Being the Fruit of the Spirit

Don’t be a rotten caramel apple.

Brian talked about a time he was so hungry and took a giant bite of a caramel apple hoping to quench his hunger, while tasting something delicious, but it was rotten and disgusting.

When we go to school, games, work, or are hanging out with people who know we’re Christians we want to show our fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Are we showing that to others, or do they see a Christian on the surface and rotten apple on the inside?

We were challenged to look at what fruit our lives really produce? Good fruit or Bad fruit:

Matthew 7:15-20New International Version (NIV)
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

We can rely on and use the Holy Spirit by listening to its counsel. The Holy Spirit can convict us when we’re going down a path that will lead to sin, or even listen for when the Holy Spirit is affirming our actions because they are God honoring! We can know when we are walking in step with the Spirit or in step with the sinful nature by simply looking at the fruit our lives produce.

Galatians 5:16-26New International Version (NIV)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We wrapped up groups by praying for the Holy Spirit to fill our lives, that we’re led by the Spirit and the not the desires of the sinful nature. We prayed for strength to overcome temptation when it arises and submitting to the spirit. We prayed for forgiveness for the times we have grieved the Holy Spirit. We specifically prayed for The Fruit of the Spirit to come over each other.