Galatians 5:22-23
St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
Pastor Juvenal Cervantes
October 18, 2026
Galatians 5:22–23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (KJV)
Big Idea: When we walk with the Holy Spirit, God produces a harvest of Christlike character in our lives.
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit brings seven things to the life of the believer: abides, instructs, corrects us of our sin, glorifies us, comforts us, guides us, and gives us hope.
Our challenge is that we have three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world is that which is around us; the flesh is what is inside of us, and the enemy is the one that is above us.
“Two natures beat in our breast. One is foul. One is blessed. The one I love. The one I hate. The one I feed will dominate.”
A great question for us to ask daily is, “What Are We Growing?” Every autumn, we celebrate the harvest. Farmers gather the crops they have planted, gardens produce vegetables, and orchards offer their fruit. A harvest reminds us that what we plant and nurture will eventually produce something.
A farmer does not plant apple seeds expecting to harvest peaches. An orchard cannot produce fruit without care, patience, and the right conditions. In the same way, our spiritual lives produce fruit that reveals what is happening within our hearts.
The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 5:22–23 about the fruit of the Spirit. Notice that Paul does not say the fruits of the Spirit, as though we could choose one or two qualities and ignore the others. He speaks of the fruit of the Spirit—one harvest of Christlike character expressed in nine qualities.
God is not merely interested in what we accomplish. God is also interested in who we are becoming.
We may attend church, sing hymns, read the Bible, and serve our neighbors. These are important parts of our faith. But one question remains: Is the Holy Spirit producing a harvest of spiritual fruit in our lives?
Let us consider three important truths about the harvest God desires.
I. A Good Harvest Begins with the Right Roots
John 15:4–5
Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine…” (John 15:4, KJV).
A branch cannot produce fruit by itself. It must remain connected to the vine. The same is true of our relationship with Christ.
We sometimes try to become better Christians through determination alone. We promise to be more patient, more loving, more forgiving, and more faithful. Yet we soon discover that good intentions are not always enough.
We need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual growth begins when we remain connected to Jesus through prayer, Scripture, worship, obedience, and fellowship with other believers.
Consider a tree during the winter. Its branches may look lifeless, but beneath the surface, its roots remain important to its future growth. In the same way, some seasons of our spiritual lives may seem quiet. We may not see immediate results, but God can continue working within us.
Before we ask God to improve our fruit, we must allow God to strengthen our roots.
Are you spending time with Christ each day? Are you allowing God's Word to shape your attitudes, decisions, and relationships?
A fruitful Christian life does not begin with trying harder. It begins with abiding in Jesus.
II. The Holy Spirit Produces a Harvest of Character
Galatians 5:22–23
Paul identifies nine qualities that the Holy Spirit develops in believers. We can understand them in three groups.
1. The fruit that shapes our relationship with God
- Love: We learn to love God and our neighbors as Christ has loved us.
- Joy: We discover a deep joy rooted in God's presence, even when circumstances are difficult.
- Peace: We trust God's faithfulness rather than allowing fear and worry to control our hearts.
Love reminds us that we belong to God. Joy reminds us that God is at work. Peace reminds us that we do not have to face life alone.
Christian joy does not mean we never grieve, and Christian peace does not mean we never experience anxiety or difficulty. It means that our circumstances do not have the final word about God's faithfulness.
2. The fruit that shapes our relationships with others
- Patience: We learn to respond with grace when people disappoint us or test our patience.
- Kindness: We treat others with compassion, respect, and consideration.
- Goodness: We seek to do what is right and to act with integrity.
It is often easier to be kind to strangers than to the people who know us best. It is easier to talk about patience than to practice it when someone disagrees with us.
But the fruit of the Spirit becomes visible in ordinary moments: when we listen instead of interrupting, forgive instead of holding a grudge, and encourage instead of criticizing.
The people closest to us should have opportunities to experience the love of Christ through us.
3. The fruit that shapes our inner strength
- Faithfulness: We remain dependable and committed to God and to our responsibilities.
- Gentleness: We exercise strength with humility, tenderness, and self-control.
- Self-control: We allow the Holy Spirit to guide our words, desires, reactions, and decisions.
Faithfulness keeps us serving when the work becomes difficult. Gentleness helps us speak the truth without cruelty. Self-control enables us to pause before reacting in anger.
These qualities are especially important in our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.
Imagine what our churches would look like if every member practiced patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Imagine what our families would experience if love and forgiveness guided our conversations.
The fruit of the Spirit is not simply a list of admirable qualities. It is evidence of God's transforming work in human lives.
Here is the “So What? moment: Which quality of the fruit of the Spirit needs the most attention in your life right now? Ask God to help you grow in that area.
Let us pray: Dear God, you know us much more than we know ourselves. Help us to abide in you daily, to carry your word in our hearts and minds so that we can produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Amen.