Good morning, everybody at every one of our campuses—Abingdon, Bristol, Marion, and Bluefield! I hope you all had the best Christmas ever and are doing great. If you're traveling and watching online or on TV, welcome! My name is James, and I’m the Marion Campus Pastor. Before this, I served as the Bristol Student Pastor and prior to that, the Bluefield Student Coordinator. I even grew up in Abingdon, so I’ve been everywhere and finally settled in Marion.
I want to take a moment to thank the Bristol campus. When I moved there, I was a single online college student living in my first apartment. You all loved me and my family so well as we grew, and I am so grateful. I met Anna there, and the way you surrounded us—especially after we had our first child—was incredible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
To the Marion campus, thank you for welcoming Anna, me, and our little family so well. Your love and support through exciting moments, like the birth of our daughter, have meant so much. Thank you also to Dave Cross for transitioning the Marion Campus Pastor role with so much grace and humility. It’s truly a blessing to serve at Highlands Fellowship, where "Highlands is Home" feels so real.
Today, we’re diving into Galatians 5 and discussing the Fruit of the Spirit. When this topic was assigned to me, I was excited. But after having a newborn and a toddler, I questioned whether I was ready to speak on patience and peace! However, I felt convicted to share this message, trusting in what the Lord has for us today.
Setting the Context
Before diving into Galatians 5, let’s set the context. Paul writes this letter to the churches of Galatia with a serious tone, correcting them for distorting the gospel. Judaizers had convinced them they still needed to follow Old Testament laws to be saved. Paul makes it clear that salvation comes through Christ alone and not by works. This is foundational as we explore the Fruit of the Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit
Paul begins by contrasting the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. He writes in Galatians 5:13-26 about the works of the flesh—things like sexual immorality, jealousy, and fits of anger—and the Fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These fruits reflect the transformative power of living by the Spirit. Paul emphasizes that the solution to our struggles is not to "try harder" but to "rely deeper" on God’s Spirit. Using the metaphor of a power strip, he explains that plugging into ourselves is futile; we must connect to God as our source of strength.
Breaking Down the Fruit
Let’s explore each fruit with supporting scriptures:
- Love: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 reminds us that love is patient, kind, and selfless.
- Joy: Psalm 16:11 speaks of the joy found in God’s presence.
- Peace: Memorize Psalm 23 to remember God as your good shepherd.
- Patience: Isaiah 40:31 teaches us to wait on the Lord and find renewed strength.
- Kindness: Philippians 2:4 encourages us to look out for others’ interests.
- Goodness: James 4:17 calls us to do what is right and avoid sin.
- Faithfulness: Luke 16:10 reminds us that faithfulness in small things leads to faithfulness in much.
- Gentleness: Titus 3:2 urges us to be considerate and gentle with everyone.
- Self-control: 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us that God provides strength to overcome temptation.
How Do We Cultivate the Fruit?
The key to cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is to rely fully on God. It’s not about our strength but about drawing closer to Him. If you’re struggling, surround yourself with supportive people and seek accountability. Programs like Celebrate Recovery can help, as can connecting with pastors or trusted friends.
Invitation to Accept Christ
If you’ve never accepted Christ, today can be the day. Romans 10:9 says, "If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
If you’re ready to make that decision, pray with me: "Lord, I know that I’m a sinner, but I believe you gave your Son to die for me on the cross so that I can know you. I want to repent of my sins and follow you wherever you lead me. Thank you for your love and grace. Amen."
Communion
As we end 2024, let’s observe communion to remember Christ’s sacrifice. Matthew 26 recounts the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread and shared the cup, symbolizing His body and blood given for us.
Take your communion elements, and let’s give thanks for His sacrifice. "This is my body, given for you. Take and eat." (Eat the bread.) "This is my blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Drink from it, all of you." (Drink the juice.)
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your sacrifice and for loving us so deeply. Help us to live out the Fruit of the Spirit, to serve others selflessly, and to rely fully on you. We love you, Lord, and thank you for loving us first. Amen.