Walk by the Spirit; Galatians 5:16-26

Introduction

We left Paul telling us that we are free from the law

that following the law requires us to follow the entire law

it alienates us from Jesus

that there are voices that want to push us, persuade us from the grace of God

we do not use this freedom to satisfy our flesh, but to love one another

Today - Walk by the Spirit

This sounds good Paul

we want to be free from the law, we want to live in the grace that God has offered

how do we do that?

Do I need to make up some rules? Pray certain prayers?

when I do these things, how do I know that I am really walking by the spirit

these are the questions that Paul anticipates and answers for us in this passage

Galatians 5:16–26 (CSB)

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,

21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

PRAY!

The focus of this passage

how we are to live as christians

not super christians, but in our everyday lives

we believe there is an aspect of our lives that we are ok and do not need the spirit

we see it as if we are a teenager

we have some more responsibility,

more freedoms

but we still need mom and dad for some of the bigger things

food, house, money

but beyond that leave us alone

we need the Lord in every aspect of our lives

if we are not walking by the Spirit we will live by the law

The production of godliness in the life of believers does not require the law, it is empowered by the Spirit.

The Desires

Galatians 5:16–18 (CSB)

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The Greek word meaning “flesh” refers to the part of human nature that causes people to put their own selfish needs ahead of everything else.

What are desires

desires = self indulgent craving, lusts

this is not just something that we like and want to have

this is something that we believe if we get it, receive it, it will satisfy us

We are instead to walk by the spirit

walk - to be under the Spirit’s direction or control

will not carry out desires of the flesh

flesh is the sinful nature of mankind even after they become a christian

The desires of the flesh and spirit are opposed to each other

Our natural, sin natured, instinct is to satisfy our flesh

the thing that comes to mind first is to take care of ourselves,

chase after something that we perceive will satisfy us

that thing that will make us feel better

when we are stressed

when we are emotional, going through a trauma

the Spirit is against these things, because it knows the only thing that will truly satisfy your heart is the Lord!

Our flesh does not frustrate the spirit, stop its desires

we have a picture of the two fighting it out and one is frustrated and disappointed by whatever action we take

the flesh is the one that is frustrated when we follow the spirit

“so that we do not do what we want”

Spirit led is not under the law

we must not add laws to make sure that we are spirit led

The Evidences

Galatians 5:19–23 (CSB)

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,

21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Works of the flesh are obvious

this is not an exhaustive list

if you are asking, then its probably on there

they are things that are meant to satisfy me, but they hurt others

I have heard people excuse a porn addiction

I am just looking, it is not hurting anyone

it hurts the relationship with our spouse

the trafficking that takes place in the industry so that you can consume this

there are no victimless actions

all actions have consequences, somebody is being hurt or used somewhere to satisfy yourself

some are more accepted than others

we look down on those with sexual sin that involves others

affairs, homosexuality

yet some we are okay with

strife, jealousy

the practice of these things will not inherit the kingdom of God

practice = present tense - people who continually orient their lives toward the deeds of the flesh

we have all done things of the flesh

we all continue to do things of the flesh, moments where we are not following the Spirit

but the one marked by the Holy Spirit is not continually orienting their lives toward these things

to orient your life, means to make ways for you to indulge in this practice

I am going to set this up so that I can do this

person who had accountability partners to look at his phone

so he got a second phone

The fruit of the spirit

love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self control

this too, not an exhaustive list

it is fruit, not fruits

this is what it looks like to follow the holy spirit

these things become evident in our lives

we do not lack some of these things and have the others

there is no, “I didn’t get the fruit of patience”

pray for patience! pray that you would allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in the times that we need patience

those times will come,

this is the fruit that grows in us when we are connected to the vine, connected to Christ

John 15:5 (CSB)

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

you cannot grown this fruit by creating or following the law

the law is not against such things

Paul is speaking to people that want to obey the law for righteousness

Galatians 5:13–14 (CSB)

13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

I believe this is why Paul lists love first

he has told them to love your neighbor

led by the spirit is the only way to do that

it ends with self control

the spirit gives us self control so that we do not satisfy the flesh

The Solution

Galatians 5:24–26 (CSB)

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Crucifying the flesh

this is something that is done when we come to Christ

Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

this crucifixion is followed by resurrection living by the spirit

because we are alive in the spirit, we should keep in step with him as well

meaning we are to follow him in all things, not just out of the grave

this does not mean that it is not a daily task

our flesh has been crucified with Christ, daily I must acknowledge that and orient my life with the Spirit

if I do not, those works of the flesh appear in my life

if I do not, my life becomes all about me, how it makes me feel, and I love myself above all things

i do not love my wife well, my kids well, my grandkids well, my church family well

that is when it is easy to say look at what I have accomplished

or when I am envying that they don’t have the problems I have

But we belong to Christ

the solution is not create a law to follow the spirit

I have done it

I will pray this every morning so that I do the right thing throughout the day

I will read this much

I will… I have some up with a lot of those and occasionally still do

it is living in the freedom that we have been given through the blood of Jesus

we simply gain this freedom by submission

Exalting Jesus in Galatians Reflect and Discuss

Reflect and Discuss

1. Describe the conflict believers have with the flesh.

2. Compare and contrast this passage with Romans 7:13–25.

3. What struck you the most in the section on “The Works of the Flesh”?

4. What lesson or reminder did you need the most in the section on “The Fruit of the Spirit”?

5. What is the “good news” in this passage?

6. How might you daily crucify the flesh?

7. What means or method does this passage teach for becoming like Christ? In what aspects do we not become like Christ?

8. How does this passage relate to the passages before and after it (5:13–16 and 6:1–10)?

9. In what ways are you tempted to disobey verse 26? Stop and pray for the Spirit’s work in you to avoid this sin. List ways you might instead love and serve others.

10. How might the application of this passage change a couple’s marriage?