In Wednesday night’s Romans sermon (you were there, I know… this is just for those that were sick!) I talked about my brother Garret’s 82-tree citrus orchard that he calls “Scurvy Busters Farm.” He tends the orchard every day and planted each tree in the richest compost he could dig up. The healthy soil and fine growing conditions mean every tree is bursting with fruit—so much that they have food fights with the dropped oranges, tangerines, and key limes.
He doesn’t force the trees to grow fruit. Fruit is the natural byproduct of a healthy plant.
As you nurture the soil of your life through the power of the Holy Spirit, HE is the one that grows the fruit in you. Legalism tries to make it happen without God. That’s when obedience becomes a burden.
But when Jesus takes the yoke… it’s easy!
Fruit-growing was never YOUR job. Sure, we obey the Lord and try to cultivate a healthy soil, but God creates the fruit. Outreach for Easter is just sharing the fruit. Giving to offerings is just part of the fruit. A joyful spirit is the blessing of the fruit!
For the rest of your life, I hope you never view this passage the same:
Gal. 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
-Pastor Ryan