Galatians 5:15-26

Live by the Spirit and not the flesh

Paul refers to flesh as ordinary human experience.

The desire of the flesh refers to selfish desires apart from God.

Instead we must walk in the Spirit and bear fruit for Christ (John 15).

When a tree does not bear fruit (which is the character of Christ Jesus), He said He will throw it in the fire for it is good for nothing.

It is a process. As the Lord gives us grace to grow we will become more like Him (Philippians 3:3-14).

We must understand the desire of the Spirit is at odds with the desire of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit is the power by which believers come to Christ and see with new eyes of faith.

The works of the flesh definitions:

Impurity—simply means unclean. Sexual sins (any sex act outside of the biblical marriage between 1 man and 1 woman), evil deeds and vices, including thoughts and desires of the heart that do not line up with God’s Word, includes taking pleasure in pornography.

Sensuality—following one’s physical appetites and desires rather than obeying the Holy Spirit, debauchery, following one’s passions and desires to the point of having no shame or public decency.

Idolatry—putting anything before Jesus Christ, the worship of something created as opposite to the worship of the Creator Himself, worship of spirits, person, or graven images; trust in any person, institution or thing as having equal or greater authority than God and His Word.

Sorcery—black magic, divination, occult practices such as fortune-telling and witchcraft, the partaking of drugs to produce “spiritual” experiences, worship of demons.

Enmity—hate, the opposite of agape love (Romans 8:7);intense, hostile intentions and acts; extreme dislike.

Strife—slyly planned contention (the expression of enmity (Romans 1:29; Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 1:11, discord, antagonism, a struggle for superiority. Pride is the root of strife, resulting in becoming a scoffer.

Jealousy—resentfulness of another’s success. This will ruin our lives. It will control us and left undealt with it will torment us like a fire (Proverbs 6:34).

Outburst of anger—uncontrollable fits of rage, explosive anger that flames into violent words or deeds. This may be rooted in us throughout our lives.

Carousing—drinking bouts (1 Peter 4:3), excessive feasting and revelry, a party spirit involving alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Disputes—dissensions, inward reasoning, opinions or divisive teachings not supported by God’s Word (Luke 2:35, Luke 5:22, Luke 6:1-11), discord, strife that arises from a difference of opinion.

Factions—trying to win people in deception, division within the congregation into selfish groups or cliques that destroy the unity of the church.

Envying—the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others, dislike of another person who has something that one desires.

Drunkenness—impairing one’s mental or physical control by alcoholic drink.

Selfish ambition—seeking of power.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Love—agape, caring for and seeking the highest good of another person without motive of personal gain. We must cultivate it and pray that it will increase (Philippians 1:9).

Joy—the feeling of gladness based on the love, grace, blessings, promises and nearness of God that belong to those who believe in Christ.

Peace—the quietness of heart and mind based on the knowledge that all is well between the believer and his or her heavenly Father.

Patience—endurance, long-suffering, being slow to anger or despair, courageous endurance without quitting.

Kindness—not wanting to hurt anyone or to cause them pain.

Goodness—zeal for truth and righteousness and a hatred of evil. It can be expressed in acts of kindness r in rebuking and correcting anger.

Faithfulness—firm and unswerving loyalty to a person to whom is united by promise, commitment, trustworthiness and honesty.

Gentleness—restraint coupled with strength and courage. It describes a person who can be angry when anger is needed and humbly submissive when submission is needed.

Self-control—mastering one’s own desires and passions, including faithfulness to one’s marriage vows; also purity.