Father Mike Schmitz

They're an outgrowth of walking with God, walking in the Holy Spirit, walking in Christ, remaining, living, growing in God's will automatically will come about.

If you're an orange tree, you don't have to really work to grow oranges.

You just grow oranges.

If you're an apple tree, you don't have to work to grow apples.

You just grow apples.

So here, the fruits of the spirit, if you're living in the spirit, here's what's going to happen.

These are the fruits, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

These are the fruits of a life lived in the spirit.

So if I have them in my life, okay, good.

That's a good indication.

That's a good sign that you are walking in the spirit.

And if they're not in my life, that's a good sign that I might not quite be walking in the spirit.

In chapter 6, verse 7, St.

Paul makes a very big point, and that is, do not be deceived.

God is not mocked.

For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Basically, if you plant corn, you're going to get corn.

If you plant orange trees, you're going to get orange trees.

What is it you want to get?

Do I want to get love and peace and patience and kindness and gentleness and goodness and faithfulness and self-control?