Good Ground: Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

Scripture References: Galatians 5:13-24 (main text); Matthew 11:28-30

Intro: Welcome. As summer ends, many feel depleted. This concludes our "Good Ground" series on the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5). Have we seen growth? Today we recap and focus on the how. Our culture desperately needs the Spirit's fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) to counter the prevailing spirit of the age (selfishness, despair, anxiety, harshness). Like the speaker, many of us feel we haven't grown as we'd hoped. But Jesus remains gentle and lowly (Matt 11:28-30), inviting us to learn His way of transformation.

Key Points:

1. The Conflict: Spirit vs. Flesh (vv. 16-17): Paul describes an internal battle. The sinful nature desires what's contrary to the Spirit, and vice-versa. We often don't do the good we want because of this conflict.
2. The Call: Freedom, Not License (v. 13): We're called to freedom in Christ, but not freedom to sin. True freedom is using our liberty to serve one another in love, empowered by the Spirit, not constrained by external law alone.
3. The Contrast: Works vs. Fruit (vv. 19-23):
   • Works of the Flesh (vv. 19-21): These are obvious results of living by sinful nature (immorality, hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, etc.). They lead to destruction.
   • Fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23): Singular "fruit" suggests a cluster of characteristics (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that grow together naturally from a life connected to the Spirit.
4. How Fruit Grows (The Fruit Metaphor):
   • Gradual: Change isn't instant; it takes time, like fruit ripening.
   • Internal/Mysterious: Often unseen day-to-day, but measurable over time. It's the Spirit's unseen work.
   • Inevitable: Sowing to the Spirit will produce Spirit-fruit (Gal 6:7-8). What you cultivate grows.
   • Unified: All aspects of the fruit grow together; you don't pick and choose based on personality.
5. The Strategy: Walk by the Spirit (v. 16, 25): The key to overcoming the flesh isn't just willpower ("don't sin") but actively living by, walking in step with, and sowing to the Spirit. Positive pursuit of God displaces sinful desires.

Conclusion: Christ-like character—the Fruit of the Spirit—isn't produced by "trying harder" but by surrender and connection. It's the natural, inevitable outflow of a life yielded to the Holy Spirit. While growth is gradual and sometimes hidden, sowing to the Spirit guarantees a harvest of love, joy, peace, and all His fruit.

Call to Action: Acknowledge the Spirit vs. Flesh battle within you. Choose today to "walk by the Spirit." Instead of only focusing on stopping bad behavior, focus on cultivating connection with God. Ask the Holy Spirit daily to lead you and fill you. Sow seeds of the Spirit (prayer, worship, Scripture, fellowship) and trust Him to produce His fruit in His time.

radiantvisalia.com
Good Ground: Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-24)
with Travis Aicklen