Fruit of the Spirit Part 1

The Fruit of the Spirit How is fruit produced? How is plastic fruit produced? Which one took more effort to produce? All of our effort ends up producing fake fruit. Real fruit grows naturally from the right source. It is the only way that real fruit can be produced. --Spiritual fruit only grows naturally from the right source…it cannot be manufactured. Galatians 5:16-26 --What does it mean to indulge the flesh? --What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? --Do you think we more often try to act spiritual or actually walk in the Spirit? --Which is easier—behavior change or heart change? Why? The flesh desires (Greek word is epithymei meaning to long for, covet, lust after, set the heart upon, also translated craves) what is contrary to the Spirit. And the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. How easy is it to fight something that you truly long for, covet, lust after, set your heart upon, and crave? We are in a spiritual battle and will not win this fight on our own! Displaying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives does not come as a self-improvement project…it comes as a Spirit dependence project. We literally change what is feeding our “fruit tree” so that rather than producing fruits of the sinful nature, we produce the fruit of the Spirit. John 15:4-5 --What does it mean to remain in Christ? How can we do it? Fruit of the flesh is self powered. Fruit of the Spirit is relationship powered. --How can we recognize when we are walking by the flesh? --How can we recognize when we are walking by the Spirit? Homework: --Ask each day: “Holy Spirit, what are You producing in me today?” --Notice moments of irritation, impatience, or anxiety and pause before reacting. --Memory verse: Galatians 5:16: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”