This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
We live by the Spirit
We live by the Spirit
We live by the Spirit,
Oh Holy Spirit come fill us,
we walk by the Spirit:
the Spirit of Christ within.
The natural state of our sinful flesh
means we can't do the good we desire.
But when Jesus enters he brings refresh-
ment and fills us with holy fire.
We live by the Spirit ...
The Spirit of Jesus has set us free
from the Law which imprisons the soul,
and we will resist bonds of slavery
as he heals us and makes us whole.
We live by the Spirit ...
A man's sinful nature will end in hate,
for his acts lead to sin, hurt and shame:
The Spirit makes war on our sinful state,
and transforms those who bear Christ's name.
We live by the Spirit ...
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
and the virtues which bring self control:
and as we continue to seek release
through our Saviour, we reach our goal:
We live by the Spirit ...
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2006.
Story behind the song
I wrote this song after reading Galatians 5:16-25 and asking myself what real difference it was supposed to make in my life. For many years I have sung songs which simply teach the verses (the children's song "For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ...), or which rejoice that Christ is in us - but I wanted to write something about the war within us which St Paul says the Holy Spirit is helping us to win. And this song was the result.
John Hartley
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.