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Sunday 29 June 2025 Trinity 2, Thirteenth in Ordinary time, Proper 8
Fruits of the Spirit
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Context: a village parish church with a mixed tradition, congregation numbering on average 70, of varied age groups, predominantly older
Aim: to explore and encourage the Fruits of the Spirit
Occasionally we have sung the song: ‘O God of Burning Cleansing Flame’. It contains the lines ‘We need another Pentecost.’ I always find myself thinking that there was nothing wrong with the old one. I firmly believe that the first day of Pentecost, when the promised Holy Spirit came down was more than sufficient. All we require is to recognise that often we need to seek the Lord for a refreshing of the Spirit, as our lives become cluttered and we cease to hear God’s voice.
LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
In our reading today from Galatians Paul is writing to a young church experiencing discord and fractures. Some believe that certain Jewish ceremonial practices should be followed by the newly converted Gentiles in order to be saved. Paul is at pains to remind the Galatian churches of what he says succinctly in Ephesians. ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so no one can boast’ (Ephesians 2:8–9). Paul reminds the church that they need to stand firm in the freedom they have received from Christ. He warns his readers that this freedom is not to be used without qualification. They are to guard against the sinful nature and live in the power of the Spirit. This leads to the expression of the Fruits of the Spirit which he lists. He advises that living by the Spirit is best and warns against conceit, provocation and envy.
SERVING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE
How do we apply these verses now? We are not one of those young Galatian churches. We are not arguing about ceremonial practices. Maybe traditional practices are an area where there is a little push and pull, but hopefully, we are exercising love. We have not been infiltrated by false believers and been thrown into confusion. No one is suggesting we observe the Jewish laws. We are followers of Christ, saved by grace. However, we are called ‘to be free’ (v.13) and not to use our freedom to indulge in sin but to serve one another in love. So, we ask ourselves, are we serving each other in love or using our freedom in Christ carelessly? We might think we are doing fine, with just a few hiccups now and then. We might look at the list of the sinful nature Paul describes: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and orgies; we might think actually we are doing quite well. In truth the only way to see how we are doing is to ask the Lord, by his Holy Spirit, to shine a light into our hearts. To search our thoughts and actions. To see if we need to repent and seek forgiveness.
EXPRESSING THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES
The way to check that we are exercising our freedom in Christ is to ensure we are expressing the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Looking to scripture we can see examples from our forebears to help us. The faithfulness of Abraham and Sarah, the patience of Hannah, the kindness of Boaz towards Ruth, the psalmist praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the writer of Proverbs reminding us that a gentle answer turns away wrath, the goodness of Joseph as he supports Mary, the jump of joy from John the Baptist within Elizabeth as he meets Jesus within Mary, the self-control of Paul as he turns his life around on the Damascus Road. Just a few examples in scripture which demonstrate God’s people living lives filled with God’s Spirit. There are many more examples – look out for them as you read and hear the scriptures.
Called to freedom in Christ, living in the power of the Spirit and serving one another in love may our lives too be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Living by the Spirit let us be guided by the Spirit, so that others may come to see and know Christ through our words and deeds, and enter into the freedom he promises.
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