Abed_nego2
Servant of the Lord
Our text – Galatians 5:16-26
Our theme – Spiritual victory is achieved by “Walking in the Spirit”
Key verse – Galatians 5:24-25, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” …
__________
Introduction
1 John 3:24 says, “We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit, whom He has given us”.
We all live in the flesh and will struggle with the desires of the flesh until we get to heaven. However, we can bring these desires under the Holy Spirit’s influence. Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh”. Notice that the apostle Paul doesn’t say we won’t have the desires of the flesh when we walk in the Spirit, but that we won’t carry out those fleshly desires. Walking in the Spirit is similar to being filled with the Holy Spirit. Walking implies that the Spirit is going somewhere—there’s a destination. He always goes to the same place, to that which brings God glory. In contrast, the flesh is always moving to that which will please itself. Walking is continuous. Like the filling of the Holy Spirit, our walk in the Spirit is ongoing, so we must maintain our dedication. To walk is to continue taking one step after another.
Another aspect of walking includes dependency. The key to walking in the Spirit is to look to Him to give us the ability to do what we know we can’t do on our own. The moment we try to do it on our own, we reject the work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our source to true power and victory. Just as the Spirit gives us new life in Christ, so also, He enables us to live the Christian life as we walk in close fellowship with Him. A church bulletin captured this reality in the following prayer: “So far today, Lord, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped; I haven’t lost my temper; I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few moments, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed. And from then on, I’m going to need a lot of help.”
John 15:4-5, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.
__________
A. The Source of Spiritual Victory – Galatians 5:16-18
In our study the apostle Paul emphasizes the need for the Christian to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. He describes the hostility between the flesh and the Spirit, explaining why we must bear the fruit of the Spirit instead of practicing the works of the flesh. Not only is there no inheritance in the kingdom of God for those engaging in the works of the flesh, but those in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Having been made alive in the Spirit, they ought to walk in the Spirit so as not to be conceited, not provoking nor envying one another. To succeed in our Christian walk of faith we all need help. We can’t do it by ourselves. We need the help of all three Persons of the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – to give us guidance, strength, and instruction. We need the assistance of the Father who knows us, the Savior who intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us. Thus, we always will need God’s help.
__________
(1) Walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5:16, This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Paul added that a believer who walks in the Spirit “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. To walk in or by the Spirit is to allow Him to direct the way in which you live your life; it is to make decisions in the light of His holiness; it is to remain in communion with Him; it is to be occupied with the person of Christ, because the Spirit’s ministry is to engage us “intimately” with the Lord Jesus. To walk in the Spirit, the believer must choose to live by the direction of the Holy Spirit’s power within the boundaries recorded in Scripture and by walking by faith in God’s Word. Consider for a moment what Jesus taught His disciples the night before He went to the cross – He told them He was going to return to heaven, but would send His Spirit to live within them to guide and instruct them in much the same way He had.
Walking in the Spirit necessitates an ongoing practice of surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit. This includes the commitment of thoughts, words, ambitions, attitudes, and actions to the Lord. As the Spirit extends His control over our lives, the flesh with its desires is progressively crowded out. Our sinful nature represents the rebellion in our hearts against God. We are born with it; however, when we are born again, born of the Spirit, the Spirit renews us and regenerates us, and gives us a new nature. To live in the Spirit is to live in the reality of God’s new work, in our lives.
Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete – a Greek word meaning the Holy Spirit is “called alongside” to Help, Comfort, Encourage and Counsel. Since His function is to Guide and instruct in the truth, He is referred to as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15). John 14:16 refers to the Holy Spirit as “another helper”. This indicates that the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a believer now is similar to what Jesus provided to His disciples during their time together on earth. Jesus was their Paraclete or comforter who guided the disciples to live according to His ways. Though they were imperfect and sometimes disobeyed, Jesus came alongside them and assisted them in knowing and living His truth.
__________
(2) Internal Struggle for Control
Galatians 5:17, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want”
The Galatians were torn between Paul’s teaching and that of the Judaizers. What they were feeling was just what every believer in Christ feels. The flesh pushes its desires, while the Spirit urges submission to God’s values. No matter how long a person has been saved or how mature he or she is, in Christ, this enormous spiritual battle is always within the person. The flesh is a powerful enemy, for it is crafty, deceitful, and persistent. No amount of human effort or resolve can subdue the flesh. Because of its power, even the strongest human is unable to keep his or her lofty resolutions.
The seriousness of Paul’s exhortation to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the reality of the intense conflict that each believer is continually engaged in. According to the apostle, "the flesh" is always hostile to "the Spirit." There is, in other words, a raging battle going on in the heart of every child of God. The two forces are "in opposition to each other," and often the believer does not end up doing what they know is right—"so that you do not do the things that you please." This inner warfare is the experience of every follower of Christ and will continue until our sanctification is completed in heaven. However, in the meantime those who are indwelt by the Spirit must be diligent to trust in the power of Christ, His total victory over evil, and His righteousness that has been credited to them by God.
__________
(3) Power for Victory
Galatians 5:18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”
Because all people are born with a sin nature, the flesh is a powerful force in each person that threatens to hinder righteous living. What makes the difference is how one responds to the flesh. The pagans in Bible times simply indulged the flesh and sank into depravity. The Jews tried to counter the flesh by keeping the law. However, Paul testified in Romans 7 that trying to obey the law was frustrating because it was an impossible task. Even though he had the desire to obey God’s standard, he did not have the inner spiritual power to do so consistently. The Judaizers assumed that there were only two alternative: living under the flesh’s control or living under the law. However, Paul advanced a third alternative that gives victory over the flesh in a way that the law never could. That alternative is for the believer to be “led of the Spirit”. The Spirit of God is able to guide the Christian out of the deceits of the flesh and to give victory in the struggle against the flesh.
However, the believer must consciously submit to the Spirit. As the Spirit leads the believer in the ways of God, the believer needs to follow that leading. Only the Spirit, not the law, can truly deliver from the lust of the flesh and allow a believer to live righteously. The section ends with a restatement of Paul’s basic argument from Galatians 5:1 in that the believer in Christ is free from the Law. Here Paul contrasts living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit—"led by the Spirit"—with a life of bondage—"under the Law." The juxtaposition of these phrases makes it apparent that the life of faith in Christ, characterized as life in the Spirit, "stands in irreconcilable conflict with existence ‘under’ the Law". In other words, the Spirit of God leads believers into the enjoyment of authentic spiritual freedom from any obligation to secure divine favor through obedience to the Law (Rom. 8:3-4).
However, it is important to remember that this does not imply that there is no place or function for the Law in the life of the believer. Thus, while not impacting our salvation or our standing before God, the Law, particularly the Ten Commandments, represents God’s will for our conduct as His covenant children. How can we tell if we are following the Spirit’s leading? How do we know if we are experiencing spiritual victory? The apostle Paul contrasted what the flesh produces in a person with what the Spirit produces. He wrote that the flesh produces evil qualities that God condemns, whereas the Spirit produces Christ-like qualities that God commends.
__________
The meaning of the word walk … walking by the Spirit implies daily progress and effort on our part as well as power and direction on God’s part. Living a Spirit-filled life or filling your mind with Scripture will cause your thought patterns to be directed by the Spirit, and having your mind saturated by the things of Christ will allow your life to be easily borne along by the Spirit. Paul contrasts the different results of living by the Spirit and living by the flesh. One reason he makes that contrast is to motivate Christians to walk by the Spirit. The works of the flesh are described in verses 19-21. The result of walking by the Spirit is found in verses 22-23. Paul strengthens his case for walking in the Spirit by showing what each produces. The Judaizers should have taken note of that. If they had carefully examined the Galatian churches, they would have seen the fruit of the Spirit and realized how pointless it was to introduce law. Once they introduced law, they would have seen the works of the flesh and recognized their error if they had been sensitive.
__________
B. Works of the Flesh
Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of range, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the life. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God”
__________
The works of the flesh do not merely include the various misuses of sex. It is a much wider concept, including all the sinful desires of man's fallen nature. This particular list is not all-inclusive, but only suggestive, and the categories are found in verses 19-21. At this point, Paul presents a dramatic picture of the radical change that grace prompts in the lives of those who believe in Christ. The two lists, the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, are intended to graphically display the "total contrast between the ‘natural’ life and the ‘spiritual’ life and does so in embarrassing detail. No doubt very appropriate to the situation in Galatia when written, and today you must include the United States. The works of the flesh can generally be divided into five categories that are sins of:
(1) the body that are extremely defiling, such as fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness;
(2) association with Satan and supernatural communications with him, such as idolatry and sorcery;
(3) temper and the temperament, such as enmities, strife, jealousy, and outbursts of anger;
(4) religious schisms or divisions, such as factions, divisions, sects, and envying’s; and
(5) indulgence or intemperance, such as drunkenness and carousing’s. All these sins can easily be seen, and anyone who does any of these is of the flesh.
Note the powerful warning that Paul presented in verse 21. Those who "practice," or habitually engage in such activities, "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." In other words, those who participate in these activities with no remorse or sense of divine conviction "show themselves to be without the transforming gift of faith which leads to the gift of the promised Spirit". Finally, there is the matter of self-defense. When sin is in control, the body begins to show forth its strength in an attempt to preserve itself. Anything that threatens to destroy our peace, happiness, and comfort is to be opposed. Such fruits are anger and strife borne of man’s so-called temper which have their origin in the flesh and are therefore sins of the flesh. Many sins have been produced directly and indirectly out of self-defense because sin is the motivating power within. It is for the preservation of one’s personal interest, his personal existence, his personal reputation, his personal opinion, and a hundred and one things personal to himself, that many of the darkest sins of the world are produced.
__________
C. Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22, 23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law
Therefore, Paul countered with a definitive statement in verse 23. After listing the fruit of the Spirit, he affirmed, “against such there is no law.” What the Spirit produces more than meets every righteous demand of the law. The Spirit produces holy character and conduct. He defeats the lusts of the flesh in a way the law never could (3:21). The Judaizers insisted that only observance of the law could guarantee a life pleasing to God, in radiant contrast to the evil produced by the "flesh." The Apostle Paul depicted what life in the Spirit was really all about in practical terms. This list of nine manifestations of the one Spiritual "fruit" does not necessarily represent a comprehensive listing of all the Spirit-produced graces, but those that especially display the beauty of the Spirit-controlled life are:
Love
The primary key to everything. Along with temperance (self-control), love is a bookend that helps hold the other fruit in place. It is a love that surpasses human understanding and causes a person to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). Its divine characteristics are detailed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails".
__________
Joy
The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. Joy gives spiritual strength. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".
__________
Peace
Primarily, peace with God. When we are sinners doing the works of the flesh, we are rebels against God. When our rebellion ends and we are forgiven, then we are at peace. This kind of peace doesn't come through laying around on vacation, entertainment, drugs, alcohol, sex or wealth. The spiritual fruit of peace results from being justified by faith. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified [made right; declared innocent or guiltless] through faith [in what Christ accomplished for us on the cross], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". We must learn to maintain peace in three important relationships with:
(1) God,
(2) Our fellow man, and
(3) Ourselves.
We maintain peace with God by believing and trusting Him and by not sinning. We maintain peace with our fellow man by not allowing strife to be a part of our relationships with other people. We maintain peace with ourselves by being happy with who we are and by refusing to live in self-loathing, guilt, or condemnation.
__________
Longsuffering
Long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation. Like when someone angers you or picks on you. But then you just let it go and you maintain your self-control. Longsuffering is love on trial. It enables you to be emotionally strong and forgive others. Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
__________
Gentleness & Goodness
Being moderate, kind; the absence of harshness or severity. The Apostle Paul illustrates gentleness by the example of a mother feeding her babies (I Thessalonians 2:7). Moral excellence; virtue. God is the ultimate example of goodness. Goodness enables you to do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27) as well as those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). It is the goodness and grace of God that leads people to repentance. That's why we need to be good to people. Our witness won't have any power unless we are kind to others. We are called to be light in a dark world.
Galatians 6:10, “Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”. Gary, a youth pastor in Michigan, set off in the church van with a group of teenagers and headed for North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. The purpose of their trip was to experience adventure, bonding, and spiritual challenge in the Great American West. The idea was good, but the aging van didn’t cooperate nor did certain people along the way.
When the van broke down somewhere in Montana, Gary called a church in his denomination. He asked if the young people could spend the night in the church building. They all had sleeping bags and could sleep on the floor. Sadly, the church’s leaders said no. So, the group had to stay in a motel while they waited 2 days for repairs on the van to be completed. Time dragged on and the young people were getting restless. Aware of their plight, a local woman took them to her ranch. She taught them to ride horses, let them help with the chores, and fed them wonderful meals. Meanwhile, the mechanic repaired their van on a cost-only basis. Ironically, neither the rancher nor the repairman was churchgoers. It’s humbling, but sometimes God uses the unchurched to remind Christians to “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”. Remember our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.
__________
Faith
A better translation is "faithfulness", the act of being faithful. Doing what you say you are going to do. Being known as someone people can trust because you are reliable. Webster's Dictionary defines faithful as "maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious; accurate; reliable; exact. What is your favorite portion of Scripture? When a Bible teacher was asked this question, he replied, “It’s the last chapter of Romans.” His questioner looked it up and exclaimed in surprise, “How strange! It’s mostly a collection of names!” “Yes,” said the pastor with a smile, “that’s why I like it. The ones mentioned there were all different personalities, yet all had their own specific contribution to make.”
The apostle Paul began Chapter 16 of Romans by commending a woman named Phoebe. He briefly described her as one who “has been a helper of many and of myself also.” We often think that the most effective Christian workers are those in fulltime service, such as pastors and missionaries. However, we fail to recognize the faithful efforts of believers whose names never get into the limelight. These include people who show Christian concern for their neighbors and friends when comfort or help is needed. Although it’s natural to honor those who have public recognition in the Lord’s work, we must not forget to encourage and pray for the others. Your dedicated service for the Lord may enable someone to win in the battle of life. Such helpfulness will not be forgotten by God. Your name will be inscribed on His honor roll of the faithful.
__________
Meekness
Humble and patient. Meekness is not being mousy or weak, but rather a servant-like submission to God and others in your care. Your spirit is free from rebellion and pride. Meekness or humility is defined as "freedom from pride and arrogance; modest estimation of our own worth." Humility or meekness is the opposite of pride. The Bible says in I Peter 5:5 that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. And Psalms 37:11 plainly states that “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
__________
Temperance
Self-control; Moderation or self-restraint in action or statement; It is control over your entire being (body, soul and spirit). A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. After all, temperance and love are the bookends that hold all the other fruit in place. Since these graces represent the "fruit of the Spirit," it’s clear that they are not the product of human work, discipline, or determination. They are gifts given to every child of God. In other words, this is where the Spirit is leading every believer … toward the display of Christian character as represented by this list. While the "deeds of the flesh" violate God’s will and Word, there is "no law" against the spiritual fruit (v. 23).
__________
D. Practice of Spiritual Victory- (Galatians 5:24-26)
The Apostle Paul’s discussion of spiritual victory raises some practical questions, such as, how does this work in everyday life? (Galatians 5:24-26) answers this question. Thus, as Paul closes out this chapter, he once again is going to make this contrast between having life in Christ and being conformed to the world. But he also states quite clearly how this is accomplished.
__________
(1) Remember Who You Are
Galatians 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires
The Galatians needed to understand their identification with Christ. First, we note that we belong to Christ. This is the language of ownership. This is the language of what it means to come under the lordship or control of someone else. Some might look at this in a negative way, but for the believer it should make our hearts soar because it confirms that since we belong to Christ our old master can never claim us again. Romans 6:13-14 states, "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
This whole idea of ownership is something we sometimes lose sight of, especially in a world which teaches us that we become our own island, we determine our own destinies without anyone else. Well, Jesus made it clear that ownership determines outcome. And in the case of the Jews of Christ’s day they learned from the lips of our Lord Jesus that ownership was something we should consider as there are really only two owners in a spiritual sense with two entirely different outcomes and destinations. Who we belong to makes an eternal difference? And if we belong to Christ than we have the assurance that He will never let us go. If we belong to Christ then there is nothing in heaven or hell which can snatch us away from our God and Savior. Jesus says, I shall lose none, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
As Paul testified in Galatians 2:20, when a person puts their faith in Christ, he or she is crucified with Christ. The believer continues to live and to face the challenges of temptation; however, the believer does not face them in his or her own power but in Christ’s power. Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Paul affirmed. Thus, in Christ, the flesh with its affections and lusts has already been crucified. The believer is no longer in bondage to the sinful nature. He or she is now free to live in the Spirit. The believer is liberated to live out the godly character that the Spirit is developing in him or her. Spiritual victory comes when we understand our identification with Christ and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in His ministry of glorifying Christ in us.
__________
(2) Walk in the Spirit
Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
The apostle Paul had exhorted, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). After contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, he returned to his earlier exhortation. In verse 25 he wrote, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” When Paul exhorted, “Walk in the Spirit,” he meant to walk in line with the standards set by the Holy Spirit. This concept is especially significant in the context of Paul’s overall argument in Galatians. The Judaizers were trying to regulate the Galatians’ lives by the Jewish law. They were measuring their actions by Jewish regulations. However, Paul said in Galatians 4:9 that those regulations were “weak and beggarly elements” and led to bondage.
If the Spirit of God has given us eternal life, then it makes all the sense in the world to walk or keep in step with the Spirit who not only gave us this life but who now empowers us to do that. How do we keep in step with the Spirit? We follow Christ. We seek after the living word and we become doers of the word. The things of the Spirit by which we keep in step with the Spirit are those things the Spirit has given us. He has first and foremost given us the word of God as we have it in both the old and new testaments as He revealed this word through His prophets and apostles.
These are all ways in which we can walk in the Spirit and grow in the Spirit and thus begin to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in a dynamic and meaningful way as we are being conformed into the image of Christ. But there is a process involved in this and part of this has to do with engaging our minds as we seek those things above. The world often characterizes us as mindless people who have a blind faith. That simply isn’t true. But if we are not using our minds as we read God’s word, as we use our gifts, as we walk in the Spirit, as we meditate on those things the Lord teaches us then we are not feeding the new man we are in Christ.
Romans 8:5, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." ; Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Are we being renewed into the image of Christ? That can only truly happen as we engage our minds, which includes our wills, as we seek Christ through the means He has given us through the power He has given us in His Spirit. Not to pursue the things of the Spirit will lead us to pursuing the things of the flesh or old nature and as Paul closes this chapter, he gives the Galatians and us what that will produce.
__________
When my brother was in the High School marching band, I liked to watch the young musicians march in step at halftime during a football game. They moved as one to the cadence of the drums and the lead of the drum major. Galatians 5:25 states, “If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.” That last phrase can also be translated, “Keep in step with the Spirit.” It means that as we walk along in our Christian lives, we are to follow the Spirit’s lead. We are to be in harmony with Him. If we get out of step, follow a wrong cadence, or stray off the correct pathway, the results will be obvious (Galatians 5:19-21).
So, how can we tell if we are walking in step with the Spirit? Paul spelled it our clearly in Galatians 5. We will not be guilty of the practices mentioned in verses 19 through 21. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – will be clearly evident in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). How would you rate yourself when it comes to walking in step with the Spirit? So, are you in cadence? Or are you following a drumbeat of your own making? Always remember if you keep in step with God, you’ll be out of step with the world.
__________
(3) Deny the Flesh
Galatians 5:26, "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Those who walk after the flesh are concerned only with pleasing themselves. The flesh craves attention, admiration, esteem, power, and possessions. The law which the Judaizers were trying to force on these Galatians created a division of pride within the body of Christ; conceit and envy. The law is a feeble attempt to gain favor with God. It’s an attempt to please the Lord and that will never happen. But it doesn’t mean that the law doesn’t accomplish anything when added to the finished work of Christ on the cross. But it’s all negative in nature. It produces a fleshly approach to a spiritual life. It’s a dead man’s approach to one who has life. The two don’t mix. The new law we have in Christ is a law which is written on our hearts and one which will show itself to be alive. It is a royal law which loves God above all and our neighbors as ourselves. But unless we engage ourselves in this new life on a daily basis, we are only feeding the old nature and the one we feed the most is the one who is most active. So, let’s keep in step with the Spirit as we encourage each other to pursue the things of the Spirit.
__________
Closing Illustration
St. Nicholas Church in Galway, Ireland has both a long history and an active present. It’s the oldest church in Ireland, and it provides guidance in a very practical way. The church towers over the town, and its steeple is used by ships’ captains as a guide for navigating their way safely into Galway Bay. For centuries, this church has reliably pointed the way home for sailors. We can all certainly identify with the need for guidance. In fact, Jesus addressed this very need during His Upper Room Discourse. He said that after His departure the Holy Spirit would play a crucial role in the lives of believers. As part of that role, Jesus promised, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). What a marvelous provision! In a world of confusion and fear, guidance is often needed. We can easily be misdirected by the culture around us or by the brokenness within us (1 John 2:15-17). However, God’s Spirit is here to:
(1) Help us,
(2) Direct us, and
(3) Guide us.
How thankful we can be that the Spirit of truth has come to give us the guidance that we often so desperately need. Set your course by His life, and you will reach safe harbor.
__________
The Holy Spirit is our ever-present protector and he who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the victory
Our theme – Spiritual victory is achieved by “Walking in the Spirit”
Key verse – Galatians 5:24-25, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” …
__________
Introduction
1 John 3:24 says, “We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit, whom He has given us”.
We all live in the flesh and will struggle with the desires of the flesh until we get to heaven. However, we can bring these desires under the Holy Spirit’s influence. Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh”. Notice that the apostle Paul doesn’t say we won’t have the desires of the flesh when we walk in the Spirit, but that we won’t carry out those fleshly desires. Walking in the Spirit is similar to being filled with the Holy Spirit. Walking implies that the Spirit is going somewhere—there’s a destination. He always goes to the same place, to that which brings God glory. In contrast, the flesh is always moving to that which will please itself. Walking is continuous. Like the filling of the Holy Spirit, our walk in the Spirit is ongoing, so we must maintain our dedication. To walk is to continue taking one step after another.
Another aspect of walking includes dependency. The key to walking in the Spirit is to look to Him to give us the ability to do what we know we can’t do on our own. The moment we try to do it on our own, we reject the work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our source to true power and victory. Just as the Spirit gives us new life in Christ, so also, He enables us to live the Christian life as we walk in close fellowship with Him. A church bulletin captured this reality in the following prayer: “So far today, Lord, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped; I haven’t lost my temper; I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few moments, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed. And from then on, I’m going to need a lot of help.”
John 15:4-5, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.
__________
A. The Source of Spiritual Victory – Galatians 5:16-18
In our study the apostle Paul emphasizes the need for the Christian to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. He describes the hostility between the flesh and the Spirit, explaining why we must bear the fruit of the Spirit instead of practicing the works of the flesh. Not only is there no inheritance in the kingdom of God for those engaging in the works of the flesh, but those in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Having been made alive in the Spirit, they ought to walk in the Spirit so as not to be conceited, not provoking nor envying one another. To succeed in our Christian walk of faith we all need help. We can’t do it by ourselves. We need the help of all three Persons of the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – to give us guidance, strength, and instruction. We need the assistance of the Father who knows us, the Savior who intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us. Thus, we always will need God’s help.
__________
(1) Walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5:16, This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Paul added that a believer who walks in the Spirit “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. To walk in or by the Spirit is to allow Him to direct the way in which you live your life; it is to make decisions in the light of His holiness; it is to remain in communion with Him; it is to be occupied with the person of Christ, because the Spirit’s ministry is to engage us “intimately” with the Lord Jesus. To walk in the Spirit, the believer must choose to live by the direction of the Holy Spirit’s power within the boundaries recorded in Scripture and by walking by faith in God’s Word. Consider for a moment what Jesus taught His disciples the night before He went to the cross – He told them He was going to return to heaven, but would send His Spirit to live within them to guide and instruct them in much the same way He had.
Walking in the Spirit necessitates an ongoing practice of surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit. This includes the commitment of thoughts, words, ambitions, attitudes, and actions to the Lord. As the Spirit extends His control over our lives, the flesh with its desires is progressively crowded out. Our sinful nature represents the rebellion in our hearts against God. We are born with it; however, when we are born again, born of the Spirit, the Spirit renews us and regenerates us, and gives us a new nature. To live in the Spirit is to live in the reality of God’s new work, in our lives.
Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete – a Greek word meaning the Holy Spirit is “called alongside” to Help, Comfort, Encourage and Counsel. Since His function is to Guide and instruct in the truth, He is referred to as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15). John 14:16 refers to the Holy Spirit as “another helper”. This indicates that the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a believer now is similar to what Jesus provided to His disciples during their time together on earth. Jesus was their Paraclete or comforter who guided the disciples to live according to His ways. Though they were imperfect and sometimes disobeyed, Jesus came alongside them and assisted them in knowing and living His truth.
__________
(2) Internal Struggle for Control
Galatians 5:17, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want”
The Galatians were torn between Paul’s teaching and that of the Judaizers. What they were feeling was just what every believer in Christ feels. The flesh pushes its desires, while the Spirit urges submission to God’s values. No matter how long a person has been saved or how mature he or she is, in Christ, this enormous spiritual battle is always within the person. The flesh is a powerful enemy, for it is crafty, deceitful, and persistent. No amount of human effort or resolve can subdue the flesh. Because of its power, even the strongest human is unable to keep his or her lofty resolutions.
The seriousness of Paul’s exhortation to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the reality of the intense conflict that each believer is continually engaged in. According to the apostle, "the flesh" is always hostile to "the Spirit." There is, in other words, a raging battle going on in the heart of every child of God. The two forces are "in opposition to each other," and often the believer does not end up doing what they know is right—"so that you do not do the things that you please." This inner warfare is the experience of every follower of Christ and will continue until our sanctification is completed in heaven. However, in the meantime those who are indwelt by the Spirit must be diligent to trust in the power of Christ, His total victory over evil, and His righteousness that has been credited to them by God.
__________
(3) Power for Victory
Galatians 5:18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”
Because all people are born with a sin nature, the flesh is a powerful force in each person that threatens to hinder righteous living. What makes the difference is how one responds to the flesh. The pagans in Bible times simply indulged the flesh and sank into depravity. The Jews tried to counter the flesh by keeping the law. However, Paul testified in Romans 7 that trying to obey the law was frustrating because it was an impossible task. Even though he had the desire to obey God’s standard, he did not have the inner spiritual power to do so consistently. The Judaizers assumed that there were only two alternative: living under the flesh’s control or living under the law. However, Paul advanced a third alternative that gives victory over the flesh in a way that the law never could. That alternative is for the believer to be “led of the Spirit”. The Spirit of God is able to guide the Christian out of the deceits of the flesh and to give victory in the struggle against the flesh.
However, the believer must consciously submit to the Spirit. As the Spirit leads the believer in the ways of God, the believer needs to follow that leading. Only the Spirit, not the law, can truly deliver from the lust of the flesh and allow a believer to live righteously. The section ends with a restatement of Paul’s basic argument from Galatians 5:1 in that the believer in Christ is free from the Law. Here Paul contrasts living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit—"led by the Spirit"—with a life of bondage—"under the Law." The juxtaposition of these phrases makes it apparent that the life of faith in Christ, characterized as life in the Spirit, "stands in irreconcilable conflict with existence ‘under’ the Law". In other words, the Spirit of God leads believers into the enjoyment of authentic spiritual freedom from any obligation to secure divine favor through obedience to the Law (Rom. 8:3-4).
However, it is important to remember that this does not imply that there is no place or function for the Law in the life of the believer. Thus, while not impacting our salvation or our standing before God, the Law, particularly the Ten Commandments, represents God’s will for our conduct as His covenant children. How can we tell if we are following the Spirit’s leading? How do we know if we are experiencing spiritual victory? The apostle Paul contrasted what the flesh produces in a person with what the Spirit produces. He wrote that the flesh produces evil qualities that God condemns, whereas the Spirit produces Christ-like qualities that God commends.
__________
The meaning of the word walk … walking by the Spirit implies daily progress and effort on our part as well as power and direction on God’s part. Living a Spirit-filled life or filling your mind with Scripture will cause your thought patterns to be directed by the Spirit, and having your mind saturated by the things of Christ will allow your life to be easily borne along by the Spirit. Paul contrasts the different results of living by the Spirit and living by the flesh. One reason he makes that contrast is to motivate Christians to walk by the Spirit. The works of the flesh are described in verses 19-21. The result of walking by the Spirit is found in verses 22-23. Paul strengthens his case for walking in the Spirit by showing what each produces. The Judaizers should have taken note of that. If they had carefully examined the Galatian churches, they would have seen the fruit of the Spirit and realized how pointless it was to introduce law. Once they introduced law, they would have seen the works of the flesh and recognized their error if they had been sensitive.
__________
B. Works of the Flesh
Galatians 5:19-21, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of range, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the life. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God”
__________
The works of the flesh do not merely include the various misuses of sex. It is a much wider concept, including all the sinful desires of man's fallen nature. This particular list is not all-inclusive, but only suggestive, and the categories are found in verses 19-21. At this point, Paul presents a dramatic picture of the radical change that grace prompts in the lives of those who believe in Christ. The two lists, the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21 and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, are intended to graphically display the "total contrast between the ‘natural’ life and the ‘spiritual’ life and does so in embarrassing detail. No doubt very appropriate to the situation in Galatia when written, and today you must include the United States. The works of the flesh can generally be divided into five categories that are sins of:
(1) the body that are extremely defiling, such as fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness;
(2) association with Satan and supernatural communications with him, such as idolatry and sorcery;
(3) temper and the temperament, such as enmities, strife, jealousy, and outbursts of anger;
(4) religious schisms or divisions, such as factions, divisions, sects, and envying’s; and
(5) indulgence or intemperance, such as drunkenness and carousing’s. All these sins can easily be seen, and anyone who does any of these is of the flesh.
Note the powerful warning that Paul presented in verse 21. Those who "practice," or habitually engage in such activities, "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." In other words, those who participate in these activities with no remorse or sense of divine conviction "show themselves to be without the transforming gift of faith which leads to the gift of the promised Spirit". Finally, there is the matter of self-defense. When sin is in control, the body begins to show forth its strength in an attempt to preserve itself. Anything that threatens to destroy our peace, happiness, and comfort is to be opposed. Such fruits are anger and strife borne of man’s so-called temper which have their origin in the flesh and are therefore sins of the flesh. Many sins have been produced directly and indirectly out of self-defense because sin is the motivating power within. It is for the preservation of one’s personal interest, his personal existence, his personal reputation, his personal opinion, and a hundred and one things personal to himself, that many of the darkest sins of the world are produced.
__________
C. Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22, 23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law
Therefore, Paul countered with a definitive statement in verse 23. After listing the fruit of the Spirit, he affirmed, “against such there is no law.” What the Spirit produces more than meets every righteous demand of the law. The Spirit produces holy character and conduct. He defeats the lusts of the flesh in a way the law never could (3:21). The Judaizers insisted that only observance of the law could guarantee a life pleasing to God, in radiant contrast to the evil produced by the "flesh." The Apostle Paul depicted what life in the Spirit was really all about in practical terms. This list of nine manifestations of the one Spiritual "fruit" does not necessarily represent a comprehensive listing of all the Spirit-produced graces, but those that especially display the beauty of the Spirit-controlled life are:
Love
The primary key to everything. Along with temperance (self-control), love is a bookend that helps hold the other fruit in place. It is a love that surpasses human understanding and causes a person to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). Its divine characteristics are detailed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails".
__________
Joy
The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. Joy gives spiritual strength. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".
__________
Peace
Primarily, peace with God. When we are sinners doing the works of the flesh, we are rebels against God. When our rebellion ends and we are forgiven, then we are at peace. This kind of peace doesn't come through laying around on vacation, entertainment, drugs, alcohol, sex or wealth. The spiritual fruit of peace results from being justified by faith. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified [made right; declared innocent or guiltless] through faith [in what Christ accomplished for us on the cross], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". We must learn to maintain peace in three important relationships with:
(1) God,
(2) Our fellow man, and
(3) Ourselves.
We maintain peace with God by believing and trusting Him and by not sinning. We maintain peace with our fellow man by not allowing strife to be a part of our relationships with other people. We maintain peace with ourselves by being happy with who we are and by refusing to live in self-loathing, guilt, or condemnation.
__________
Longsuffering
Long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation. Like when someone angers you or picks on you. But then you just let it go and you maintain your self-control. Longsuffering is love on trial. It enables you to be emotionally strong and forgive others. Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
__________
Gentleness & Goodness
Being moderate, kind; the absence of harshness or severity. The Apostle Paul illustrates gentleness by the example of a mother feeding her babies (I Thessalonians 2:7). Moral excellence; virtue. God is the ultimate example of goodness. Goodness enables you to do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27) as well as those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). It is the goodness and grace of God that leads people to repentance. That's why we need to be good to people. Our witness won't have any power unless we are kind to others. We are called to be light in a dark world.
Galatians 6:10, “Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”. Gary, a youth pastor in Michigan, set off in the church van with a group of teenagers and headed for North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. The purpose of their trip was to experience adventure, bonding, and spiritual challenge in the Great American West. The idea was good, but the aging van didn’t cooperate nor did certain people along the way.
When the van broke down somewhere in Montana, Gary called a church in his denomination. He asked if the young people could spend the night in the church building. They all had sleeping bags and could sleep on the floor. Sadly, the church’s leaders said no. So, the group had to stay in a motel while they waited 2 days for repairs on the van to be completed. Time dragged on and the young people were getting restless. Aware of their plight, a local woman took them to her ranch. She taught them to ride horses, let them help with the chores, and fed them wonderful meals. Meanwhile, the mechanic repaired their van on a cost-only basis. Ironically, neither the rancher nor the repairman was churchgoers. It’s humbling, but sometimes God uses the unchurched to remind Christians to “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”. Remember our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.
__________
Faith
A better translation is "faithfulness", the act of being faithful. Doing what you say you are going to do. Being known as someone people can trust because you are reliable. Webster's Dictionary defines faithful as "maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious; accurate; reliable; exact. What is your favorite portion of Scripture? When a Bible teacher was asked this question, he replied, “It’s the last chapter of Romans.” His questioner looked it up and exclaimed in surprise, “How strange! It’s mostly a collection of names!” “Yes,” said the pastor with a smile, “that’s why I like it. The ones mentioned there were all different personalities, yet all had their own specific contribution to make.”
The apostle Paul began Chapter 16 of Romans by commending a woman named Phoebe. He briefly described her as one who “has been a helper of many and of myself also.” We often think that the most effective Christian workers are those in fulltime service, such as pastors and missionaries. However, we fail to recognize the faithful efforts of believers whose names never get into the limelight. These include people who show Christian concern for their neighbors and friends when comfort or help is needed. Although it’s natural to honor those who have public recognition in the Lord’s work, we must not forget to encourage and pray for the others. Your dedicated service for the Lord may enable someone to win in the battle of life. Such helpfulness will not be forgotten by God. Your name will be inscribed on His honor roll of the faithful.
__________
Meekness
Humble and patient. Meekness is not being mousy or weak, but rather a servant-like submission to God and others in your care. Your spirit is free from rebellion and pride. Meekness or humility is defined as "freedom from pride and arrogance; modest estimation of our own worth." Humility or meekness is the opposite of pride. The Bible says in I Peter 5:5 that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. And Psalms 37:11 plainly states that “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
__________
Temperance
Self-control; Moderation or self-restraint in action or statement; It is control over your entire being (body, soul and spirit). A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. After all, temperance and love are the bookends that hold all the other fruit in place. Since these graces represent the "fruit of the Spirit," it’s clear that they are not the product of human work, discipline, or determination. They are gifts given to every child of God. In other words, this is where the Spirit is leading every believer … toward the display of Christian character as represented by this list. While the "deeds of the flesh" violate God’s will and Word, there is "no law" against the spiritual fruit (v. 23).
__________
D. Practice of Spiritual Victory- (Galatians 5:24-26)
The Apostle Paul’s discussion of spiritual victory raises some practical questions, such as, how does this work in everyday life? (Galatians 5:24-26) answers this question. Thus, as Paul closes out this chapter, he once again is going to make this contrast between having life in Christ and being conformed to the world. But he also states quite clearly how this is accomplished.
__________
(1) Remember Who You Are
Galatians 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires
The Galatians needed to understand their identification with Christ. First, we note that we belong to Christ. This is the language of ownership. This is the language of what it means to come under the lordship or control of someone else. Some might look at this in a negative way, but for the believer it should make our hearts soar because it confirms that since we belong to Christ our old master can never claim us again. Romans 6:13-14 states, "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
This whole idea of ownership is something we sometimes lose sight of, especially in a world which teaches us that we become our own island, we determine our own destinies without anyone else. Well, Jesus made it clear that ownership determines outcome. And in the case of the Jews of Christ’s day they learned from the lips of our Lord Jesus that ownership was something we should consider as there are really only two owners in a spiritual sense with two entirely different outcomes and destinations. Who we belong to makes an eternal difference? And if we belong to Christ than we have the assurance that He will never let us go. If we belong to Christ then there is nothing in heaven or hell which can snatch us away from our God and Savior. Jesus says, I shall lose none, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
As Paul testified in Galatians 2:20, when a person puts their faith in Christ, he or she is crucified with Christ. The believer continues to live and to face the challenges of temptation; however, the believer does not face them in his or her own power but in Christ’s power. Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Paul affirmed. Thus, in Christ, the flesh with its affections and lusts has already been crucified. The believer is no longer in bondage to the sinful nature. He or she is now free to live in the Spirit. The believer is liberated to live out the godly character that the Spirit is developing in him or her. Spiritual victory comes when we understand our identification with Christ and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in His ministry of glorifying Christ in us.
__________
(2) Walk in the Spirit
Galatians 5:25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
The apostle Paul had exhorted, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (5:16). After contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, he returned to his earlier exhortation. In verse 25 he wrote, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” When Paul exhorted, “Walk in the Spirit,” he meant to walk in line with the standards set by the Holy Spirit. This concept is especially significant in the context of Paul’s overall argument in Galatians. The Judaizers were trying to regulate the Galatians’ lives by the Jewish law. They were measuring their actions by Jewish regulations. However, Paul said in Galatians 4:9 that those regulations were “weak and beggarly elements” and led to bondage.
If the Spirit of God has given us eternal life, then it makes all the sense in the world to walk or keep in step with the Spirit who not only gave us this life but who now empowers us to do that. How do we keep in step with the Spirit? We follow Christ. We seek after the living word and we become doers of the word. The things of the Spirit by which we keep in step with the Spirit are those things the Spirit has given us. He has first and foremost given us the word of God as we have it in both the old and new testaments as He revealed this word through His prophets and apostles.
These are all ways in which we can walk in the Spirit and grow in the Spirit and thus begin to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in a dynamic and meaningful way as we are being conformed into the image of Christ. But there is a process involved in this and part of this has to do with engaging our minds as we seek those things above. The world often characterizes us as mindless people who have a blind faith. That simply isn’t true. But if we are not using our minds as we read God’s word, as we use our gifts, as we walk in the Spirit, as we meditate on those things the Lord teaches us then we are not feeding the new man we are in Christ.
Romans 8:5, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." ; Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Are we being renewed into the image of Christ? That can only truly happen as we engage our minds, which includes our wills, as we seek Christ through the means He has given us through the power He has given us in His Spirit. Not to pursue the things of the Spirit will lead us to pursuing the things of the flesh or old nature and as Paul closes this chapter, he gives the Galatians and us what that will produce.
__________
When my brother was in the High School marching band, I liked to watch the young musicians march in step at halftime during a football game. They moved as one to the cadence of the drums and the lead of the drum major. Galatians 5:25 states, “If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.” That last phrase can also be translated, “Keep in step with the Spirit.” It means that as we walk along in our Christian lives, we are to follow the Spirit’s lead. We are to be in harmony with Him. If we get out of step, follow a wrong cadence, or stray off the correct pathway, the results will be obvious (Galatians 5:19-21).
So, how can we tell if we are walking in step with the Spirit? Paul spelled it our clearly in Galatians 5. We will not be guilty of the practices mentioned in verses 19 through 21. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – will be clearly evident in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). How would you rate yourself when it comes to walking in step with the Spirit? So, are you in cadence? Or are you following a drumbeat of your own making? Always remember if you keep in step with God, you’ll be out of step with the world.
__________
(3) Deny the Flesh
Galatians 5:26, "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Those who walk after the flesh are concerned only with pleasing themselves. The flesh craves attention, admiration, esteem, power, and possessions. The law which the Judaizers were trying to force on these Galatians created a division of pride within the body of Christ; conceit and envy. The law is a feeble attempt to gain favor with God. It’s an attempt to please the Lord and that will never happen. But it doesn’t mean that the law doesn’t accomplish anything when added to the finished work of Christ on the cross. But it’s all negative in nature. It produces a fleshly approach to a spiritual life. It’s a dead man’s approach to one who has life. The two don’t mix. The new law we have in Christ is a law which is written on our hearts and one which will show itself to be alive. It is a royal law which loves God above all and our neighbors as ourselves. But unless we engage ourselves in this new life on a daily basis, we are only feeding the old nature and the one we feed the most is the one who is most active. So, let’s keep in step with the Spirit as we encourage each other to pursue the things of the Spirit.
__________
Closing Illustration
St. Nicholas Church in Galway, Ireland has both a long history and an active present. It’s the oldest church in Ireland, and it provides guidance in a very practical way. The church towers over the town, and its steeple is used by ships’ captains as a guide for navigating their way safely into Galway Bay. For centuries, this church has reliably pointed the way home for sailors. We can all certainly identify with the need for guidance. In fact, Jesus addressed this very need during His Upper Room Discourse. He said that after His departure the Holy Spirit would play a crucial role in the lives of believers. As part of that role, Jesus promised, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). What a marvelous provision! In a world of confusion and fear, guidance is often needed. We can easily be misdirected by the culture around us or by the brokenness within us (1 John 2:15-17). However, God’s Spirit is here to:
(1) Help us,
(2) Direct us, and
(3) Guide us.
How thankful we can be that the Spirit of truth has come to give us the guidance that we often so desperately need. Set your course by His life, and you will reach safe harbor.
__________
The Holy Spirit is our ever-present protector and he who has the Holy Spirit as his resource has already won the victory
