Pastor Tim opened with Galatians 5:22–23, emphasizing that the fruit of the Spirit is about character more than conduct. He shared the story of Cotton Mather, who on his deathbed told his son, “Be fruitful.” That same challenge still applies to us.

From Galatians 5:13–18, Pastor Tim reminded us that our freedom in Christ is not a license to do whatever we want—it’s an invitation to serve others in love. But it doesn’t come without a fight. There’s a spiritual war between flesh and Spirit, and our lives reflect one or the other. Galatians 5:19–21 lists the acts of the flesh, which still matter to God, even if we try to rebrand or rationalize them. Those dominated by the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit isn’t here just to give us goosebumps on Sundays; He’s here to help us become kind, joyful, patient, and loving people—even when it’s hard. The fruit of the Spirit is not a pick-and-choose list—it’s a full cluster that grows together. Character without power is weak, and power without character is dangerous.

Pastor Tim broke the nine fruits into three groups:

1. Godward dependence – Love, Joy, Peace

2. Outward devotion – Patience, Kindness, Goodness

3. Inward discipline – Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

He shared a personal story about a time when aggressive driving nearly cost him a job—until his future interviewer said, “We need your kind of aggression.” It was a reminder that our fruit is tested and revealed in real-life moments.

You can’t manufacture spiritual fruit—it’s cultivated over time. You’re only as spiritually mature as your most immature fruit. And like any tree, we don’t eat our own fruit—others do. So… how does your fruit taste?

Galatians 5:13–23 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Psalm 1:3 (NIV)
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

John 15:26 (NIV)
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

John 16:14 (NIV)
“He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”