Evidence of the Spirit
Sermon Notes
[Luke 6:43-45] "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. [44] A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. [45] A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
What is in your HEART determines the FRUIT you bear.
There is a WAR between what the Holy Spirit wants and what WE want.
[Galatians 5:16-17] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17] The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
You can't fight your EVIL DESIRES on your own.
[Galatians 5:19-21] When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Ungodly fruit demonstrates we are living a FLESH-led life rather than a SPIRIT-led one.
[Galatians 5:22-23] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The Holy Spirit will bring a noticeable change in your ATTITUDE & BEHAVIOR.
Our IDENTITY is revealed by the fruit we produce.
[Galatians 5:24-26] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. [26] Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a CHRIST-LIKE life.
[John 15:5, 7 NLT] "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. [7] But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!