Farmers and gardeners work long, hard hours cultivating fields, fertilizing soil, plowing, weeding, planting, sowing seeds, praying for sunlight, praying for rain, irrigating when necessary. They do these things for one reason -– to get results -- fruit, produce. Without a harvest, they labor in vain.

          So it is with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5 begins by discussing human nature, our sinful selves. In verse 14 Paul asks the Galatia church to remember the commandment Jesus taught: to love their neighbors as much as they love themselves, not an easy thing to do, but still a command, not an option for God’s people. Paul couldn’t find evidence that they were being obedient. You see, the Galatia Church were unhappy people, fighters, going at it all the time. Not with their Roman oppressors, but among themselves. In verse 15 Paul says if they continued to hurt and tear one another apart they would destroy the church. He didn’t want that, he loved them. So he urges them not to do what they feel like doing. Paul understood human nature. When you’ve been arguing, complaining and fighting for a long time, it’s difficult to stop. You get use to it. That’s all you know. You even begin to think it’s normal. That was the state of the Galatia church. Paul’s letter reminded them that their normal behavior was sinful: sex outside marriage, worshiping other gods, which is idolatry, practicing witchcraft, hating one another, making trouble for one another, being jealous, angry and selfish, provoking anger in others, causing division within the church, being envious, getting drunk and throwing wild parties. Quite a list, especially for Christians! In verse 21 Paul says, “I warned you before, you’re still doing these things, so I’m warning you again--this kind of behavior will keep you out of heaven.” That’s pretty blunt. Then he becomes positive, and names the traits that will get them into heaven--the fruit or evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Pentecost banner): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

          Let’s reflect, for a moment, on whether our church displays evidence of the Holy Spirit living in us. Generally speaking, overall, are we loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful? How about gentle, and in control of our selves, our feelings, our actions, our mouths? Spiritual fruit is the opposite of sin. Followers of Christ deny human nature and embrace the Spirit’s call to sanctification, which means daily becoming more like Jesus, and less like us.

          Our Missouri Conference Bishop Robert Schnase has just published a book titled, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. He identifies the five practices as: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. In the Introduction he says that the practices measure congregational health, vitality and fruitfulness. Librarian, Annette Trout, is ordering the book for our library. I hope you’ll read it. It will help us achieve our Vision to Reach Up, Reach In and Reach Out to others.

          As we examine our church and ourselves in light of these practices, let us work to produce fruit that is fit for God’s kingdom: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians says that none of the nine fruit are against God’s law or human law. Rather, they are evidence that we have: crucified our human nature and invited the Holy Spirit to live in us; interest in following God rather than ourselves; and spiritual gifts to build up, rather than tear down, the body of Christ, which is the church.

          The work of sinful human nature is negative, but the Fruit of the Spirit is positive. Even its appearance can make us smile. Look at the front of the bulletin: cheery colors, a variety of shapes, the wonders of nature: sweet, juicy, wholesome, nutritious, and so yummy -- pears, pineapples, bananas, apples, plums, oranges, cherries, grapes, pomegranates — different, and yet alike. Placed together in one basket they complement each other so well. All are needed to complete the picture.

          Like good gardeners and farmers, let’s work constantly and pray without ceasing for our lives to produce a bountiful harvest for God; that our church will be like a delicious fruit salad that draws other hungry people to the Lord’s Table. That we will use the lessons we learn to witness that it is God’s Holy Spirit who fills us up, that makes us whole, and can do the same for everyone. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.