Tag Archives: Galatians

Hearing the Message – What Will You Do?

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Mark 4:1-9

And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”  And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Parable – an earthy story with a heavenly meaning.

Mark 4:10-13

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’”  And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

Mystery – something previously hidden, but now fully revealed

Mark 4:14-20

The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

  • Parable explained
  • Parables
  • Disclose truth exactly in the degree which men can accept; hiding it from those who would refuse its truth and imparting it to those who would obey it.
    • Parables serve the double and opposite purpose of revealing and concealing.
    • You would not try to reveal to a child in the same manner as an adult.
  • Three things are required
  • Hear the Word
  • Receive the Word
  • Bring forth fruit
  • Four categories of people who hear and receive
  • Satan steals what was sown in the heart – sown by the wayside
  • There is no root or real commitment in the hearer – stony ground
  • Deceitfulness and cares of this world choke out the Word – sown among thorns
  • Production of good fruit – 30/60 100 percent – good ground

Only one category of the four who hear and receive the Word will bring forth fruit.

For Christians there are several lessons we can take from this parable.

First, we need to be careful that we do not fall into one of the three categories.  Even though we have believed and received the Word of God, we can still be so distracted by our daily lives, our jobs, our responsibilities, our pleasures that we neglect God’s Word. 

How many times have you been listening to a sermon or a Bible lesson when you suddenly found your mind thinking about other things.  Where you will go to eat after service?  What you have to do in the coming week?  Worrying about that bill you have to pay next week?  Even thinking about the upcoming vacation?

There is a lot of false teaching out there today on the internet, on the YouTube that we can be deceived if we do not carefully check the things we hear to see if they agree with God’s Word.

Second lesson is that we are to be bearing good fruit.  There are many ideas of what good fruit means for a Christian.  Simply put:  fruit is basically the outward actions of a Christian that result from the condition of the heart. 

Galatians 5 list some of the conditions the heart should have. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

We cannot on our own produce that kind of life.  It is only as we maintain a relationship with Jesus, that we will produce that good fruit.  Bearing fruit in the Christian life requires abiding in Jesus.

John 15:4-5 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Bearing fruit in the Christian life requires abiding in Jesus.

Where is the Harvest?

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Galatians 6:6-10

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

  • We must not grow weary in discharging our responsibility and in obedience to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 – But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good

1 Corinthians 4:1 – Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

  • Blessings if we do not lose heart.

Matthew 24:12-13 – And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Peter 1:10-11 – Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

James 5:7-8 – Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Rev 2:7 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Rev 2:11 – He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

Rev 2:17 – To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

Rev 3:5 – He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Rev 3:12 – He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Rev 3:21 – To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

  • In due season

We do not know when the Lord will return or when we will go to be with the Lord by our death.  But we do know that He has promised to return.  In the parable He told about the faithful and unfaithful servants – we must be found sowing the seeds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said our prayer should be for reapers because the harvest is ripe. 

Matthew 9:37-38 – Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

You cannot reap the harvest if the seed corn is still in the barn.  Go and make disciples. 

The Grace of Giving

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Galatians 6:6-10

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

TITHING

  • Tithing is only one aspect of our doing good and it is a privilege as well as a duty to support the work of the Lord. 
  • If you do not give to God’s work or, if you give and you know you need to give more, desire to give more, want to give more, begin planning today to change that.
  • You find the money to do what you want to do – some way, somehow.  Work – do not worry – work at giving to God’s work what you want to give, what you know you are supposed to give.  Give regularly.  Give a set amount.  The Old Testament practice was a tenth.

Genesis 28:22 – and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house.  And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.

  • Your giving must be voluntary, not pressured but out of love.  As Christ gave His all for you, surely we can give back a portion of our income to Him to help further the work of the church.  By tithing we are symbolically expressing our commitment to Christ and His church, our church.
  • As we regularly plan our giving, our offering, we also offer ourselves in service and devotion to God.  As a result we become stronger in our faith and more aware of others’ needs.  This practice brings us joy as we are obedient to His Word.  Our giving regularly helps to accomplish the mission of the church. 

2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each of you should give what you decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

 OLD TESTAMENT REQUIRED TITHING OF ALL

Leviticus 27:30 – Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD

NEW TESTAMENT – JESUS AFFIRMED GIVING AS A PRACTICE WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN

Luke 21:1-4 – Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.  And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of herpoverty put in all she had to live on.” 

HOW MUCH DO WE GIVE?

There is disagreement today whether a Christian is required to give 10% of their income.  While we are no longer living under the Law (which required the 10%) but rather under grace, perhaps our giving should be even more generous.  When we set the 10% as the requirement for  a Christian to give, we can become legalistic.  Some may not be able to give 10%.  However, that should not keep them from giving something.  If you cannot give 10%, determine what you can give and be faithful in giving that amount.

However, many have been abundantly blessed by God and could give much more than 10%.  To those Christians, they should not feel satisfied when they have given just 10%.  Let God’s Word be our guide.

1 Corinthians 16:2 – On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Giving of your finances does not get you mean you should not also give to other church and community activities or other volunteering tasks.  Nor does other activities and volunteering satisfy the need to give of your finances.

When you give, you should give regularly, systematically and promptly.  The need for finances of the church goes on even when you are on vacation or absent.

There are many areas of need in the church – building expenses, insurance, utilities, supplies, teaching materials and through our giving we can help carry our fair share.

Through our giving we are also sending forth the truth through literature, Bible study, missions and charitable giving.

Luke 6:38 tells us “the measure you use will be the measure given back to you.”  Let us give with joy and concern because God kingdom needs our support.

Walk Together and Bless One Another

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Galatians 6:1-10

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

BEAR AND SHARE THE BURDENS

  • Restore a brother who has fallen.
  • Should be done only by those who are spiritual – that is, walking and being directed by the Spirit.
  • Should be done in a spirit of meekness.
  • Should be aware of your own ability to sin.

2 Tim. 2:24-26 – And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil….

  • Support one another.

 Romans 15:1 – We then who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

  • Beware of spiritual pride. 

Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

  • Examine yourself.  No one can boast when he measures himself and his work against the standard of God’s perfection.
  • Realize your own responsibility.

Romans 14:14 – Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

BE GENEROUS AND DO GOOD

  • Do good to your teachers.

1 Cor. 9:11, 14 – If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?  Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.  

  • Do good to others.

Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

  • Law of reaping and sowing.
  • God will cause a harvest from our seeds.
  • God will bring the harvest about in His time.
  • Good seeds will bring a good harvest.
  • Bad seeds will bring a bad harvest.
  • While we wait for our harvest.
  • Do not become discouraged.
  • Keep your faith alive and active.
  • Give and keep on giving.
  • Love and keep on loving.
  • Live in an attitude of expectancy.

1 Cor. 15:18 – Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding (super abundant, have in excess, greatly surpass, excel) in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

Living in the Spirit

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Galatians 5:19-25

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  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.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

  • Good Desires (verses 22-25)

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.

  • Desire the House of the Lord

Psalm 27:4 – One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.

Hebrews 10:23-25 – Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

  • Desire to see and hear of the things of God 

Luke 10:24 – for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.

  • Desire the Word of God

Psalm 119: 11 – Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Acts 17:11 – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

  • Desire to work for God

1 Timothy 3:1 – This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

Colossians 3:17 –  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

  • Sinful Desires (verses 19-21)

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • Tree looked good

Genesis 3:6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

  • Whatever we see and want

Ecclesiastes 2:10 – Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.  I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.

James 1:14-15 – But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

  • Deny Christ

2 Peter 2:1 – But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

John 12:48 – He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day

  • Lust for other goods

James 4:2 – You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

REAPING THE HARVEST OF THE SPIRIT (verses 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.

CRUCIFY THE SINFUL NATURE (verse 24)

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

  • Lay it aside/turn and walk away/JUST SAY NO TO SIN AND YES TO GOD. 
  • Realize:  Eternity is too long to be wrong. 
  • Do right; live right; be right and you will turn out alright.
  • The way you purpose in your heart will determine your final destination.
  • Remember Daniel.  “He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.”  (Daniel 1:8)

OBEY THE HOLY SPIRIT (verse 25)

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” 

  • Our efforts at goodness without relying on God, no matter how sincere or valiant our efforts may be, can only be a poor copy of the virtues produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.
  • As we yield our lives to the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the result of God’s power will become evident when it is manifested in our lives. 
  • To be victorious in living a Christian life, we must keep our eyes fixed on the cross and the work Christ did for us and be constantly submitted to his will, not our will.  That is dying to self.
  • Our initial decision to trust in Christ for salvation must be reaffirmed daily.
  • This requires us to make ongoing decisions by which we continually crucify the sin nature again and again and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit as he guides us day by day.

Live a Life Without Reproach

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Galatians 5:25

If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.

  • If we are going to be Christians we must look, speak, act, and behave as a Christian.  Name someone who has caused reproach (discredit, disgrace, to cause disapproval, an expression of rebuke or disdain, scorn) on themselves and others.
  • Richard Nixon
  • Jimmy Swaggart
  • Bill Clinton
  • David (with Bathsheba)
  • Achan
  • King Saul
  • Judas
  • Samson

Galatians 5:16 – But I say; walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 7:25 – 8:5 – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” 

  • Look at an apple – describe:  shape, size, weight, texture, smell, taste, color
  • Christian – describe:  What does a Christian look like?  The Bible gives us nine characteristics in Galatians 5:22-23.
  • Love, joy, peace (inward manifestations)
  • Patience, kindness, goodness (outward – toward others – manifestations)
  • Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (walk manifestations)
  • Only a Christian can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit constantly.
  • Only a Christian who has the indwelling supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can produce a supernatural holy life. 
  • Evidence of the Holy Spirit will consistently manifest itself by the fruit of the Spirit.

After a heavy snow fall one evening, a man made his usual way to the tavern after supper.  He was surprised a few minutes later to see his little son come in the front door.  “How did you get here through all that snow?” he asked the little boy.  “It was easy,” he said.  “I just walked in your foot steps.”

How we live our lives affects those around us.  Our emotions, our words, our expressed ideas, our dress.  What we say to our little ones and our loved ones sets the tone of their lives.

  • If we lift up others in our conversation, they will lift up others in their conversation.
  • If we ridicule, they will learn to ridicule.
  • If we boast of cheating on our taxes, exceeding the speed limit, they will learn to do the same.

How do we bring glory and honor to God when we say one thing and do another?

Admonitions Against Sin

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Galatians 5:17-21

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The number of sins listed in Galatians 5 are 18.  Obviously, there are countless more than this and we hesitate to admit we have come close to committing many of them.  As society plummets headlong and blindly into the abyss, there are more being added every day due to modern technology and the desire, sinful and lusting, to satisfy an unsatisfied craving, an itch that needs to be scratched.

A renewing of the mind is what is needed in our world today.  The cravings that were in existence a generation ago are magnified beyond belief.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:4-10 – If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!  Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Self-control and personal accountability are needed in our lives.

Colossians 3:5-9 – Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

Forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness is what is needed.  But we have rights, we shout.  And we do.  But our rights are not available to us except through the scriptures that shout to us, “love one another.”

1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Oh our big mouth!  What damage it does.  If only our spiritual IQ was as big as our mouth.  We would have converted the whole world by now.  And caustic!  Oh, how much damage we do with our tongues, probably equal to all the rest of the things we are guilty of.  God help us!

James 3:6-8 – And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Walking in the Spirit

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Galatians 5:16-26

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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.

SPIRIT VS. FLESH

  • The Flesh fights to gain control over the Spirit.

Romans 8:7 – Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject (“to stand under” – submission, obedience) to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

  • The Flesh lusts against the Spirit.  The word “lusts” means to set one’s heart upon, eagerly long for, greatly desire.  The word emphasizes the intensity of the desire rather than the object desired.  The Flesh sets its heart upon things contrary to what the Spirit sets its heart upon.

Romans 7:28 – But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

  • The Flesh hinders us from doing what we want to do. 

Romans 7:19-20 – For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

  • Adultery – sexual unfaithfulness to husband or wife. 

Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:28 – But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

  • Fornication – includes all forms of immoral and sexual acts, pre-marital, extra-marital sex, and abnormal sex. 

1 Corinthians 6:18 – Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Ephesians 5:3 – But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

  • Uncleanness – moral impurity. 
  • Lasciviousness (lewdness) – indecency, shamelessness, and/or unrestrained evil thoughts and acts.  A person who has given in to wrong desires to the point that he knows no restraint.  Does not care what others think about his sinful deeds.
  • Idolatry – giving something or someone the love, time, money and energy that should be given to God.
  • Witchcraft (sorcery) – use of drugs or spells to gain control over one’s life.  In today’s society it would include palm reading, séances, astrology, channeling, games that are based on evil ideas.
  • Hatred – a deep and lasting hostility toward others.
  • Variance (contentions) – quarreling, fighting, causing discord.

Matthew 5:44 – But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

  • Emulations (jealousies) – intense desire to have what someone else has.

From the Ten Commandments we have the commandment  “Do not covet.”

  • Wrath (outbursts of wrath) – a violent, explosive temper, bursts of anger.  Different from hatred  in that it is not anger that lasts but rather, it is the quick outburst of anger.
  • Strife (selfish ambitions) – concerned only with one’s own welfare, self-willed, a spirit of partisanship or belonging to cliques.
  • Seditions (dissensions) – division, rebellion, standing against others.
  • Heresies – rejecting the fundamental beliefs of God and the Scriptures and accepting a false teaching.
  • Envying (envy) – goes beyond jealously – not only wants what someone else has, but begrudges the fact that the other person has it.
  • Murders – to take the life of another person, to destroy another’s reputation by slander or gossip, to lie about someone’s character.
  • Drunkenness – taking drinks or drugs to become intoxicated, seeking to loose restraint for bodily pleasure.
  • Reveling (revelries) – uncontrolled indulgence, wild parties or drinking parties, orgies

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

  • Love – (agape) – Selfless love, love like the love of God demonstrated by Christ on the cross.
  • Joy – inner gladness, assurance and confidence in God that brings a cheerful heart.
  • Peace – absence of strife, state of rest and quietness.
  • Long-suffering (patience) – “long-temper”, patient endurance, forbearance, a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint. 
  • Gentleness (kindness) – goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, a person who has the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing their patience.
  • Goodness – full of virtue, helpful, considerate.
  • Faith (faithfulness) – trustworthy, dependable, constant in allegiance.
  • Meekness (gentleness) – gentle, tender, considerate. 
  • Temperance (self-control) – to have control of one’s desires, appetites and passions, to not allow any habit or desire to gain control of one’s life. 

It is the works of the flesh – something we must do, must make an effort at.  It is the fruit of the Spirit – something we cannot do on our own.  The Holy Spirit produces it in our lives beyond our own efforts. 

It is the works (plural) of the flesh but the fruit (singular) of the Spirit.  The Fruit of the Spirit is one and indivisible.  We cannot pick and choose which quality of the Spirit we will allow to be produced in our life.  It is all or none.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our life, He will produce all of the graces of God. 

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

  • Must crucify the flesh

 Romans 6:6 – Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with (rendered inoperative) that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

  • Walk in the Spirit – “Walk” used here literally means “to walk in line with.”  It is not the same “walk” in verse 16 which simply means physical walking.  To walk in the Spirit is to walk along the path that God lays down. 
  • Be free from pride of one’s own spirituality or envy of another’s spirituality.

The Struggle Within

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Galatians 5:16-18

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Romans 7:14-24 – For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.  If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

While that verse seems to imply that we are not able to win the struggle within, Paul continues.

Romans 7:25 – I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

As we continually seek to surrender our self to Jesus Christ through prayer, study of His Word and fellowship with other believers, we find the strength needed to overcome the carnal/fleshly man. 

Ways that will help us win this struggle.

Psalms 27:4 – One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord.  

Psalms 51:10-12 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Acts 17:11 – These were more fair-minded that those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Philippians 3:13-14 – Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prized of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

Things to avoid to help win this struggle.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 – Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.  I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoice in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor.  Then I looked on all the works and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. 

Genesis 3:6 – So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.  She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.    

James 4:1-4 – Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and war.  Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.  Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

A man once had two dogs that he trained for fighting.  Just before a scheduled fight a friend of his asked him which dog he thought would win the fight, which one should he place his bets on.  As the man quickly pointed out which dog would win, his friend asked him “How do you know that one will win?”  The man replied “Because that is the one I will feed.”

Which one are you feeding – the flesh or the spirit?

Walk in the Spirit

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Galatians 5:16

I say then:  Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

WALK IN THE SPIRIT

  • Spirit vs. Flesh
  • Godly vs. Ungodly
  • Holy vs. Unholy
  • Uplifting vs. Detrimental

Ephesians 4:1-3 – I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

WALK IN UNITY

  • Lowliness (humility) vs. Pride
  • Gentleness vs. Arrogance
  • Longsuffering (patience) vs. Impatience
  • Unity vs. Partisanship

Ephesians 5:1-2 –   Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for a sweet-smelling aroma.

WALK IN LOVE

  • Christ like
  • Servant hood
  • Sacrificially
  • Glorifying God

Ephesians 5:8 – For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out is acceptable to the Lord.

WALK IN LIGHT

  • By example of Christ
  • By example of the Word
  • By the leading of the Spirit

Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that you walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

WALK IN WISDOM

  • Understand God’s will
  • Fulfill God’s will
  • Submit to God’s will

Colossians 1:10 – that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

WALK WORTHY

  • Be fruitful in all things that are good
  • Increase your knowledge of God
  • Be strengthened with His might and power
  • Maintain patience and longsufferign with joy
  • Give thanks always