Nurture the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
A Sermon on Galatians 5:16-26 by Pastor Allan Santos
Watch the sermon here.
Introduction
Welcome to our new preaching series “Nurture the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in You.” In this preaching series, we will learn what is the fruit of the Spirit and how we can cultivate and nurture it. In that way, we could have a God-glorifying life and become Christians who do the will of God.
How is the Lord working in your life these days? Do you sense or feel God’s strong presence in your life, or do you still feel the urge to conform and live in this world's worldly and sinful desires? As Christians, we will always face the temptations and pressures to blend in with the ways and principles of this corrupt world. But let us be reminded that Jesus had set us free and gave us the power to live in the Spirit so that we could live a life that is pleasing to Him.
The Apostle Paul preached and urged the Galatian Church to yield and yearn to live for God and not to submit to the desires of the flesh and every kind of sin. He also encouraged them to nurture the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Outline:
Paul’s call to forsake the desires of our flesh that are against the principles of God. (vv. 16-21)
Paul’s encouragement to nurture and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. (vv. 22-23)
Our commitment is to abandon the passions and desires of the flesh. (v. 24)
Our responsibility to walk by the Spirit in the community of fellow believers (vv.25-26)
Life Applications:
Commit to nurturing the fruit of the Spirit in your daily living. In which relationships with others are you challenged to reflect the fruit of the Spirit? Is it in your marriage, at home, church, work or school? Ask the Lord in prayer to guide and lead you to bear the fruit of the Spirit within these relationships.
Ask the Lord for help and forgiveness if you are still living and enjoying the sinful desires of this world. This sinful world will offer us different kinds of pleasures. If you look at where you spend your time, money and attention, will it please and glorify God?
Allow fellow believers to walk beside you as you journey in your Christian life. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us and to remind us that our lives belong to God. Let us aim to live in peace and harmony with the people around us for God’s glory.
