Joel M Bradshaw

16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For 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. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, 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. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.–Galatians 5 (with emphasis)

Remember the major tension in the book of Galatians is between FLESH and SPIRIT. As you can see, I underlined those words above in the text. Verse 22 is a famous one that I encourage you to memorize. Those fruit are what the Spirit produces on your branches and what others should see. Difficult times or people in your life may just be an opportunity for God to grow a missing fruit in you. I feel like a work in progress, but people who most annoy me are in my life for God to grow patience on my branches. And God expects me to display that patience as He works in me!

1. YOU ARE EITHER BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OR YOUR SELFISH FLESH.
2. THOSE TWO ARE ENEMIES OF EACH OTHER.
3. THE WORKS OF THE FLESH KEEP YOU BOUND BY LAW OF GOD THAT DEMANDS YOU WORK THEM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
4. THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT FREES YOU FROM THAT BINDING, BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO DOES THE SAVING AND IN CHRIST CONSIDERING YOU NOW RIGHTEOUSNESS (THROUGH FAITH).
5. IF YOU SEE FRUIT FROM THE FLESH LIST, TIME TO REPENT! PRODUCE FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH THAT REPENTANCE.
6. IF YOU DON’T SEE FRUIT FROM THE SPIRIT LIST, TIME TO PRAY! PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT TO GROW THAT FRUIT AND THEN SUBMIT TO HIS LEADING. ACCOUNTABILITY IS GREAT HERE.
7. WHAT FRUIT IS GROWING ON THE BRANCHES OF THE TREE THAT IS YOUR LIFE?

In high school I played the big, white sousaphone in the marching band. And as we parade marched, we kept in step with the cadence of the drum line, the leader on the end of our respective lines, and ultimately to the direction of the drum majors. Carrying the gigantic sousaphone wasn’t easy. On windy days it was like a sail attached to my body. Special grace was given to the sousaphone players on those days when the band was to remain still at parade rest. But EVERY member of the band was to keep step. Our left feet were to always match.

Do you keep in step more with the desires of your flesh or the sovereign biblical leading of the Holy Spirit? Your branches are God’s display.–JMB