Fruits of the Flesh and Spirit

Sorry that I'm posting this on Wednesday and not Monday. My attention has been devoted elsewhere this week.

Last week, I talked about how Galatians 5 tells us to walk by the Spirit and not by the desires of the flesh. When we have depended on Christ for our salvation, we are no longer slaves to the demands of God's law, but free to obey Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we walk in the Spirit, there will be evidences, or fruits that are borne out in our lives. It is these fruits that Paul enumerates to end this chapter and where I'd like to end this blog series.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, I would encourage you to look at what Paul says are the results of walking by the Spirit. Ponder on these fruits and how they are contrasted with the desires of the flesh. Prayerfully consider these things and see if they are evident in your life. And lastly, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to grow them more in your daily walk as you try to keep in step with Him.

Paul says that these are the works of the flesh:

-sexual immorality
-impurity
-sensuality
-idolatry
-sorcery
-enmity
-strife
-jealousy
-fits of anger
-rivalries
-dissensions
-divisions
-envy
-drunkeness
-orgies
-things like these

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is:

-love
-joy
-peace
-patience
-kindness
-goodness
-faithfulness
-gentleness
-self-control

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (v. 25)