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OUR MISSION: Col 1:28—to present the positionally “perfect” practically perfected (fully completed/discipled) in Christ.

The war for your Christ-like character is waged between your flesh (sinful nature) and the Spirit of God. You are empowered to live the Christian life and there is distinctive evidence that you are winning the battle to become like Christ.

Big PROBLEM: No matter how hard you try or how many religious “rules” you keep, you cannot become like Christ (If you could Christ died in vain and the indwelling Holy Spirit is rendered pointless).

The frustrating doctrine of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I want it. The evidence is indicating that I am mostly not! Now what? Of note--There is a decided connection between the filling of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Trying or trusting? The Galatians were trying and making a mess of their relationships (5:19-21).

Trying to keep certain rules or copy “good Christian” behaviour has no power to tame the desires of the sinful nature (flesh). It is attempting personal reform, while Christianity is all about personal transformation.

Big QUESTION: Is the Spirit of God a sufficient guide for Christian living (discipleship)?

If so, what is the fruit of the Spirit, and how do I get it?

1. How do I get the fruit of the Spirit?

Command -- Live by the Spirit or you will gratify the desires of your sinful nature.

If you live by the Spirit, are led by the Spirit, and keep in step with the Spirit, you will become like Christ. You then have the power to change (Eph. 3:16). Just as you were unable to save (justify) yourself, you cannot change (sanctify) yourself. If you try to reform yourself by trying to keep certain rules by self-determined willpower, you suppress the Spirit and you will become either self-righteous, anti-social, or hypocritical or all of the above. Combating sin through willpower is exhausting and defeating it is impossible.

WALK--Keep progressing in the Spirit from where you are to where you need to get to. Be filled!

Led – the HS is leading—the real question is are you following, being led?

In Step—not running ahead, lagging behind, but right in step with his ways and in his time.

Conflict – the battle of the redeemed self (soul) living in an unredeemed humanness (MacArthur)

• Giving in produces relational chaos (19-21)
• Progressing in the Spirit results in fruit (22-23)

If you “kill” sinful desires, you remove the remaining power wrong desires have over you. (24-25)

• Make no provision for temptation to even happen—putting into practice what Christ has made happen at the cross—the power of the flesh has been broken; now put it out of its misery
  
  
• Pray to follow the Spirit who leads us out of temptation—walk the talk

2. What is the fruit of the Spirit? [direct character (attitude vs. action) evidence of the filling of the indwelling Holy Spirit]

• Singular—a sample of evidences of Christ-like character bursting forth from you.
  
  
• Source—only available through constant connection to the Divine power source.

Love- meeting the needs of another at personal inconvenience and discomfort (Jn 13:34)

Joy – a lifted heart based on hope and not circumstances because of the presence of God (Rom. 14:17)

Peace – a deep attitude of well-being because it is well between us and God. Peace with God leads to the peace of God. (Phil 4:7)

Patience – not easily offended by annoying people or easily frustrated when waiting on the Lord (Ps. 86:15)

Kindness – you don’t chafe or blister people—not hard, crusty, and prickly (Matt 11:30)

Goodness – using strength and discipline to help people because it’s the right thing to do (Matt 21:12-13)

Faithfulness – unshakeable trust in God required especially of those entrusted with promoting truth (2 Tim. 2:2)

Gentleness – strength under control, submissive, yielded, teachable

Self-control – master over desires and passions

3. What keeps you walking in the Spirit-led lane?

• Grace says you can’t bypass God on your way to either salvation or sanctification. Grace keeps you from being a legalist.
  
  
• Love for God hems you in to keeping his commandments. Love for God keeps you from becoming licentious (anything goes).

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