Growing Good Fruit

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Galatians 5:19-25, NLT

FRUIT ISN’T ; IT’S .

1 – Paul’s Contrast: vs.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:7, NLT)

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.  (John 12:24, NLT)

2 – Jesus’ Teaching: Abiding Fruit

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! (Matthew 13:8, NLT)

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5, NLT)

EACH FRUIT REFLECTS JESUS:

• is always self-giving.
• is rooted in God, not circumstances.
• trust God enough to release control.
• sacrifices personal convenience.
• treats others better than they deserve.
• seeks others’ flourishing, not self-interest.
• keeps promises even when it costs.
• means strength under restraint.
• means crucifying desires that scream for indulgence.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?