UNLEASHED

Empowered #4

Pastor Brandon Cross

Woodland Church

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Today, we are going to see what happens when the power of the Holy Spirit is UNLEASHED in our lives and what it looks like to be living under the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Galatians 5:22-26) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

MAIN IDEA:

We need to cultivate a daily, surrendered connection with God, rather than relying on our own personal effort. We need to cultivate, or unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives through prayer and the study of His Word in order to transform our character to better reflect Jesus.  

UNLEASHING the Fruit of the Spirit:

1.   BE ROOTED IN CHRIST: Just as a branch cannot produce fruit apart from the tree, believers must abide in Christ to manifest these qualities.

• Paul instructs believers to walk in Jesus—being “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith… and overflowing with thankfulness.”

(Colossians 2:6-7) “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

• Jesus describes Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches, noting that “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

(John 15:5) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

QUESTION:

What does that mean?

• Building our life, identity, and security on Jesus Christ rather than the shifting trends of the world. 

• Believers need to rely on Jesus for spiritual nourishment, strength, and stability through daily prayer, scripture, and exercising faith.

• • Unwavering Stability
  • Hidden Dependence

2.   ACTIVELY COOPERATE: While the Holy Spirit produces the fruit, believers cooperate by providing the right “soil”—a life dedicated to prayer, studying the Word, and yielding to God.

• Saying ‘No’ to the weeds: Identifying toxic habits or thoughts and actively turning away from them.

(Galatians 5:24-25) “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

• Yielding the lead: (Verse 25) 

• Cultivating the “Good Soil” (The Environment) – Scripture, prayer, community

• Sustained connection

• The Spirit’s power: The transformation is a byproduct of closeness with God. 

3.   THE NINE FRUITS DEFINED: The fruits, which represent God’s divine nature, fall into three categories: Godward (love, joy, peace), Relational (patience, kindness, goodness), and Personal (faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

(Galatians 5:22-23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

• Purpose and Impact: These fruits are designed to replace the works of the flesh (strife, envy, wrath) with a life that brings peace and reflects God’s character.

MAIN IDEA RECAP: 

We need to cultivate a daily, surrendered connection with God, rather than relying on our own personal effort. We need to cultivate, or unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives through prayer and the study of His Word in order to transform our character to better reflect Jesus.  

QUESTION:

How do we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives for practical daily living?

CALL TO ACTION:

1.   The fertilizer of Scripture: Saturating your mind with God’s Word changes how you think, making your heart receptive to the Spirit’s prompts.

2.   The aeration of prayer: Consistent communication with God keeps your heart soft and prevents it from becoming hardened by life’s anxieties or cynicism.

3.   The protection of community: AKA Pursuit of Unity and putting personal preferences and agendas aside for the sake of building the Kingdom of God!

4.   Sustained connection: Intentional resting and abiding in His presence privately as a lifestyle.