Discipleship Outcome #2: Fruit of the Spirit

Mission and Vision

From Vintage Faith Church’s Vision Statement:

Demonstrating the distinctiveness of discipleship and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and in our relationships. Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Timothy 2:21, 1 Peter 1:15, Romans 12:1-2, John 14:15, Ephesians 4:1, Matthew 28:16-20

At the end of the gospel of Matthew, after Christ’s death and resurrection, Jesus commissions his disciples with what is referred to as the Great Commission. If you are unfamiliar with it, here it is:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Our second discipleship outcome will focus in particular on “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” To be a disciple of Christ is to live differently than the world. As stated in the second discipleship outcome in our mission and vision. “Demonstrating the distinctiveness of discipleship.” As the world around us un-tethers more and more from Judeo-Christian principles, what we believe and how we live as disciples of Christ will increasingly come in conflict with that world. By conflict, I don’t mean arguing and fighting. I am talking about a certain tension. Here is an example. Growing up I played a lot of different sports. None of the games or practices were scheduled on Sunday. Today, not only are children’s sporting events scheduled on Sunday, many of them are now scheduled early Sunday morning. With no thought about the church going public. The point here is not to rail against a culture that has turned its back on God and the church, and I am not here to tell you to never miss church for a sporting event, but rather, to draw attention to the friction that is likely going to increase between how the culture lives and how a disciple of Jesus lives. This is why we believe that it is important to continue to teach that a disciple of Christ is going to be different from the world.

“Demonstrating the distinctiveness of discipleship”

This can get all sorts of weird in Christian circles. There are many different understandings of what it means to be “different.” Without getting into conscience issues, let us just stay here for a moment and all agree. A disciple of Jesus lives differently than a non-disciple of Jesus. And, that may look different even within the Christian community, after all Paul addresses this at length in Romans 14. But what are some non-negotiable ways that we are called to be different? And, for that matter, how do we find the power to live that kind of life?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16-18

All Christians are indwelt by the Spirit of God. Jesus promised another Helper who would come along after he died. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His church. The Spirit enables us to love God, love God’s law, love God’s Word, love God’s people, and to live out His commands. Without the Holy Spirit you and I are dead in our sin. With a hard-heart against God, unable to love God, unable to see God. Without the Holy Spirit we would be in bondage to our sin, a slave to sin. (Romans 6)

“and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and in our relationships.”

The issue for all of us Christians is that we still have this sinful nature that desires to rebel against God, and it lives alongside our renewed nature that loves God. We can either walk in the Spirit, or walk in the flesh. We can quench the Spirit of God. (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So, as disciples, we have the calling on our lives to walk by the Spirit, and contribute to our sanctification. Yes, it is God who works in us (the Holy Spirit) , and Yes, we are called to obey. We must avoid the two extremes here. 1. Waiting on God, and ultimately putting God on the dock for not taking away a sin of the flesh. Blaming God for our sin. Or, 2. Trying to live a holy life all by ourselves without the power of God. His Spirit. Sanctification is a dance, let the Lord lead you, learn how he leads.. But make no mistake you are called to follow..

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-15

A few self diagnostic questions:

What are you doing to ensure you walk in the Spirit more and more? (think back to Outcome #1- Intimacy with God)

Are you able to see when your flesh gets the best of you?

Are you aware when you are walking in the Spirit vs walking in the flesh?

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:19-24

Think about your life. Would you characterize yourself as growing in the fruit of the Spirit? Don’t beat yourself up. We all fail, but the question is, are you growing? Are you praying about growth in these areas? Are you putting disciplines in place to grow in these areas? Or, are you making provisions for the flesh? The Apostle Paul says this:

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Romans 13:14

Let us be a church that walks by and in the Spirit. Let us walk in the Spirit with each other. Let us walk in the Spirit with those around us. Trust me, you will be different enough at your workplace if you have joy, peace, and self-control! That is enough to make you look very different than those around you in today’s world.

All of this is moving towards the next discipleship outcome. Evangelism.

In Christ

Pastor Anthony Valentine

Steve BrownJune 23, 2025