Introduction: Last week we ended our study with the thought that if
we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, our life should reflect the
fruits of the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are largely
attitudes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Galatians 5:22-23. Living
a life led by our sinful nature, in contrast, brings evil acts.
Galatians 5:19-21. Let’s dig into our Bible and explore how our lives
can be dominated by the fruits of the Holy Spirit!
- Vine Connection
- Read John 15:1-4. Jesus says nothing about the Holy Spirit
here. He mentions only the Father and Himself. What role
does the Father have? (To “cut off” unproductive branches
and “prune” fruitful branches.) - Does that make you shudder? When I was a young man my
brother and I were pruning (“caning”)raspberry
plants. We were working on opposite sides of the
plant. I recall shuddering(and yelling)when my
brother put his shears around one of my fingers! - What do you think it means to be “pruned?” Is it like
what nearly happened to my finger? - Look closely at John 15:3. What does it mean to be
“clean?” (It means that you have been pruned.) - How were the disciples “pruned?” (By the words that
Jesus had spoken to them.) - How does this help us understand pruning? (In this
example it is not some terrible loss in our life.
Rather, it is understanding and following the words
of Jesus so that we sharpen the focus of our
Christian life.) - Read John 15:5. How do we remain in Jesus? (Jesus does not
specifically refer to the Holy Spirit, but this has to be
the way that we “remain” in Jesus. The Holy Spirit lives
in us and therefore we have this connection to the
“vine.”) - Do you think it is a coincidence that Galatians 5:22
refers to the “fruit of the Spirit” and John 15:4-5
refers to remaining in Jesus and bearing “fruit?” (Of
course not. That is how we know Jesus is referring to
the Holy Spirit connection.) - Read John 15:6. This sounds painful. It does not sound
like sharpening our focus based on a better understanding
of God’s word. If you are an expert in pruning, what kind
of “branch” do you prune? (In my limited experience, I cut
back things that are already dead. I’m following the
pattern taken by the plant, by cutting off the flow of
energy to those sections that cannot use the energy.) - What is the spiritual lesson to take from this? (If
we get “cut off” it is because we have already made
the decision to “die.”) - Notice that I’ve been referring to being “cut off,”
which is the term Jesus uses first. How does Jesus
change His terminology in John 15:4, 6 & 7? (Jesus
speaks of us “remain[ing]” in Him. This shows that it
is our choice whether we will be connected to Jesus
or not.) - Read John 15:7-8. What extraordinary promise does Jesus
make to those who are connected to Him through the Holy
Spirit? (That God will give you whatever you wish.) - What if you wish to have a Mercedes Benz? (The entire
conversation is about the fruit of the Spirit. I
think Jesus is telling us that if we specifically ask
for love, joy, peace, patience, or some other fruit,
He will give it to us!) - Read John 15:9-11. Recall last week that I said that if
your goal is keeping the commandments you are “looking too
low?” Does this contradict what I suggested? Specifically,
does Jesus say that if we keep His commandments, it shows
that we love Him? Thus, keeping the commandments is proof
of our love of Jesus? (No. This says something much
different. Jesus gave us the Ten Commandments (and every
other commandment) for our benefit. They were intended to
bless our lives. They were given because Jesus loves us.
In John 15:9 Jesus asks us to “remain in My love.” If you
follow His commandments, which demonstrate His love for
us, then you “remain” in His love.) - Read John 14:15. Wait a minute! Doesn’t this text
specifically say that if you love Jesus you will obey the
commandments? (If you read the context, John 14:15-21, you
will see that Jesus is talking about sending the Holy
Spirit to live in us. Thus, Jesus is not talking about the
“commandments,” He is talking about us living a life led
by the Holy Spirit, and not by our sinful desires. We need
to look higher than gritting our teeth and determining to
obey the commandments.) - Walk in Love
- Bob Goff just attended the Regent campus. If I’ve
remembered correctly, he said, “Live in grace, walk in
love.” Obeying the Ten Commandments is walking in the
protection of God’s love. What else might it mean? Let’s
read 1 Corinthians 13:4. If you were patient, kind,
content, free of boasting and pride, how would your life
be different? (No doubt you would be more calm, more
content.) - Would others have greater enjoyment being around you?
- Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. How would you characterize
tongues, the gift of prophecy and faith? (These are fruits
of the Holy Spirit.) - What does this say about the fruit of love versus
other fruits? (Love is essential. It is
foundational.) - Read 1 Corinthians 13:5. Do you keep “score?” Do you keep
a record of those who have insulted you? - Do you like it when people remember your wrong
actions against them? - Read 1 Corinthians 13:6. What does it mean to rejoice
“with the truth,” as opposed to delighting in evil? (We
are happy when people of virtue succeed. We are happy when
truth prevails.) - Read 1 Corinthians 13:7. Consider each one of these
actions or attitudes. Are they reflected in your life? - Read Romans 14:12-16. Is this an example of living in
love? (If you are not following Paul’s argument, read
Romans 14:1-11. Paul writes that being correct in
disputable matters is less important than showing love to
fellow believers.) - Read Romans 14:17-18. Why does Paul compare eating and
drinking with “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit?” (We must have the correct focus in life. How many
Christians do you know who are focused on whether others
are eating the right thing and doing the right thing,
rather than just loving others? Even if others are doing
things we think inappropriate, can we look for a way to
show love without sinning?) - Read Romans 14:19. When you write on Facebook to a fellow
Christian, do you follow this advice? - Read Galatians 6:1-2. What does our discussion so far
teach us about our attitude towards sin? What does this
text say? (We should stand against sin. But, we are also
commanded to restore the sinner “gently.”) - What does the text mean when it says “watch
yourself?” (We are directed to show love and
compassion towards the sinner. We are directly to
gently restore. We are directed to show discretion on
disputable matters. But, we must be careful that we
do not get confused about the sin. We should not get
pulled into that sin.) - Read Galatians 6:3-5. Why does Paul warn us about pride?
- Have you ever asked yourself whether your debate
about someone else’s sin has more to do with your
pride, than your desire to “carry the burdens” of the
other person? - Wait a minute! Paul tells us to “carry each other’s
burdens” ( Galatians 6:2) and then he says “each one
should carry his own load” ( Galatians 6:5). Is this a
contradiction? (I don’t think so. The “load” of the
one involved in obvious sin is to quit sinning. The
load of the person who is trying to correct that sin
is to put aside pride and show love. Each one has a
“load.”) - At this point are you shaking your head and saying, “This
is too hard!” If so, remember that having the right
attitude arises from living a life led by the Holy Spirit! - Friend, if you have examined your “fruit” and found it
lacking, why not invite the Holy Spirit to guide your
mind? - Next week: The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit.
