Where is the Fruit of the Spirit? (Gal 5:19 – 21 BSB)
Do you think about the fruit of the Spirit. In fact, how often do you think of the fruit of the Spirit unless someone else brings up that scripture. I was looking for those verses’ way over in Galatians, realizing I never think about the fruit of the spirit as much as I should.
They are the desired Godly actions, or traits that make up the body of Galatians 5:22-23. I wanted to say make up the embodiment of the fruit of the Spirit because it seems to be a package deal. I started thinking the fruit of the Spirit was a bowl of different type of fruits that make up the whole. I had this whole story of how my mom would have a bowl of fresh fruit on the living room table; how eventually as we go older the fresh fruit was replaced by plastic fruit. Then there was a question; are we replacing our fresh fruit with fake fruit and still believing it is the same fruit? However, the fruit of the Spirit is a singular thing; do you, have it?
In Galatians 5 Paul says “but the fruit of the Spirit is”; and that is followed by a list of ten items that make up the one thing. So, what is the Fruit of the Spirit? Remember, Paul says “the fruit of the Spirit is” leaving me with the impression that it alone is something. So, what I did was, I did a simple Google (does anyone know why Google has to be capitalized) search and Wikipedia explains “The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit according to the Epistle to the Galatians.” So, Wikipedia confirms that it is one thing, a single something consisting of several different parts.
Most of the definitions were about the same, the “fruit of the Spirit” is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. Those nine are characteristics of life in Christ. Translated, when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, rather than forces of the “flesh,” the Spirit will produce the nine-fold “fruit” that characterize all who truly walk in the Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian’s transformed life. Notice it says a physical manifestation of a Christian’s transformed life. A Christian’s transformed life.
So, let’s stop right here and talk about that for a moment.
For some of us, a long time ago, for me about 15 years, and others of us maybe not such a long time ago, we might have heard an invitation. There was a part of that invitation that stated you had to repent of your sins, and this repentance represented your willingness to stop doing things your own way and do things the way Christ would have you do them, in other words it is often expressed as a change of heart and a mind.
So, right there, the transformation is explained.
Transform:
- make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of.
- It also means to undergo a transformation.
We were supposed to start transforming our lives into a life in Christ, and a part of that transformation is to adapt, or adopt, the fruit of the Spirit.
Brothers and Sisters; I believe the transformation I am to make has a lot to do with me, but I also feel deeply that it also has a lot to do with a word I was introduced to some time ago. The word is “aftercare”; a sister spoke of.
And I want you to know I did make an exhaustive attempt to discover if the word, or term, “aftercare” was anywhere on the Internet relating to “aftercare” in the church. The term seems to be more directly related to childcare for the period between the end of the school day and the end of a parent’s working day. But is that not kind of what it is, after all what is a new convert but a babe in Christ? Much like the definition a new convert needs our direct support, especially from baptism until they are ready for the battlefield. Now I’m not sure I was looking in the right place, and I am not sure if it is a term well known in the church, but I know it is one we should get very familiar with.
Where is the fruit of the Spirit?
And I’m not asking where in the bible, but where in the world has the fruit of the spirit gone? See, that might be an easy question to answer because we know the Holy Spirit does not dwell within the world; so, naturally we should not be so surprised when we see what we see all the time from the world, or this day and time anyway.
Some remember; they remember, and they are shocked and distressed. They remember a time when the United States, this country, was way closer to God than it is right now. They say, and they wonder, what happened? In a way, much like God was speaking through Amos, we have walked away from the Lord, and I doubt in my lifetime those times will ever come again.
In a way, much like God was speaking through Amos, we have walked away from the Lord, and I doubt in my lifetime those times will ever come again either. A time when attending “Worship Service” was just called going to church. Everyone attended; you could barely understand a word from the preacher, and he was spitting fire. He wasn’t always preaching fire and brimstone, but, boy, it sure sounded like it. Sometimes he’d laugh, we didn’t know why, but we laughed right with him.
Where is the fruit of the Spirit?
Read Galatians 5:5-18 (BSB)
I’m convinced that when Christ truly becomes the center of my life, I am set free to live, to serve, and to transform the world. Remember what I said earlier a change of heart and a change of mind; willingness and wanting to seek and save the lost. A lot of our bibles have sort of sub-titled chapters and also sections of chapters. It would seem that overall chapter 5 of Galatians is about the freedom being in Christ gives us, and most translations say the same…
- The Easy-Read - Gal 5:1 We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong in that freedom. Don't go back into slavery again.
- The English Standard – Gal 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
- The International Standard - Gal 5:1 The Messiah has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom. So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again.
- The American Standard - Gal 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.
- The Bible in Basic English - Gal 5:1 Christ has truly made us free: then keep your free condition and let no man put a yoke on you again.
The KJV - Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage; the bible we are using this morning, the Berean Study Bible says “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. But, no matter what version you’re reading from, it seems that for the most part Paul is attempting to show the freedom we have in Christ.
We are taking a look at what I call Paul’s vision of the fruit of the Spirit, which needs to be seen in the context of true freedom. In this letter to the Galatians, he affirms that Jesus Christ has set us free. This freedom enables us to transcend the narrow limits of obligation and law. But there is a clear warning—that we can reject the inner voice or promptings of the Spirit.
Have you ever just felt like doing something, especially something you know you have no business doing? What Paul is saying is that when that urge comes about, in Christ, the Holy Spirit is probably telling you not to do it. But when I’ve given in, it is to the flesh. And we know Paul is not talking about an equivalent to the physical body, it means the person who resists the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
Where is the fruit of the Spirit?
Most of the time, for a long time, I believe I tended to follow the desires of my sinful nature first. I was attempting to make a joke as to why that was by saying it was because Paul listed the works of the flesh first; kind of seems like that is true. Oh, I may talk about joy, love, peace, and kindness, but my actions don’t often reflect that. What are the works of the flesh?
Paul tells the Galatians…
Gal 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Gal 5:20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Gal 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
Paul finishes this list off by reminding the Galatians; I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Why do they come first?
I believe the acts of the flesh come first because they are our first instinct. Maybe not all of them, but some of them, yes. They’re our go to reactions, or actions, before meeting the Holy Spirit, before giving our hearts to Christ. Sometimes, they’re still our go to even after.
I can speak to the choir on this; the body of Christ should be always trying to delete and prevent these things from entering our lives…
- Hatred
- Jealousy
- Rage
- Rivalries
I am reminded, turn with me; a few chapters back, to Galatians 2, I am going to start reading at verse 11 (Paul opposes Peter).
Peter, before the arrival of the men from Jerusalem was living with the very freedom we are talking about, but as soon as those men arrived, Peter separated himself from them.
We, as Christians, cannot go around quoting that everyone should follow the Holy Spirit and have the fruit of the spirit, when we ourselves are not willing to obey the words that would have us in obedience to the word of God. We have to put verse 19-21 aside and people will see verses 22 and 23 in us. Folks, that’s what every Sunday is all about; inviting people to come see in us what we keep telling them they should strive to have.
In order to experience the fullness of the fruit of the Spirit, we need to be set free. Paul sets the context for all of this in chapter 5, in which he boldly proclaims that, “for freedom Christ has set us free.” We have been set free from the bondage of slavery to the elemental spirits of this life. When we are set free from the “works of the flesh” we can become energized and enlivened by God’s Spirit. When that happens, we not only live by the Spirit, but are guided by the Spirit in our daily walk.
As far as verse 19-21, I’ll repeat the end of verse 21 and the lesson is yours. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, I'm done, but that’s not even the best part. I can’t make you become part of the body of Christ; I can’t even make you stay if you decide being part of the body of Christ is not for you. You get to decide. That’s my challenge to you; think about it, give Christ a chance to change your life. You even get a gift, the Holy Spirit.