Powerful Combo – Freedom and the Fruit of the Spirit
What does it mean that you and I have freedom in Christ? What is the connection between Faith and the Fruit of the Spirit?
Here’s another one of Rev’s sermon messages, based on a portion of Paul’s letter to the Galatians…
So Christ has truly set us free.
Galatians 5:1a
Rev shared…
I could barely afford the old car I bought, but there we were, a couple of poor college students, driving from Fort Wayne to Detroit, to see Deb’s parents.
Suddenly, a loud clunk from the engine, followed by a clanging noise, and a loss of power. We “limped” to a Ford dealership in the nearest town, but they were closed, and their mechanics were putting their tools away.
They were free to go home; the workday was over, and they may have had something important to get to, or simply been heading out to party hard. Who knows?
But I will always remember how one of those mechanics chose to use his freedom.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13
He was an older man, at least to a young college kid, who looked at me and said, “Young man, why don’t you fix it yourself?”
The incredulous look on my face told him what I was thinking. Fix it myself, I barely knew a fan belt from a muffler!
But he said, “Go buy the parts before the parts department locks up.”
And on that evening at the Ford dealership service department, a kind man exhibited the “Fruit of the Spirit,” speaking with kindness and compassion to a young stranger short on finances and very short on much-needed knowledge.
Over the next half hour, with goodness, patience, kindness, gentleness (while he was putting his tools away and cleaning up), he coached me through what to do. He handed me the correct wrench to use and told me how to remove the broken parts, install the new ones, and seal the gasket.
When I turned the key, the quiet engine starting was absolutely thrilling.
I took the little bit of money I had in my wallet and tried to give it to him, but he firmly refused. Deb and I thanked him profusely and continued our journey, thankful for the powerful lesson we learned on living the Fruit of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22–23a
Through God’s grace and faith, you and I have been set free in Christ, and that freedom gives us choices every moment of every day.
Will we use our freedom to:
- Give in to sin and indulge our selfishness.
- Give in to the pride and self-righteousness.
- Or surrender to the Spirit’s help, and use our freedom to produce fruit and love like Jesus.
I know what I want to do, and what I’m tempted to do. Praise God! The Spirit is willing to help us live the Fruit of the Spirit with our Freedom.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Live Our Freedom in Faith
Through the Fruit of the Spirit
Father God, thank you for making me free in Jesus. It blesses my heart every time I read His words, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” (John 8:36) He set me free from the power of sin over my life and gave me the desire to trust that Your will is best. Through the Spirit within me, I want to obey and live according to Your commands.
Thank you for the people we meet who live their faith through the Fruit of the Spirit. Thank you for the kind man who helped us all those years ago. Many people we meet each day are sharing Your love by extending peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
David wrote, “What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord.” (Psalm 84:5) And Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
The Spirit gives me what I need to live my faith through the Fruit of the Spirit. And that is my heart’s desire. I want everyone to see Your grace, mercy, and love through the Fruit I share.
By Your grace, a heart surrendered in faith is full of spiritual fruit … it’s a powerful combo that fills our lives with blessings. I thank and praise You, and give myself to You. Please use me for Your glory. Amen.
Selfishness sounds like freedom, but it is a bondage that never satisfies and makes us miserable.
God created us to find true freedom in a life filled with joy only through faith in Jesus.
C. S. Lewis said it like this…
If a thing is free to be good, it’s also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.
The Life Application Bible Notes adds the following about faith and the Fruit of the Spirit…
The Spirit produces these character traits found in the nature of Christ. They are by-products of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help.
By grace, we have been set free in Christ Jesus. May we gratefully use our freedom to serve others through the Fruit of the Spirit.
Can you imagine the difference we could make if all God’s children displayed love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control for God’s glory?
May it be our heart’s desire! Because I believe this is something the Lord would love to help us accomplish.
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Thanks for sharing this, Deb. I am so grateful for the freedom Christ has given us. May we continue to grow in the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings, Cecilia
Amen, Cecilia. That is my prayer. I want to faithfully grow in faith and the power of God’s love. Blessings to you!
Hi Deb, thanks for your wonderful wise words! May God Bless you!! Praise God, Thank God, TRUST God… Let’s Pray for His help to use our God given Freedom wisely, and to make the good and right choices, with : Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, for God’s Glory! May this be our heart’s desire!. Thank You God! Thank You Jesus! Thank You Deb! Glory be to God, our Most Gracious Loving Father of the Whole Universe.. and beyond!!!!!
Thank you, Jack! God bless you!
Good morning!
I’ve learned that I don’t have the Fruit of the Spirit until I’m in a situation when I realize I don’t have it. When I realize I’m impatient, or unforgiving or unkind. It makes so much sense to me now “that we can’t obtain them without His help”. Thank you Deb…thank You fellow subscribers, thank You Holy Spirit, thank You Jesus Christ, thank You God our Father.
By grace and the power of the Spirit, I think it’s supposed to be just something we show in our lives. Of course, we all fall short. At least, I do. Praise God, He doesn’t give up on us. God bless you, my friend. Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Thank you, Deb, for sharing Rev’s wonderful, personal story about experiencing the fruit of the Spirit in action. May we all pray to have the same selflessness and patience that this older gentleman extended to the both of you so many years ago. Blessings always!
Amen, Martha! There are so many ways we can show God’s love to people we know and love, and the strangers whose paths we cross each day. God’s blessings, dear friend!
What a beautiful story of love and kindness extended to you and Rev. I am grateful that you shared this. I know that there are a lot of good people in this world. I love hearing the stories of such kindness and goodness.
I have one that makes me smile and I was so thankful that day for their graciousness. I was on the way to my sister’s house for the funeral meal being served after my mother’s funeral. It was a hot afternoon and I was emotionally drained. Well, low and behold, my old car broke down on the way. It was a very busy road, lots of traffic and here I was stuck right in the middle of it and could not move the car. Traffic was coming on both sides of me. Thankfully a lady stopped and got out of her car (she was right behind me) and she called the police and she also directed traffic to go around me. What an angel that the Lord sent. That was a dangerous thing to do, but she did it. The police arrived and they got my car off of the busy road. Next, another two angels appeared. They worked at the restaurant that was right off the road, and they brought me a nice cold coke to drink. They said they figured I could use it. I will always remember those girls and the lady. (And the Red Robin Restaurant for being so thoughtful and providing the cold drink. I saw Jesus in all of those folks that day.
My Niece and Nephew came to pick me up, but unfortunately, I did miss the meal. No chicken was left for me. But that cold coke made up for it, and those beautiful people who helped me that day.
Thank you for Rev.’s sermon and for reminding me of how wonderful people can be.
God Bless you my sweet friend with a wonderful weekend and a very safe one too.
What an emotional day for you, Sue! It’s a wonderful story filled with caring and kind people. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing it with us here. Blessings and HUGs, dear friend!