The Holy Spirit works within believers to make us more like Jesus Christ. He changes our direction, develops Christlike character, and enables us to turn from sin and walk in obedience to God. This transformation is an ongoing work of God’s grace.

For years, I thought the drawer underneath our kitchen oven had one purpose: storage.

Growing up, that’s where my family kept pots, pans, baking sheets, and just about anything else we could squeeze inside.

So when Stephanie and I got married, we did the same thing.

Then I discovered that on some ovens, that drawer isn’t designed for storage at all. It’s a warming drawer.

All those years, I hadn’t understood its intended purpose.

Sometimes Christians approach the Holy Spirit in a similar way.

We know He lives within us. We know He’s part of our relationship with God. But we may not fully understand what He wants to accomplish in our lives.

Or perhaps we understand His purpose but resist the changes He wants to bring.

The Holy Spirit didn’t come simply to occupy our lives. He came to transform them.

If I really belong to Jesus,
why do I still struggle with sin?

Paul begins with a command to believers.

A Word of Encouragement

If you’re grieved by your sin, longing to obey God, and seeking His help to change, don’t overlook what that may reveal about the Spirit’s work in your life.

The struggle itself isn’t the foundation of our salvation—Jesus Christ is. But a growing desire for holiness can be encouraging evidence of His transforming grace.

In Galatians 5:19–23, Paul contrasts two different kinds of outcomes.

First, he describes the works of the flesh—things like sexual immorality, idolatry, hostility, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, and division.

These behaviors reveal what happens when sinful desires direct our lives.

Then Paul describes something very different.

The fruit of the Spirit is
Christlike character being developed within us.

From a Son of Thunder to an Apostle of Love

Think about the apostle John.

Early in the Gospels, Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17).

In Luke 9:54, when a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven in judgment.

They were zealous, bold, and sometimes misguided.

Yet Jesus patiently continued teaching and shaping them.

Years later, when we read John’s letters, we encounter an apostle who repeatedly addresses believers as his dear children and urges them to love one another.

The man who once wanted to call down judgment upon a village now emphasizes the importance of loving fellow believers.

But notice something else.

John didn’t lose his boldness. He still confronted false teaching and warned believers against deception.

His zeal hadn’t disappeared. It had been shaped by truth and love.

The Holy Spirit isn’t making us all the same personality.
He’s making us more like the same Person—Jesus Christ.

There’s another important truth in Galatians 5.

Although transformation is the Spirit’s work, Christians aren’t called to remain passive.

What Does Keeping in Step Look Like?

Recognize. Pay attention when God’s Word exposes sinful attitudes, actions, or desires.

Repent. Confess sin to God rather than making excuses for it.

Respond. Take practical steps of obedience, seeking the Spirit’s help.

Repeat. Continue walking with the Spirit day after day, trusting God to produce lasting change.

Let the Word of Christ Fill Your Life

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul commands believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

In Colossians 3:16, he tells believers to let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill their lives.

These passages describe closely related realities.

The Spirit works through the truth of God’s Word to shape our thinking, expose our sin, strengthen our faith, and direct our obedience.

We shouldn’t expect to become more like Jesus while consistently neglecting the very Scriptures that reveal Him to us.

So as you open your Bible, begin with a simple prayer:

“Holy Spirit, help me understand the Word of God
so I can become more like the Son of God.”

God Isn’t Finished with You

Spiritual growth rarely happens as quickly as we’d like.

Some seasons bring noticeable progress. Other seasons remind us how much growing we still need to do.

But gradual growth doesn’t mean God has stopped working.

The apostle Paul reminded the Philippians that the God who began a good work within them would continue His work until it was finally finished (Philippians 1:6).

That’s a wonderful promise.

God doesn’t abandon His people halfway through the process.

We can confess our failures, celebrate genuine growth, and continue following Jesus with confidence in His grace.

Examine the Fruit in Your Life

This week, take time to read Galatians 5:22–23 slowly and prayerfully.

Consider each characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, and ask yourself two important questions.

Question 1: Where Am I Growing?

Where can you recognize the Spirit making you more like Jesus?

Maybe you’re becoming more patient with your children, more forgiving toward someone who hurt you, or more self-controlled in an area where you once struggled.

When you recognize genuine growth, thank God for His work in your life.

Question 2: Where Am I Resisting?

Is there an area where you know God wants to change you, but you’ve been making excuses?

Perhaps you’ve justified your anger, held tightly to bitterness, or refused to surrender a habit that dishonors Christ.

Ask the Holy Spirit to expose what’s behind your resistance, and respond with honest confession and repentance.

Five Questions to Consider

Keep in Step with the Spirit

Read Galatians 5:22–23. Identify one area where God has already produced growth and one area where you need to surrender more fully to His work.

Thank Him for the growth. Confess the resistance. Then take one practical step of obedience.

The Holy Spirit is making us more like Jesus.
Are we keeping in step with Him?

Watch or Listen to the Full Sermon

This article is based on Week 3 of our Ghost Stories sermon series at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Explore the full message for additional teaching and illustrations from Galatians 5:16–26.

What Does the Holy Spirit Want to Do Through Us?

The Holy Spirit doesn’t only transform our character. He also equips us with spiritual gifts to serve others and strengthen the church.

Explore the next message in our Ghost Stories series and discover why every believer has something meaningful to contribute.

Explore Week 4: Spiritual Gifts →

Wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, remember that spiritual transformation is not something you accomplish through willpower alone.

It is the work of God’s Spirit within you.

And the same God who began that work is faithful to continue it.

Don’t make peace with sin.

Don’t give up on growing.

Keep walking with Jesus. Keep yielding to His Spirit. Keep allowing His Word to shape your life.

He’s still working on you.

This article is part of Ghost Stories: Discovering the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit, a five-week series exploring who the Holy Spirit is, His presence in believers, His transforming work within us, and how He equips and guides us to live for Jesus.