Take Note
Most of us can rattle off the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We memorize the list. Put it on coffee mugs. But Paul wasn’t giving us a list of personality goals. He was pointing to proof, evidence that the Spirit of God is alive in you.
Paul contrasts the flesh and the Spirit. There is no middle ground. You are either showing signs of life in the Spirit or signs of death in the flesh. The fruit is not optional. It is the mark of who you really belong to.
In This Sermon:
The fruit of the Spirit is more than temperament.
It is confirmation inside and a witness outside.
Spiritual gifts are temporary. The fruit is forever.
Heaven will be full of this fruit, lived out perfectly.
Paul calls us to test ourselves. Is the fruit growing, or is something else taking root?
Three Big Takeaways:
The fruit is not just for you. It is for others. The Spirit grows fruit that feeds and blesses the people around you.
This is how the world sees Jesus. Not through arguments or titles, but through visible love, joy, peace, and the rest.
If you want the fruit, ask. Trust Christ, and pray for the Spirit to fill and lead you.
Scripture To Read:
Galatians 5:16–25
Matthew 7:21–23
1 John 2:3–4
Titus 1:16
2 Corinthians 13:5
1 Corinthians 13:8–9
Revelation 21:3–4
Romans 8:15–16
Reflection Questions:
Is the fruit of the Spirit showing up in my life, even in small ways?
Are the people I am praying for seeing this fruit in me?
Which fruit do they most need to see in order to believe the gospel is real?
Am I more aware of my need for Christ than I used to be?
Do I feel conviction when I fail, and do I want to repent instead of stay stuck?
Do I long for Christ to return, confident He will finish His work in me?
Tri Challenge This Week:
Practice Spirit-led patience. Choose one situation that usually tests you, and ask the Spirit for help ahead of time.
Share one act of kindness with someone in your three. Be intentional.
Pray daily for joy and peace. Start your day asking the Spirit to fill you, and look for a chance to show it.
The fruit of the Spirit is not self-improvement. It is about which kingdom you belong to. Paul says those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh. The Spirit is the seal and the guarantee. The fruit is the proof.
This fruit is also the culture of heaven. The gifts will end. The fruit will not. Love, joy, and peace are forever. The Spirit gives us a taste now, and through that, others are drawn to Christ.
If you are not living in the kingdom of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control, God is calling you. If you want this life, put your trust in Christ and ask for His Spirit.
If you already believe but feel dry or stuck, there is grace. The Spirit is ready to fill you again. Pray for renewal, and take one step of faith this week.
We would love to welcome you in person at Cedar Springs Community Church. If you are near Graham, Washington, join us Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Cedar Springs Community Church
25713 70th Ave E
Graham, WA 98338
cedarspringsnw.com
