Are You Led By Flesh Or Fruit?



1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (NIV)



1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. (NIV)



Galatians 5:16–23 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
Illustration: Dirty water in a glass.
3 Interesting Facts About The Fruit Of The Spirit
1. Christ followers do not have all the gifts of the Spirit but do have all the fruit of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (NLT)
1 Corinthians 12:11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (NLT)
2. They are called the fruit of the Spirit not the fruits of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)



3. Your fruit matters to God and it should matter to you
Matthew 7:17–20 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (NIV)



Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. (NIV)



Luke 6:43–44 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. (NIV)



9 Characteristics Of The Fruit Of The Spirit



1. Love 



Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (NLT)



John 13:34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (NLT)



1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)



1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (ESV)



Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (ESV)



Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (NIV)



2. Joy



Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (ESV)



Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (ESV)



3. Peace



4. Patience



Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (NIV)
5. Kindness



Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (ESV)



Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (NIV)



1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (NIV)



The Fruit Evaluator: Rate yourself from 1 to 10 (1 being poor and 10 being great)



Love 1 to 10
Joy 1 to 10
Peace 1 to 10

Patience 1 to 10
Kindness 1 to 10