Spirit 04: God’s Spirit Brings Fruit
Orientate
Despite having God’s Spirit living in me, there is still something of the old nature there as well. This old nature is very attracted by sin and doesn’t want to listen to the Spirit at all. I often have this conflict between the old and the new going on within me. If you feel the same way, it’s not because you are particularly bad or disobedient. It’s the way we often experience Christian life in a broken world. But there is good news in today’s Scripture.
Explore: Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Journal
Journal for a few minutes on the following questions:
1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?
2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?
3. What do I need to do?
4. What is the good news in this Scripture?
Reflect
You are in the process of change from doing your own thing to following Jesus. It’s sometimes called “sanctification” or being made holy like Jesus. It takes a lifetime. As God’s Spirit works in your life, change does happen. He brings beautiful fruit to your life - you become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. Give God’s Spirit time and space in your life and this is what he always does. He makes you more like Jesus. That’s his job. Be patient. It is happening through God’s Spirit in you.
But in this passage, Paul doesn’t let us completely off the hook. While the character changes are the Spirit’s work, we need to cooperate and do our part. We are called to do two main things:
1. Crucify our old nature (5:24). We are to take our broken self and nail it to the cross. We are to turn our back on our selfishness and sin and reject it completely. The cross analogy suggests that this will be pitiless, painful and decisive. We must leave our old nature to die. This must be ruthless and uncompromising. We did this when we turned to Jesus, but every day the old nature rears its ugly face again, and we repent. Saying sorry to God and turning our back on our old nature, we leave it to die, crucified. We’re not going to pull out those nails of our enemy and release it from its cross.
2. Walk by the Spirit (5:16, 18, 25). We actively choose to walk the Spirit’s way. We listen to his voice and follow his desires. There are a number of different ways that Paul describes this: “walk in the Spirit,” “be led by the Spirit,” “live in the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit.” As a young person, I was involved in Boys’ Brigade. We were taught to march in line, keeping in perfect step with each other. That’s the idea here. We choose to walk in line with God’s Spirit.
Pray
Lord you are at work in my life and sometimes I can see that I really am becoming more like you. This is not my doing, but the beautiful work of your Spirit in me. Please help me to play my part in this transformation process by daily turning my back on my old desires and actively walking in line with your Spirit’s leading. I commit myself to this.
Respond
Choose some aspect of your broken, old nature that is plaguing you and choose to nail it back up to the cross again right now. Repent and ask God’s forgiveness and turn your back on it so that you can walk in line with the precious and gracious Spirit of God.
