What Am I Displaying? Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

A few weeks ago was Pentecost Sunday. It was the celebration of that day, 50 days after the Resurrection, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers gathered together, waiting for the Helper that Jesus had promised them. 

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. – John 16:12-15, ESV

Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come. Because without Him, we are unable to bear all of the truths we need to. We are like children, unable to see the world for what it is, unable to comprehend truths that are far beyond us, but God does not leave us in this place. He advocates, He assists, He sends part of Himself, part of His Triune being, to walk through our life with us.

The Holy Spirit fell upon God’s people like a mighty wind and the world has never been the same.

We are like children, unable to see the world for what it is, unable to comprehend truths that are far beyond us, but God does not leave us in this place. He advocates, He assists, He sends part of Himself, part of His Triune… Click To Tweet 

I have always lived as part of the Body of Christ. I do not remember a time without the Holy Spirit aiding me. But I often wonder what it would have been like to live in that room, to feel that initial rush. And I wonder, do I take for granted the gift God has given me by sending the Holy Spirit?

Do I display the fruit of the Spirit in my life, or do I retain the bonds of slavery, convinced I know better?

Do I display the fruit of the Spirit in my life, or do I retain the bonds of slavery, convinced I know better?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:16-22, ESV

As I read through Galatians, the state of my heart is revealed for what it truly is. I cannot hide behind my nice, Sunday-school veneer but am forced to confront the ugliness of sin. Sin is never little. It is never harmless nor is it acceptable. Enmity, jealousy, anger, acceptable sins by most stand out starkly when listed next to sorcery and orgies. It shocks me. It makes me angry to see my sin listed with real sins.

Doesn’t God know these are are totally different levels? That some things we should expect and other things go too far? 

I’m certain the Creator of the Universe knew what He was doing when He inspired Paul to write to the people of Galatia, and I’m certain He was giving us new insight into just how serious sin is and how deeply engrained into our beings it is. 

But God never leaves us without hope, He shows us the depth of our sin, then provides the answer to our healing. 

But God never leaves us without hope, He shows us the depth of our sin, then provides the answer to our healing.

Because of the Holy Spirit, we have a new way to live and our lives can be filled and governed by something other than the sin we are prone. He renews our spirits and gives us new hope and new purpose. And when we are living our lives by His power, the fruit is evident. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22, ESV

The Spirit has come so that I might break away from my sinfulness, my self-righteous attitude, my lustful heart that seeks instant gratification instead of true holiness, and enables me to live a life that flows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

I daily struggle to give up my flesh and to choose life in the Spirit, but I know that I am not abandoned in my struggle. The Helper is here, aiding me, encouraging me, and picking me up when I fall. 

And that is the beauty of this Christian life. Failure at holiness is the pre-requisite. We all have fallen. We all need a Savior who can make us holy. And we are not left wanting.

May we all continue to blossom and bear more and more fruit each day by the Spirit’s power. 

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