than this than
-
to lay down one's life for his friends.
-
When you think about Jesus and at the
-
cross how he demonstrated the ultimate
-
expression of love. He willingly gave
-
his life for people who had sinned
-
against him. That's that sacrificial
-
type love, isn't it? I mean, I I even
-
think about that in relation to how he
-
speaks about husbands, love your wives
-
even as Christ also loved the church,
-
gave himself for her.
-
Ephesians 5:25 talks about that.
-
When the spirit of God is at work in our
-
lives, that same love begins to shape
-
how we treat others. That's why you
-
think about love being number one here
-
listed in the fruit of the spirit.
-
Because love causes us to forgive when
-
we have been wronged, wronged. Love
-
causes us to serve rather than demand to
-
be served. Love causes us to care deeply
-
about the spiritual welfare of others.
-
And again, Jesus said that this love
-
would actually be the defining mark of
-
his followers. Didn't he say that? Well,
-
if you look at John 13 and verse 34 and
-
35, you're going to notice it. Look,
-
look for yourselves. Don't take DJ's
-
word for it. A new commandment I give to
-
you, that you love one another as I have
-
loved you, that you also love one
-
another. Look at verse 35. By this all
-
will know that you are my disciples
-
if you have love for one another. So
-
friends, what I would point out when you
-
think about this first fruit, love, and
-
I could speak on and on and on about
-
about this one definitely as well as the
-
other ones that we're going to talk
-
about. Simply this, if love is missing,
-
the tree cannot produce healthy fruit.
-
It's not going to happen.
-
Let's go to the second one. Joy.
-
Well, listen. Joy here is a deep
-
gladness rooted in God.
-
There there you know sometimes we hear
-
the word joy. We also hear the word
-
happiness. And sometimes those what
-
happens we get those confused. Um and
-
joy is often confused with happiness.
-
But the two are actually very different.
-
And if you ever just take the time and
-
think about it. Uh happiness a lot of
-
times what it does depends on
-
circumstances doesn't. uh when things
-
are going well well we feel happy. Uh
-
when difficulties arise what happens to
-
the happiness? It fades away.
-
But joy is deeper than that. Joy is
-
rooted in our not in our circumstances
-
but in our relationship with God. And
-
you see that actually throughout
-
scriptures. You see it uh Paul is one of
-
those who demonstrated this very truth
-
in his own life. uh many of the letters
-
he wrote in the New Testament were
-
written while he was where
-
in prison
-
yet in the book of Philippians why do we
-
call that the epistle of joy
-
we're thinking well if I was in lock
-
lock lock down then I don't know again I
-
always use that example if we were
-
writing Philippians uh you know ours
-
would it sound something like this the
-
food is horrible it's ark in here. You
-
should see the rodents. I mean, I don't
-
know. I mean, you know, you just think
-
of all the things that you know that we
-
would be writing about.
-
But yet Paul, even in his circumstances,
-
what is he doing?
-
He is repeatingly
-
encouraging believers to rejoice. I
-
mean, look at Philippians 4 and verse4
-
for example. Rejoice in the Lord always.
-
Again, I will say, rejoice.
-
Now, again, how could Paul rejoice while
-
sitting in a prison cell? Because his
-
joy was anchored in the unchanging
-
promises of God. He knew that his sins
-
were forgiven, his life belonged to
-
Jesus, and his future was secure.
-
For the Christian, as we find from the
-
scriptures, is joy flows from the
-
assurance that God is in control. Yes,
-
storms may rise. Trials may certainly
-
come. Disappointments certainly will
-
occur. But the believer still possesses
-
a deep gladness rooted in the hope of
-
eternal life.
-
Paul describes this joy as one. Look at
-
this. 1 Peter 1:es 6-9.
-
In this you greatly rejoice,
-
though now for a little while, if need
-
be, you have been grieved by various
-
trials, that the genius of your faith
-
being much more precious than gold that
-
perishes. Though it is
-
with joy inexpressable and full of
-
glory, receiving the end of your faith,
-
the salvation of your souls.
-
See how Peter described this joy? He
-
described it as inexpressable
-
and full of glory. We're checking the
-
tree today, right? We're checking the
-
tree. How are we doing with love? How
-
are we doing with joy? Are we walking in
-
the spirit? It's the question that's
-
being posed in this lesson. We're doing
-
some uh tree inspection.
-
Next one that we'll look at briefly as
-
well is that of peace.
-
the calm of a heart reconciled to God. I
-
believe that another beautiful fruit
-
that's that's falling right in line
-
obviously in what we're talking about
-
it's produced by the spirit is peace
-
that at its deepest level uh peace
-
refers to the reconciliation between God
-
and man. Uh before obedience to the
-
gospel our sins separate us from God. We
-
know that from Isaiah. Uh Isaiah talks
-
about that the Lord's hand is not
-
shortened that it cannot save, his ear
-
heavy that it cannot hear, but your
-
sins, your iniquities have separated you
-
from your God. Isaiah 59:es 1 and two
-
says that tells us that sin has created
-
a barrier between humanity and the
-
creator. But through Christ that
-
separation can be removed. Paul explains
-
this even in Romans 5 and verse one.
-
Look at that. Romans 5 and verse one.
-
Therefore, having been justified by
-
faith, we have
-
that the penalty had already been paid.
-
The sense of relief reflects something
-
of the peace that comes from knowing our
-
sins have been forgiven.
-
And the fruit of peace also extends
-
beyond our relationship with God. What
-
does it do? It influences how we treat
-
others.
-
Because what are Christians called to
-
be? What is that
-
peaceably with all men? A lot of times
-
people have taken that word you out of
-
there and have put it depends on that
-
other person whether I'm going to live
-
peaceably with them at all. That's not
-
the way that reads. It says, "If it is
-
possible, as much as depends on you and
-
me." Okay?
-
He's saying, "Christians, we're called
-
to be peacemakers, not troublemakers.
-
A spiritled life seeks harmony,
-
reconciliation, and unity rather than
-
conflict and division." Let's check that
-
fruit. We got that one. All right, let's
-
go to our next one. Longsuffering.
-
I think if you say it that way, it kind
-
of helps out kind of understand about
-
how longsuffering works. Uh patient
-
endurance with others,
-
you know, and again depending on
-
translation you might be using, you you
-
might see the word longsuffering there,
-
but but it simply means patience. Um
-
especially patience with people.
-
Longsuffering
-
describes the ability to endure wrong uh
-
in
-
retaliating.
-
It is the opposite of having a quick
-
temper.
-
The greatest example of longsuffering is
-
the creator God himself.
-
Throughout history, God has demonstrated
-
remarkable longsuffering
-
toward humanity.
-
Even when people have rebelled against
-
him repeatedly,
-
he has continued to extend opportunities
-
for repentance. Do you know that that's
-
still happening today?
-
I means
-
and we see how people have treated us
-
judgment would be pretty quick. What do
-
you think?
-
I think it would be like they not going
-
to do me that way. They're not going
-
See, that's quick, ain't it? But think
-
about what Peter is saying in second
-
Peter 3 and verse 9. The Lord is not
-
slack concerning his promise as some
-
count slackness, but is what?
-
Longsuffering toward us, not willing
-
that any should perish, but that all
-
should come to repentance.
-
And I thought that if God has shown such
-
patience toward us, and he is
-
longsuffering toward us, how can we
-
refuse to show patience longsuffering
-
toward others?
-
Because in everyday life,
-
people who disappoint us,
-
people who hurt us,
-
longsuffering allows us to respond
-
with patience rather than anger.
-
And it reflects the heart of a person
-
who understands
-
how a patient, long-suffering God has
-
been within.
-
How's our tree looking? How's the fruit?
-
Let's look at the next one. Kindness.
-
Compassion in action.
-
Well, kindness certainly is another
-
fruit that grows in the life of a
-
spirit-led Christian
-
because kindness is it refers to a
-
gentle uh compassionate attitude toward
-
others. Paul commands believers and when
-
you look at Ephesians chapter 4, look at
Ephesians 4 chapter mention
-
verse 31 and 32, some things he said we
-
got to put away. Uh part of that again
-
he says let all bitterness wrath anger
-
clamor and evil speaking be put away
-
from you with all malice and be kind to
-
one another tenderhearted forgiving one
-
another even as God in Christ forgave
-
you. You see kindness often reveals
-
itself through simple acts that may seem
-
small but actually can carry great
-
significance.
-
A kind word of encouragement, a helping
-
hand offered to someone in need, a
-
gentle response instead of a harsh
-
reply. Those are examples. Of course, in
-
a world that often feels cold and harsh.
-
I think you would agree we live in a
-
world that's cold and harsh. Kindness,
-
on the other hand, reflects the heart of
-
Christ.
-
One of the clearest examples that you'll
-
find is what Jesus does in Luke chapter
Luke 10 chapter mention
-
10 with that of the good Samaritan. The
-
parable that he gives there. We remember
-
that parable, right? And think about in
-
Luke chapter 10 how uh you know you had
Luke 10 chapter mention
-
the priest and you had believe they they
-
went on the other side. Uh but yet what
-
did this good Samaritan do for that man
-
who was beaten and robbed? they do for
-
him. Took care of him.
-
He showed compassion.
-
He showed kindness
-
that while others passed by a wounded
-
man lying on the road, the Samaritan
-
stopped, cared for his wounds, and in
-
shared he received help. And what did
-
Jesus teach at the end of that? Go and
-
do
-
likewise.
-
Kindness
-
is love expressed in practical ways.
-
That's really what kindness is.
-
Love expressed in practical ways.
-
The next one we find is goodness, which
-
is a life of moral integrity. A life of
-
moral integrity. This would refer
-
goodness refers to moral excellence. Uh
-
we we also use the word of upright
-
character. Uh it involves more than
-
simply avoiding wrongdoing. Of course,
-
that's important. We want to avoid
-
wrongdoing,
-
but it involves actively pursuing what
-
is good and right. In Ephesians chapter
Ephesians 5 chapter mention
-
5, you go to Ephesians chapter 5, you're
Ephesians 5 chapter mention
-
going to notice that Paul speaks on this
-
to the church Ephesus in Ephesians 5.
-
Look at verses 8 down through verse 11.
-
For you were once darkness, but now you
-
are light in the Lord. Walk as children
-
of light. Look at this part. Verse nine.
-
For the fruit of the spirit is in all
-
goodness, righteousness, and truth,
-
finding out what is acceptable to the
-
Lord. And have no fellowship with the
-
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
-
expose them.
-
Paul is simply making a a powerful
-
statement, if you will, about a person,
-
how they're characterized by goodness,
-
that they strive to live honest in with
-
integrity and in righteousness,
-
and their life reflects the moral
-
character of God.
-
Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 5 and
Matthew 5 chapter mention
-
verse 16, "Let your light so shine
-
before men that they may see your good
-
works and glorify your father in
-
heaven."
-
Now, we live in a world where dishonesty
-
and corruption often dominate headlines.
-
We know that.
-
And although we live in a world of such,
-
Christians should stand out as people
-
whose lives demonstrate
-
integrity
-
and moral clarity.
-
Goodness.
-
Goodness. A life of moral integrity.
-
Then we find the next one. Faithfulness.
-
I think you know that one pretty simple
-
to the point too. steadfast loyalty to
-
God. Uh we would a lot of definitions
-
have been g given for faithfulness. Uh
-
but when you start describing it, it's
-
reliability.
-
Uh steadfast commitment. Uh a faithful
-
person is someone who we can say that
-
person is dependable,
-
someone who can be trusted to remain
-
loyal and true. Well, how does scripture
-
emphasize
-
about what what it emphasize about God?
-
Well, God himself is described as being
-
faithful throughout history. He has kept
-
every promise that he has made.
-
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1 and verse
-
9, "God is faithful by whom you are
-
called into the fellowship of his son
-
Jesus Christ our Lord." And because God
-
is faithful, his people must do what? We
-
must reflect the same quality in our
-
lives. Because faithfulness means that
-
we continue to serve God consistently
-
even when circumstances
-
become difficult. Talked about that in
-
our Bible class as well just recently
-
about those who were under intense
-
persecution and oppression. What did
-
they continue to do?
-
They continued to preach and to teach
-
and to live their lives as disciples of
-
Christ. And even as Jesus would say, "Be
-
thou faithful unto death, even if it
-
means death, and you shall receive a
-
crown of life." In Revelations 2 and
-
verse 10, that's what faithfulness is.
-
Faithfulness is not measured by
-
occasional enthusiasm by uh but but by a
-
long lifelong perseverance.
-
That's endurance.
-
Hebrews chapter 12 is one that just
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
-
comes to my mind
-
when we're told in verse one of Hebrews
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
-
chapter 12. Therefore, we also, since we
-
are surrounded by so great a cloud of
-
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight
-
and the sin which so easily ens snare
-
us, and let us run with endurance the
-
race that is set before us, looking unto
-
Jesus, the author and finisher of our
-
faith, who for the joy that was set
-
before him endured the cross,
-
despising the shame, and sat and has sat
-
down at the right hand of the throne of
-
God. For consider him who endured such
-
hostility from sinners against himself,
-
lest you become weary and discouraged in
-
your souls. He's saying, "Stay faithful.
-
Endure.
-
Be faithful."
-
The next one we see is generalists in
-
our list here.
-
that is I believe best described as
-
strength controlled by humility.
-
Gentleness has often been misunderstood
-
as weakness.
-
But in scripture, it describes strength
-
that is restrained and guided actually
-
by humility.
-
Jesus is described, I think we all
-
agree, Jesus certainly was powerful,
-
right? He was certainly powerful.
-
It's the son of the living God.
-
But how else is Jesus described? Well,
-
in Matthewap 11 29, he said, "Take my
-
yoke upon you and learn from me, for I
-
am gentle and lowly
-
in heart, and you will find rest for
-
your souls." He's described as being
-
gentle and lowly in heart. Yet, the same
-
Jesus possessed the authority to calm
-
storms, to cast out demons, and to
-
confront injustice.
-
Gentleness is strength under control. It
-
influences really how we correct others,
-
how we respond to conflict, how we
-
handle disagreements.
-
Don't you see this word throughout the
-
scriptures just like Paul who was
-
instructing believers in Galatians 6 and
-
verse one to restore those who have
-
fallen in a spirit of what?
-
Gentleness. Look at it, brethren. If a
-
man is overtaken in any trespass, you
-
who are spiritual, restore such a one in
-
a spirit of gentleness, considering
-
yourself, lest you also be tempted. So
-
what he's saying is rather than
-
responding harshly or arrogantly, the
-
gentle Christian,
-
there's that fruit
-
seeks to help others with humility and
-
compassion.
-
We're called to have that fruit of
-
gentleness.
-
Then we have this one
-
before we close is that of self-control.
-
This is what the kids were learning this
-
morning and throughout this week.
-
Self-control,
-
mastery over one's desires.
-
Self-control
-
refers to the discipline
-
required to govern our thoughts, our
-
desires, and our actions.
-
The world often encourages people to
-
follow their impulses.
-
I mean, that's what that's what society
-
is teaching. Uh even those that would
-
say follow your heart. Don't do that
-
because the Bible makes it clear that by
-
following your heart, what's the
-
scripture say? It is deceitful above all
-
else.
-
Guided by our emotions, just on whatever
-
whim that we have, that's not what the
-
scriptures teach.
-
Scriptures teach the opposite of what
-
our world is saying. Follow your
-
impulses. Christians are called to have
-
this fruit of self-control in exercising
-
control over their lives. Paul spoke on
-
this in 1 Corinthians chapter 9 and
1 Corinthians 9 chapter mention
-
verse 27. Look at that. 1 Corinthians 9
-
and verse 27. What did he say? But I
-
discipline my body and bring it into
-
subjection less when I have preached to
-
others I myself should become
-
disqualified.
-
You know, we see a lot of the the uh
-
imagery that examples, illustrations,
-
whichever word you want to use for that
-
that we find in the scriptures to
-
describe this. Uh part of that is the
-
athletic part that that's used. And just
-
as athletes will train their bodies for
-
competitions, believers must train
-
themselves spiritually.
-
Self-control enables us to do certain
-
things. like resist temptation. How
-
about guard our speech? How about live
-
according to God's will rather than our
-
own impulses? That's what self-control
-
does.
-
Did you know that Peter includes
-
self-control
-
as an essential quality of spiritual
-
growth? Did y'all know that? Second
-
Peter chapter 1:es 5-8.
-
It's important to spiritual growth.
-
Second Peter 1:es 5-8. But also for this
-
very reason, giving all diligence, add
-
to your faith virtue, to virtue
-
knowledge, to knowledge, self-control,
-
to self-control, perseverance. To
-
perseverance, godliness, to godness,
-
brother kindness, and a brother kindness
-
love. For if these things are yours and
-
abound, you be neither barren nor
-
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
-
Jesus Christ.
-
essential.
-
Absolutely essential.
-
Friends, Paul concludes this section as
-
I bring the lesson to a close by
-
reminding believers very simply in
-
verses 24 and 25 of Galatians 5. And
-
those who are Christ have crucified the
-
flesh with its passions and desires. If
-
we live in the spirit, let us also walk
-
in the spirit.
-
Let me submit to you tonight, the fruit
-
of the spirit does not appear instantly.
-
I know we that's kind of our minds, but
-
I sure do wish that that would just poof
-
and there it is. Well, just as fruit
-
grows gradually on a tree, Christian
-
character develops as we continue
-
walking with God.
-
I want us to remember this. God is not
-
simply looking at the leaves of our
-
life.
-
Think about that. What that represents,
-
I would say, is our appearance, our
-
words, our routines. What he's looking
-
for is fruit. Fruit.
-
Fruit that reflects his son. Fruit that
-
reveals a truly transformed heart. fruit
-
that shows we are truly walking in
-
the spirit.
-
And I think this is a profound truth
-
here as well. Fruit is not something we
-
force.
-
It is something that God forms
-
when we simply stay connected to him.
-
Isn't that what Jesus was saying? John
John 15 chapter mention
-
chapter 15
-
verse five.
-
I am the vine, you are the branches. He
-
who abides me and I in him bears
-
much fruit. Look the last part. For
-
without me you can do nothing. So the
-
question tonight is not am I trying
-
harder. The question is am I abiding
-
deeper?
-
Because when we truly walk with Christ,
-
you know what's going to happen? I'm
-
about to go through each one of these.
-
Y'all ready?
-
Love will grow.
-
Joy will rise. Peace will settle the
-
heart. Patience will endure. Kindness
-
will overflow. Goodness will shine.
-
Faithfulness will remain.
-
Gentleness will guide us. And
-
self-control
-
will guard our lives. And one day,
-
one day when the Lord walks the orchard
-
of our lives,
-
may he not find empty branches,
-
but a life full of fruit.
-
Fruit that brings glory to him.
-
So the question for each of us is this.
-
What kind of fruit is growing in our
-
lives? We went through all of those in a
-
brief setting and I hope that it has
-
encouraged you. I hope that we have done
-
some examination in our lives to see if
-
we have the fruit that God produces in
-
our life. He has shown us, his word
-
helps us and he is desiring for us to
-
walk in the spirit. If we live in the
-
spirit, let us also walk in the spirit.
-
And that's the lesson. I certainly do
-
appreciate your kind attention tonight
-
being here in this time to study and to
-
to uh worship God tonight and encourage
-
one another as you have done your own
-
inspection in your life. Again, don't
-
think about somebody else. You think
-
about yourself. As I thought about
-
myself and putting this lesson together
-
and a lot of the scriptures that I was
-
going back and forth and many others
-
that I wanted to put in here, but for
-
time I just could not uh with all that
-
we were going to cover.
-
But again, we're looking at the fruit of
-
our lives. What are we producing? What
-
does our tree look like, get that
-
imagery, and we'll say, you know, I can
-
work more on this. Let's let's be
-
resolved to do that. Let's be resolved
-
that we are truly going to walk in the
-
spirit as God has so desires of us. If
-
you haven't put on the body of Christ in
-
baptism, you can do that tonight. All
-
things, stand ready. Repent of your
-
sins, confess Jesus to be the son of God
-
and be baptized to arise and walk in
-
newness of life as Romans 6 verses three
-
and four says. As I always go back,
-
walking in newness of life, that's
-
walking in the spirit. That's where the
-
growth is going to happen. And that's
-
where we want to see the fruit produced
-
as we abide in Christ Jesus.