Salvation: Fruit of The Spirit

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Scripture: Galatians 5: 1-25

I.   Fallen From Grace: 

• It is easy if we are not careful to fall from grace.
• Especially newborn babes in Christ.
• Anytime we indulge in the flesh we sever the grace of God from our lives.
• Here, in this passage Paul is talking to brethren.
• To the churches of Galatia.
• Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
• Verse 4 seeking to be justified by law: you have fallen from grace.
• Verse 7 you were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
• Verse 10 People will come along beside us to disturb our walk with the lord.
• Someone perverted the truth for he tells them in verse 13 for you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
• Galatians 3: 1-3 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
• Galatians 1: 6- 7 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
• According to Galatians 6: 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
• SO somebody told them that they needed to be circumcised in order to be right with God.
• So like the Galatians it is possible to have set backs in our walk.
• To even be called foolish and deserting him.
• For the devil will use anyone who is not walking in the Spirit to hinder your walk.
• Evidently the Galatians falling back into trying to merit God’s favor through the flesh and also falling back into the sinful habits.

II.   Deeds of The Flesh:

• Well, since we are eternally secure, we think we can indulge in our flesh.
• Indulging in the flesh does the opposite of what we are seeking when we do them.
• We think this is what will satisfy, but only God’s way will ever satisfy.
• The deeds of the flesh in and of themselves create chaos for that is sins purpose.
• Galatians 5: 19- 21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these
• The Deeds of the flesh is plural meaning they all work separately independent one from the other.
• It is a list of things the flesh will do will bring chaos, a robber of joy and peace, a divider of spouses and separation of families, hatred, bitterness, wars.
• The deeds of the flesh hinder the Holy Spirit in working in you for personal change and growth.
• You cannot participate in the flesh and be fruitful in the Spirit at the same time.
• For they are enmity towards one another.
• One counteracts the other.
• Nor can you just turn them on and off like a light switch.
• The deeds of the flesh are evident meaning they are clearly seen by everybody.
• In verse 21 he says “such like” meaning Paul could go on and on.
• The devils arsenal is a long list.

III.   Inheriting the Kingdom:

• In verse 21 as I told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
• So what is this referring to shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
• This cannot be talking about salvation because entrance into heaven is by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
• In Greek the word inherit means to acquire to receive.
• So what this is telling us is that we will not inherit the benefits of God.
• Acts 1: 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
• You will receive power AND be my witnesses.
• These are two different thoughts right here.
• Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.
• This power is to live the life that God called us too.
• What happens when we walk the walk and talk the talk we become greater witnesses for Him.
• In the process we glorify God by following His word.
• The grace of God empowers us.
• In verse 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
• So it is possible to live in the Spirit and not be walking in the Spirit.
• To still be committing the deeds of the flesh while professing to be Born of the Spirit.

IV.   The Root of The Fruit:

• Living in the Spirit but not walking in the Spirit is like having a car without gas.
• You have the power under the hood to bring you from point A to point B but no power to get you there.
• Colossians 1: 9-12 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
• Colossians 1: 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
• No grace no fruit.
• By the deeds of the flesh pushing out the Holy Spirit defusing Him of power we would come short of the grace of God or cutoff from the kindness of God, or fallen from grace.
• Galatians 5: 22 -24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• The fruit of the Spirit is singular meaning all 9 fruit derive from the same source.
• Also the fruit of the Spirit all work in harmony one with the other and simultaneously at the same time.
• You can always see from a distance whether a tree has fruit or not.
• It is always visible.
• People are looking for fruit.
• Why? Because people are hungry for it.
• Atheists and humans beings who breathe all want Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
• These are what this world is seeking for, longing for.
• It says taste to see if the lord is good.
• They will taste and see if the Lord is good if your fruit is ripe.
• Jesus our example produce the fruit of the Spirit that was given to him without measure and it attracted people everywhere he went.
• Our fruit is always for someone else to eat?
• They only way they can taste to see if the Lord is good is because of you and me, and through personal experience.
• Fruit in the Greek means to produce, to give advantage
• Advantage meaning it’s the giving of someone else the opportunity to gain something.
• Its being in a condition or circumstance that will put you in a favorable or superior position for others to benefit from.
• The absence of the flesh brings the fruit of the Spirit into the light that others will see.
• The absence of the fruit of the Spirit brings the flesh to the light that others will see.
• Deeds of the flesh are evident.
• The branch relies on the root to produce the fruit.
• The Christian relies on the power of God in order to produce fruit.
• Romans 11:17 -18 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
• John 15: 1- 5 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
• The root of Jesus Christ supports us.
• Without us abiding in Jesus we cannot and will not produce fruit.
• Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• We need to be crucifying the flesh with all its passions and desires.
• Die to the flesh, walk in the Spirit.
• 1 Co. 15: 31 -34 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
• We need to be serious about living in the Spirit.
• Luke 9: 23 – 25 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
• Create a wooden cross for your personal use and on this cross you will take a piece of paper. Write on it your weakness and/or sin and nail it to your wooden cross.
• Signifying to your self that, that particular sin or weakness has been crucified to the cross. (Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.)
• Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you through scripture for victory over that sin or weakness in your life. Repeat daily if needed.

Note:

If this series helps you or your new converts please feel free to use and copy. This is not an exhaustive research of scriptures on the subject I just used what I felt led of the Holy Spirit to use. If this helps in any way please email me.

Thank You findintimacywithchrist@gmail.com

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