16But I [Paul] 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
- From verse 16, are you a gratifier? What desires do you gratify?
- From verse 17, your selfish desires are at war with God’s desires. Again, what desires do you gratify throughout your life?
- From verse 18, who is leading you? Is it your flesh, or is it God?
- Verses 19-21 provide a list of fruit you do NOT want on your branches. If any are present, you are not being led by in that area by God. Time to repent.
- Verses 22-23 list fruit that SHOULD be on your branches if you are being led by God. Any missing? Time to pray and trust God to grow it on your branches.
- From verse 24, have you metaphorically crucified your selfishness, sinful passions and desires? If fruit from the bad lot is in your life, you have not. This is a problem.
- Finally, verse 25. Who do you keep in step with? Which set of influences or influencers do you follow in your life?–JMB
Joel M Bradshaw 
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