Galatians 5:13-25.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Sounds great, but what does it mean in reality ?

It’s relatively easy to show the fruit of the Spirit, when things are going well…..you can put it on. The real test as to whether it’s within you, is when you’re under pressure, in difficult times.
And as Galatians says, you’re either living by the sinful nature, the flesh…or the Spirit.
Which one is in control of your life, what is seen in your attitude and actions ?
There are two roads that you can go in life, ……yes, only two.

Matthew 7:13,14.

And what’s more, a person can appear to be on the right path, but not be.

Matthew 7:15-24.

What ‘words’ are these Jesus is referring to ?
~ What Jesus has just been saying in the Sermon on the Mount.
Living a holy life – thoughts and attitudes as well as actions. Loving others, even your enemies, not judging, forgiving those who hurt us, seeking God in prayer, giving to those in need – these are signs that you belong to Jesus and His Kingdom…this is the sort of fruit we are to demonstrate. And this is just as much a supernatural work of God as healing, prophesy, or casting out demons, but it takes place inside each one of us.
It means a change of heart.

So, what about the fruit in Galatians 5, what does it mean in reality ?

• Love – What happens when someone demands something from you ? What happens when you meet someone in the street who has maligned and slandered you ?
• Joy – What happens when you are picked on for being a Christian ? What happens when you get sick ?
• Peace – What happens when everyone around you is being noisy ? What happens when the pressure is on you from all sides ?
• Patience – what happens when the person in your house responsible for doing the rubbish, doesn’t do it ? What happens when you’re late for an appointment, and you get stuck behind a tractor ? What about when God doesn’t give you what you want ?
• Kindness – What happens when your spouse is upset and hurting ? What happens when you see someone struggling to do something ?
• Goodness – What happens when you see someone destitute at the side of the road ?
• Faithfulness – What happens when you say you will do something and then it proves difficult ? What happens when a handsome man or beautiful woman starts to flirt with you ?
• Gentleness – What happens when someone has a go at you and demands answers ? What happens when you see someone injured ?
• Self-control – What happens when you’re tired and alone and a sexual film comes on television ? What happens when there is a fantastic buffet at a party ? What happens when your children push you to the limit ?

Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Whatever’s inside will come out. The real you will show itself under pressure – in your words and actions.
Scary ! It should be. Hard to face. You bet !
Want to turn me off, walk out, make excuses for not listening ?

Why do you think we need Jesus ?

Jesus didn’t come for the well, but for the sick. He didn’t come for the righteous, but the unrighteous. Whilst I was a sinner Christ died for me. I was a mess.
Problem is most of the country, despite all evidence to the contrary…doesn’t want to admit to being a sinner. Pride gets in the way.

Without Jesus, I’m selfish, self-centred, lustful, greedy, materialistic, cruel, and generally horrible – that’s my sinful nature….and yours.
This is particularly hard for the ladies to hear, as in our minds we tend to associate sin and bad things predominately with men.

If you haven’t come to terms with this yet, - that you are a sinner deserving of God’s judgement and hell, - then you haven’t yet understood what it means for Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord.
Because if there isn’t a serious problem with our sin then why did Jesus feel He had to be beaten to a pulp and crucified ? We need a Saviour.

If there isn’t a serious problem with the way that we’re living, why did Jesus say to give it up and follow Him ? We need Jesus to be Lord.

Jesus needs to be Lord of your whole life, which includes where you live and work.
It’s easy to be a Christian where you’re not known, or somewhere where you can escape from. It’s harder where people see you all the time, and know what you’re like.
But that’s where it counts the most. Otherwise our faith is a sham, a pretence.
Jesus doesn’t want part-time Christians, you’re either a follower of Jesus or you’re not, and He calls for all that you are……to come to Him as you are without pretence and to offer yourself to Him.
To be real and not pretend.
As human beings, we seek to protect ourselves from hurt by pretending we’re something that we’re not, by putting on masks, by playing games.
These masks or roles are also often a reaction to our real self, the opposite of what we really are. We have caught a glimpse of the inner person, don’t like what we find and so try to be the opposite.
That’s pointless with God, because He knows what you’re really like inside.
We worship in spirit and IN TRUTH.
And that’s how we should be with others too – real, honest, truthful.

What are some of the masks we put on, and games we play ?
There is -
 Always Right – reaction to doubts.
 All Heart – reaction to cruel tendencies.
 Body beautiful – reaction to inferiority.
 The Braggart or bully – reaction to low self esteem.
 The Clown – reaction to facing the reality of pain and themselves.
 The Competitor – reaction to emotional deprivation or lack of approval in childhood.
 The Conformist – reaction to being dominated as a child and made to feel guilty.
 The Grouch – reaction to insecurity and not coping with stress.
 The Cynic – reaction to unfulfilled expectations of life.
 The Delusional – reaction to humiliation.
 The Dominator – reaction to feelings of inadequacy.
 The Dreamer – reaction to failure and struggle with the real world.
 The Flirt – reaction to lack of emotional depth.
 The Fragile – reaction to feelings of inability to cope with responsibility.
 The Gossip – reaction to inferiority or guilt.
 The Hedonist – reaction to emotional immaturity.
…..and we could go on.
(‘Why am I afraid to tell you who I am ?’ – John Powell)

Listen, this is important - How much someone indulges in these games is proportionate to the amount of emotional pain they are carrying.
Which is why there is no reason for any Christian to be playing these games. Why ?
Because Jesus has taken our pain on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4,5.

God wants us to know complete forgiveness and to forgive others.
To be cleaned out inside, of those parts we find so hard to face. Of all that evil garbage.
That means being honest about them with God and ourselves…to admit they are there.
He wants to restore us and make up for the years destroyed by our sinfulness and dishonesty.
And he wants to heal the emotional hurts of the past so that they no longer have any power over us. And that’s what He will do if we let Him.
Focus continually on them, or bury them and pretend that they’re not there, and they will destroy you and your relationships.
Let Jesus heal you inside.

And the Lord doesn’t just deal with the negative stuff, He wants to renew you, to fill you, and to have you work with Him in His Kingdom – to give you worth, value, and purpose.
In other words, our love relationship with God meets all of our primary emotional needs.
- Significance, security, and acceptance.
In God we know we are accepted as we are, that we are loved totally and are secure in being a child of God, and we know that the King of the Universe, the all powerful God is interested in us…..what significance that gives.

If you want it, it’s yours…..but you need to be honest and real.
To confess to God the truth of who and what you are. The truth of your thought life, your motivations, and attitudes.
To humble yourself before Him, by admitting how much you need Him and without Him you are lost.