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You hear people say - He has always been like that - His father was like that - His grandfather was like that.

Even after we are born again something somehow keeps rising within our lives. That may be something from which a man may need to be delivered - and have that thing rooted out.

You cannot crucify what needs to be delivered - and there is no use praying for deliverance for a person who needs to crucify the flesh, and die to that thing - that connection - that affiliation - that friendship - that membership.

Having been reading our way through part of Galatians where Paul deals with issues and problems with such clarity, we now come to the list in verse 19 in Chapter 5.

It is possible to be a disciple of Jesus and be born again in the biblical sense, and continue to have some of these acts of the sinful nature emerge. That is why Paul spell these dangerous areas of behaviour – and yes, these can arise and appear in the life of a ‘born again’ disciple of Jesus Christ. Throughout this profound letter Paul has been dealing with one serious area after another.

Read through the list slowly.

• Sexual immorality – promiscuity.
• Impurity – dirty mindedness.
• Debauchery – indecency.
• Idolatry and witchcraft - interesting that they are linked – occultism and drug addiction – how significant that the word used is the word for pharmacy.
• Look what is next linked. It is possible for the believer in Jesus Christ to manifest some of these horrid characteristics.
• Drunkenness and orgies – or binges.

Just get rid of these now – if you know they still linger around!

This is why it is so important to check ourselves out. Where do you go? What do you do there? What do people see you doing there and hear you saying there? Is there any place you go to where you would not like to take Jesus Christ?

The list is fairly comprehensive. And the Paul says - Now I warn you - and I have sounded this warning before - and sadly they didn't hear him first time round. So he preached it again in his letter. And why? Because of the serious nature of the matter.

Those who live like this will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

Any of these behavioural characteristics in that list will keep you from enjoying the benefits and blessings of the Kingdom of God - and what are these benefits and blessings?

Paul lists them in the following verse. Isn't the word so beautifully balanced?

You get a strong warning and challenge, and then you are presented with all that you really need.

And, this fruit just begins to grow. Once a man is born again, there should be signs of bunches of fruit beginning to appear in your life.

It is one fruit - like an orange - nine segments.

This is unique too. You won't find this in any other faith, because it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts of the Spirit can appear immediately. Fruit can take a little time to grow, and each and all of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit can grow in the life of the disciple of Jesus Christ.

Now, in the world, some people can have some of these qualities and characteristics.

Gifts are given and received in a single transaction - but not the fruit.

Fruit comes by gradual growth, and fruit needs to be cultivated.

It is a process and Jesus displayed the fruit in all its perfection.

And, there is no law against any of these qualities. There is no law whereby we can be accused of being too loving - too joyful. You have too much peace - you are too patient - you are overly kind - you have far too much goodness - you are too faithful - too gentle - and you exercise far too much self-control – you will never be accused and found guilty in these ways, because there is no law regarding these aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

These concluding words in this paragraph are so practical.

“Gracious Father, these words are so practical, and yet so challenging. Help me. It is seldom easy. Strengthen me to do what You know I have to do – and what I know I have to do, in Jesus Name.” Amen.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism