The Holy Spirit Promise (Part 11)

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The Holy Spirit Promise

(Part 11)

Good morning and Welcome to Jesus Church – Here and Online

Getting close to the end of our series: Holy Spirit Promise

• • • That’s bittersweet because this has been a powerful time for us
      • I have absolutely love this series
      • I know I have grown through it – Pray you have too
    • Really hope this series changes our lives
      • That we would pursue a relationship with the Spirit
      • That we would desire to walk in the “Things the Spirit does”
      • That we would in all of that – Effectively usher in Kingdom of God
    • But I’m also excited about what comes next
      • Our next series is going to be on Freedom in Christ
      • Also will have a midweek class to sign up for
      • Exciting stuff to look forward to – Pray about someone to bring

Last week we talked about deliverance… from bondage (listen if missed)

• • • And really it comes down to who do we give authority in our lives
      • Who do we allow to give us our identity
      • Because whoever has the authority to speak to your identity
      • Will have the power to control your life and what you do
    • The enemy was able to control Adam/Eve’s identity in the garden
      • He tried to control Jesus’ identity in the wilderness
      • And he will try to control your identity as well
    • Because your identity will always dictate your behavior
      • God spoke Jesus’ identity over him “This is my son”
      • Satan tried to create doubt in that…
      • Didn’t work… he walked in victory knowing who he was
        • He acted like the messiah why… He knew he was messiah

Today I want to Shift from looking at the Pnumatikos (Gifts) of the Spirit

• • • To how do we cultivate these things in our lives
      • Understanding your identity (deliverance) is a great starting point
      • Walking in Holiness (2 weeks ago) will bring us down that path
    • This week we’re going to get very practical – Look at Fruit of the Spirit
      • Now if u grew up in church (VBS) – Might feel like checking out
      • You have “Fruit of Spirit” songs burned into your mind
      • Maybe you even memorized them (Psalty – Christian plays)
    • But in regards to our relationship w/ the Holy Spirit
      • These are deep… they’re profound
      • And they’re crucial to the way we live out life as Jesus followers
      • Really this is at core of how we change…
        • From Living in the Flesh
        • To Walking in the Spirit

Turn to Gal. 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

[PRAY]

I see Gal. 5 as pic of what happens Jesus gets ahold of u

Its the most detailed verse in all the Bible…

• About what happens when we allow God to be God
  • If we embrace what we talked on – Holiness/Deliverance
  • This is exactly what you will see happen in your life
• So as follower of Jesus this is what our lives should look like
  • And that seems pretty straight forward and simple
  • But in reality it’s anything but simple
  • Because looking at this list – How many can u put a check next to
    • Maybe you are faithful… how about patient
    • Maybe you self-control… but you’re cold/not compassionate
    • Maybe you have goodness… no peace in your life

And notice that the word Fruit is singular – Not plural (HUGE)

• Which I didn’t understand (Picture in Sunday school of different fruit)
  • But fruit of different types is actually fruits (mango, apple, cherry)
  • If you have a bunch of pineapple – It’s fruit
    • And this is “Fruit” (singular) of the spirit – One type
    • It isn’t the “Fruits” (plural) of the spirit – Various types
• Paul isn’t saying: Here are 9 different areas of life you can grow in
  • No… It is saying – Here is the ONE THING – THE SPIRIT
  • And 9 different aspects of the Fruit that the Spirit brings forth
    • Which means we might be in trouble
    • Because we don’t a “PET” fruit of the Spirit
    • Completely disregard all the other ones

Example – I have tons of Self-Control… but I have no patience for others

• This is complicated b/c we know that we are all works in progress
  • Many times we read Galatians 5
  • Think here is what the Fruit of the Spirit looks like
    • I’ll just pray for God to give me all of them
    • When I wake up all my lack of fruit will be gone
• How many of us have had success at that… NONE
  • So we know this whole thing is way more complicated
    • Even for those who have seen a difference in their life
    • You were living a life on a crash course with hell
    • Find Jesus – Radically changes your life…
      • There is a marked difference – Absolutely
• But regardless we all find these traits or flaws in our character
  • How I treat others – think of myself – motives behind what I do
    • They keep coming back
    • They seem to have this afterlife
    • How many know what I’m talking about???

Problem is we think: I’m a Xian – Spirit in my life – Why is other stuff here

• We think I should be able to pray/decide and all the bad goes away
  • Wake up with no more anger
  • Wake up with no more lust
  • Whatever your deal is…
• So we get frustrated – And start to believe maybe Jesus doesn’t work
  • Maybe I’m just hopeless
  • Maybe I am just too terrible of a person
  • And thinking this is simple – Would lead you to think that way

So we need to read this passage in context

Realize in the flow of Paul’s letter – This is exactly what he wrestles with

• Why is it that deep character change is such a struggle in our lives
  • How come we have this battle with the “New You”
  • It always seems 3 steps forward – 2 steps back
• So lets back up and see what Paul says
  • I think really gives light on the Spirits role
  • In this long process of transforming us to become more like Jesus
• Paul uses this metaphor of fruit – That is extremely significant
  • Any metaphor seen in scripture is important to really look at
  • Gives window on how Paul sees process working itself out in lives

Story

Many of you know I grew up in Seattle

• Might know it rains there: A ton of things grow really well in Seattle
  • Blackberries/Raspberries are basically weeds
  • Grow practically any vegetable
  • Tomatoes, Strawberries…
• In our back yard we wanted to grow a garden – Came from here
  • Problem was our backyard had no grass – All moss/mushrooms
  • So I cut out a decent sized section and made a garden
  • I was most excited to have berries – Specifically raspberries
• Well it was really hard work… like I ended up hating this garden
  • Because I thought I would make the area
  • Then I would buy the seeds
  • And in 6 weeks we would have all this great food

Well that is not at all how it works

• Because if we just neglected our garden for 6 weeks
  • Would there be any produce in our garden… probably some
  • Maybe a couple tomatoes that survived… or a giant squash
  • But there would be a ton of weeds – Little to no fruit
• If you want a garden to produce lots of fruit
  • You have to learn how to be a gardener
  • Watering – Weeding – Mildew – Predators
• I think I was 13 so I didn’t want to do any of that… but 1^st year
  • It was new and exciting – Sorta fun at first
  • And then we saw all the food was starting to grow
  • So at least there was a payoff… gonna eat my own raspberries

Well we had a dog named “Dodger”

• Greatest dog of all time in my opinion – Then we had a demon dog
  • Had a beautiful white muzzel (Sheltie)
  • One day came home & dodger was all dirty and mouth blood red
  • We though he had murdered a squirrel – possum
• We run outside and there is nothing there – Great its in the house
  • But there was nothing… this great mystery
  • Well a couple days later I go to check on our garden
  • Garden had been attacked by some awful beast
    • All my raspberries were gone – Along with other stuff
• Well at least for me… that was end of my gardening career
  • All I wanted was to grow some food that I could eat myself
  • But not only do you struggle with food actually growing
  • But on top of that there is this outside influence
    • Can’t anticipate it – It just destroys what you are growing

Here point – B/C we still got some food out of garden

I think my mom kept it going after I disowned it

• But after all that work that we went through for this food
  • Could I sit down and say: I grew this tomato
  • No – I didn’t grow it at all
  • What I did was provide an environment where fruit could grow
• How is fruit grown
  • Huge ball of gas that sends energy to Earth – credit for that: NO
  • Then there is cloud cover – photosynthesis – credit for that: NO
  • Seeds have to open and take root/ genetics – credit for that: NO
    • I have no control over any of this
• There are these forces and realities I have no control over
  • But my role is still crucial
  • B/C I don’t grow the fruit
  • But I can hinder the fruit

Why does Paul chose this metaphor to explain work of Spirit in our life

• Brilliant: Fruit represents “process of character change”
  • When Spirit is at work in my life – Absolutely out of my control
  • But it’s the Spirit that wants to change me to be more like Jesus
  • This is totally outside myself… I cannot change myself (character)
• What I can do is HINDER this growth process in my life
  • Paul talks about grieving the Spirit – Extinguish work of Spirit
  • All sorts of things that will minimize work of Spirit in my life
  • This is what Paul is aiming in this entire chapter

Gal. 5:16

So I say, walk by the Spirit…

Paul here gives another metaphor: Walking

• And we know life is a journey – Every choice… every decision
  • You’re gonna walk one way or the other (Spirit or Flesh)
  • And your ability to walk is powered by one of these
• Spirit: Represents the Personal presence of God in our life
  • So the Spirit is in your life: With you, sanctifying you, leading you
  • And Paul assumes the Spirit is in your life as a believer

Eph. 1:13

And you also were included in the Messiah when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

• Paul is saying when u believed in Jesus – God sealed you (Stamped)
  • Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit who comes into your life
  • And while this is something the Spirit does
  • We have the choice of how much influence Spirit has in our life

But there is other side as well: FLESH (sinful nature)

… walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh

• By flesh Paul isn’t talking about your material existence
  • According to Genesis 1 – All creation/material is “Good”
  • And us as humans are – “Very Good”
• This is the Biblical view of our material world
  • But it is a material world that has become compromised
  • Evil and human sin have vandalized what God made Good
• So “FLESH” means that which has been compromised by sin
  • This is why some translations say “Sinful Nature”
  • So the world view of Paul – Bible
  • We all live with a draw towards both worlds

[DIAGRAM 1] – Spirit: Sealed/Marked/God is gonna be after u forever

[DIAGRAM 2] – Flesh: Also reality – We live in world deeply compromised

Our choice is what world are we going to live in

• What kind of human existence will I choose
  • Knowing the power of the Spirit pulling me in direction of life
  • But the flesh is pulling me in the direction of death
• Paul knows this isn’t just some simple thing
  • Not just pray and wake up next morning with no draw to flesh
  • No – We are being pulled by both of these worlds
    • One: The compromised material world
    • Two: The world led by the Spirit of God
      • The Flesh is my old reality
      • The Spirit is my new reality
• But they are constantly pulling us in opposite directions

Gal. 5:17-18

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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Paul fully recognizes this continual battle in each of us

[Diagram 3] – Theologically: Describes 2 realms we exist in as Jesus people

• Flesh: Not our reality – But still there – Compromised world
• Spirit: The Spirit now brings us life – Into the kingdom of God

But we end up with these moments of conflict – Wage war in our lives

• Ex: So you’re in a tense moment – With someone in ur life (boss)
  • Thought comes into your head… here is what I could say
    • And I could totally destroy them with that
    • Part of you thinks – That would feel really good
  • Other thought comes into head… not who I’m supposed to be
    • This isn’t representing Jesus in the right way
    • I need love, gentleness, self-control
  • So you have these voices in your head (at least I do)
    • Completely contrary to each other
    • The desires of the flesh – Fruit of the Spirit
• Paul saying do you wanna go with garden destroying monster
  • Or do you want to be a good gardener
• The Spirit is doing His part – Regenerating your mind
  • But its up to you in which way to walk – What usually wins
    • Depends on if I have spent time with Jesus that day
    • Depends on if I have scripture in my heart
    • Depends on if I have strengthened my spirit with prayer

Question: Have I been tending to my life to cultivate what Spirit produces

• And if you haven’t – Don’t be surprised if you don’t grow
  • And you might have a strawberry or tomato pop up
  • But it won’t be a constant victory in your life
• Paul says there are things u will do that you don’t want to do
  • Like a moment of insanity
  • Decisions we don’t want but willfully choose – no one forcing us
  • Yet we do them anyways
• So Paul paints this picture of what’s going on
  • So we can recognize it for what it is
  • Understand this isn’t just that Xianity doesn’t work for us

So the Hope here isn’t: Therefore go do the fruit of the Spirit

• Hope is more – Recognize the nature of the situation
  • Understand the enemy and reality that wants to destroy us
  • But he can’t b/c of the Spirit
• So Paul continues before the fruit of Spirit to explore World of Flesh
  • Verse 19 talks about stuff we do – Never learned selfishness
  • Stuff we do left to our compromised past state (3 sections)

Gal. 5:19 – Starts with Immorality – Significant & Intentional

The acts of the flesh r obvious: Sexual immorality, impurity & debauchery.

• Want to know if ur life is pulled more by flesh than spirit
  • This is the very first place to look
    • Immorality in life says something about human condition
    • Strange in culture – View of sexuality is all physical
    • Gods view is considered outdated/crazy/oppressive
• In reality God’s view is much higher than the worlds
  • That it is a union of body and soul
  • That has such incredible potential and power in relationship

Gal. 5:20 – (2 in second category) Idolatry and witchcraft

• This is about how we relate to the spiritual realm
  • Idolatry is giving our allegiance to something besides 1 true God
  • Witchcraft all about power and manipulation
    • Over spiritual things so I can do have/do what I want
• Both cases the thought is…
  • I’m the boss
  • I determine what I worship and will gain power for my own gain
• This is the exact opposite of God’s purpose for us
  • We are meant to reflect and walk with the creator
  • Not determine the creator and use the Spiritual for selfish gain

Gal. 5:20 – (3^rd category is a rant list – All relational breakdown)

… Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.

• All of these about relational breakdown/character flaws leading to it
  • Paul lists “11” things here – Obviously has a lot to say here
  • B/C writing letter to church with tons of relational breakdown
• And this isn’t just an issue of religious people and pagans
  • How many can think of relational breakdowns in the church body
  • This is all people in general
    • In fact some of the most religiously driven people you know
    • It’s not about Jesus – But selfish ambition
    • Many times they cause the most dissension/factions/discord
• Paul says if you want to see which world you live in and feed more
  • Look at the health of your relationships
  • It will tell u a ton on if ur life is friendly environment to grow fruit

Gal. 5:20 (Conclusion)

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Saying: U can reach a point you so allow life to be cut off from Jesus

• Where your life has nothing of the Spirit
  • Made a conscious choice to reject everything of Spirit/Jesus
    • And you won’t inherit the Kingdom of God
    • But it’s not that you lose something that you want
    • These people don’t want the Kingdom of God in first place
  • If u despise Jesus – Why would u want to be in his kingdom
    • Where you worship/in relationship with /submit to him
    • You wouldn’t – That would be their version of hell
• If this terrifies you and strikes fear in your heart
  • Then this absolutely isn’t talking about you
  • You aren’t included in that category
    • The fact that you are concerned that “THIS” might be you
    • You’re not “that” by the fact u r concerned u might be “that”
• So this is the flesh – Its complicated – We live in 2 worlds
  • Paul is saying this so we know the enemy
  • And so we can have hope as we learn to be gardeners

Gal. 5:22 – Opposite of the flesh

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

What the Spirit wants to do in our lives if we let him

9 fold fruit of the Spirit that reflect person of Jesus (Diff facets of 1 thing)

• 1^st: Love – Not emotion in scripture but action
  • Seeks the well being of another person
  • Regardless of how they respond to me
• 2^nd: Joy and Peace
  • Making a decision that b/c of what Jesus has done
  • Life might be difficult – Identity is grounded in what Jesus did
  • Whatever comes my way: I can choose Joy and Peace
• 3^rd: Patience, Kindness and Goodness
  • These are all relational terms – Balance category of the flesh
  • This is about not being super reactive
    • Person might be annoying – But Jesus died for them
    • So I can get over myself and have patience and be kind
• 4^th: Faithfulness & Gentleness
  • To be a source of stability in others lives
  • Doing exactly what you say you are going to do
  • To be safe and trustworthy
• 5^th: Last one is Self-Control
  • Interesting – B/C we thought fruit about Spirit taking control
  • How do u know someone who exhibits fruit in life (self-control)
    • Is that done by you or the Spirit… YES
    • Is fruit grown in my garden by me or the Spirit… YES
      • Whose work is more primary…

Whole point of theology of Spirit in NT – It’s you & the Spirit in you!!!

• Its not that you become this detached disengaged person
  • The most Spirit filled people you know – Most fully human people
  • It is a human in control of their impulses and desires
    • Is it human or spirit… exactly
    • Whole point is Spirit trying to pull us into fuller humanity
• Because who is only Human to ever live fully by the Spirit – Jesus
  • Whose image are we being made into – Jesus
  • When Spirit is fully at work in our lives
    • He makes us more ourselves as followers of Jesus

Gal. 5:24 – This is how he concludes

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Profound way of concluding – Ends very practical

• B/C what happened to your old humanity when u followed Jesus
  • You killed that garden monster
  • But if that is true… why does it still give me so much trouble
• Same question ask – Jesus died 4 sins of the world – Defeated death
  • So why do we still contend with evil and death
  • Answer is only found in Jesus & resurrection
    • He is the one who has ignited new reality of the future age
    • Until he returns to fully reconcile heaven and earth
    • We in faith embracing this truth about the world/self

Paul saying if you attached yourself to Jesus in faith

• You have died to your sinful nature – Now part of the future age
  • Your identity/self-worth not governed by the flesh
  • Even though we still contend with the flesh
    • Now your reality and existence is in the Spirit
    • And b/c you live by the Spirit keep in step with the Spirit
    • In other words – Play the role of a Gardner

Gal. 2:20 (summary of the gospel)

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

• Who died on the cross: Jesus
  • Who died with him on the cross: You and Me
  • And if I died to myself – Then I live to Him
    • That is done through relationship with the Holy Spirit
• Its something we must preach to ourself everyday – Make a habit
  • Challenge you to memorize these 2 verses
  • Watch how the Spirit brings them to ur mind in times of insanity
  • You will be amazed
    • Because it reminds you – That sin doesn’t define you
    • It doesn’t have power over you
    • It died 2000 years ago
• The way we learn to garden our lives – So we cultivate Spirit’s fruit
  • Learn how to preach the Gospel to yourself in hard times
  • And make choices to destroy anything of the flesh in easy times
    • Colossians says to “Execute” those things
    • Don’t just look at the weed and leave it
    • No rip it out – poison the roots – destroy it
      • And its not you making yourself more like Jesus
      • Its just tending the Garden – Letting the Spirit grow u