Life by the Spirit - Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians 5:16-20,22-26 NIV

[16] So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. [17] For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. [19] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, 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 sinful nature 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.

Galatians 5: 22, 23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians chapter five describes in detail the difference between walking by the flesh, and walking by the spirit. Galatians 5: 19, 20, and 21 list the 'fruit' of the flesh. They include adultery, strife, idolatry, murders, and more. These are the types of things we don't want in our lives, so we will concentrate today on the fruit of the spirit.

First, how do we obtain this fruit of the spirit? It is not something we can go and buy at the grocery store, so having money does not help us. Also, it is not referred to as the fruit of good works, so we don't get it by volunteering, giving money to the poor, or other works. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't do good works, but that's not how we get this fruit of the Spirit. When we are born again (born from above), we receive the gift of holy spirit from God [See ROMANS 10: 9, 10]. It is the proof that we are now His children. To obtain the fruit of the spirit, we must operate the nine manifestations of the spirit. It is like growing a fruit tree in your back yard. You have to water it, feed it, prune it, keep the pests off it, and finally you get the fruit. It doesn't happen immediately -- as soon as you plant the tree. You don't see it as soon as you are born again -- when you receive the gift of holy spirit. The manifestations of the spirit are detailed in I Corinthians Chapter 12.