5. Serve the Church

You can probably recite, or even sing, the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23). Many of us learned that list as young children and would love to see that fruit growing in our lives and families. The question is: how? In the rest of Galatians 5 Paul describes some dangers to avoid and some beliefs and habits to cultivate in order to prevent “the works of the flesh” and cooperate with the Holy Spirit so His fruit grows more fully in us. This begins with a clear understanding of the gospel – that we are saved by grace alone and not by works. And we must learn to walk in the Spirit, resisting our old sinful nature (the flesh) and responding to the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand. Scripture doesn’t say this will be easy, but we should encourage one another that it is possible as we listen to the Spirit’s leading and walk with one another in faith. 

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