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Bottom Line
The fruit of the Spirit is formed in us as we submit to the Spirit who dwells in us.
Message Notes
What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
Galatians 1:6-9
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Two Misconceptions:
- It’s not FRUITS of the Spirit, but FRUIT of the Spirit.
- The fruit of the Sprit is NOT a list of virtues.
Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit is not about polishing your own halo, or keeping up a good image. That sort of thing is stupid and false, and everybody (including God) can see through it.
— Christopher Wright
When we talk about the fruit of the Spirit, it means that God’s own character is bearing fruit in our character. The life of God is at work within our life.
— Christopher Wright
How do we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit?
The first step is to jump off the treadmill of self-improvement.
The second step is we jump into life in the Spirit.
Bottom Line:
The fruit of the Spirit is formed in us as we submit to the Spirit who dwells in us.
Action Steps:
- Pray this prayer every morning this week (and throughout this series):
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. - Read our Crosspoint Blog Post this week entitled “How To Get Off the Treadmill of Self-Improvement” and do the exercise at the end.