Bad Fruit vs. Good Fruit

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16-26

When I first committed my life to Christ, one of the first passages of scripture I highlighted was this list: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

God is warning you and I against these things because He knows we can choose differently (with His help)! He knows the family problems, He knows the mental anguish it will cause, He know the divorce that might happen, He knows the disease these items listed may bring; He knows ALL and this warning is an encouragement to you and I to know that God cares so much about you and I, He says, "Hey, these things will hurt YOU!" He says, "Hey, these things will hurt your FAMILY!"  He says, "Hey, these things cause you DEATH!"

God's word make it known to me what the works of the flesh looked like.  If I am a Christian, than this list is a litmus test. Do my flesh bad fruits out weigh my Spirit given good fruits? 

Most of us know what our own sin looks like, but reading them in black and white just helps bring you and I to a state of awareness.  As believers, we are no longer ignorant to these things. If I am now aware of these things, I can now start putting them to death in Christ. The process starts with identifying these and following God's instructions, "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh." Put them to death! Only through Him, can I overcome these things.

After 14 years, I can say several of these listed have put to death.  Not to say, I have attained some type of perfection, by no means, but I can see how God has changed me in many ways in the last 14 years. Do some of these items still rise up, yes, from time to time, but that just means I am not living in the Spirit. If I am living in the Spirit, than they are put to death.

When we use these passage as a litmus test, God continues and tells us what it begins to look like to live in the Spirit. As we ask Him to help us "crucify" our flesh, He says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."  We will begin to see these good fruits in our lives.

"...let us walk by the Spirit..." for when we are in Him, we are giving Him all glory, because its Him, not me!

What are you representing today; the Bad Fruit or the Good Fruit?  Ask God to help you identify these things and show you the Bad vs. Good.  Then submit yourself to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to being to change you.

God Bless.

Who's in control?

“It’s obvious when someone is not walking in the Spirit (at least not consistently). What you see and experience from such a person is usually along the lines of rage, selfishness, dissension, bitterness, and envy.  However, when a person is habitually and actively submitting to the Spirit, what comes out of his or her life is the fruit of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will not - cannot - lead you into sin.  If the Holy Spirit is in you, as a believer, then when you sin you are not listening to the Spirit’s leading.” Francis Chan Forgotten God

There is a laundry list above that probably plagues most of us; although if taken captive by Christ and put to death in Him, we being to live in the Spirit. Colossians 3:3-5, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you..."

Are you waking up every morning and inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you? "Put to death," this laundry list of things and live in Him.  As you begin to live in the Spirit people begin to see Christ in you.  That's what I want! May it be so.

Blessings to each of you.