Living by the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Good morning church fam! We are continuing in our study through the book of Galatians.
This whole letter to the church in Galatia was to address those who have come into the church and adding to the Gospel message of Jesus. Specifically adding to the Gospel the Law of the Old Testament.
Whenever we add to the Gospel message, we are imprisoning people back into guilt, shame, and condemnation.
We end up turning the freeing message of Jesus Christ into a works based religion in hopes that we do enough good deeds that when we stand before God, He will allow us into Heaven.
This is a false Gospel and should be treated as such.
Jesus + Nothing = Freedom
Paul continues in chapter five and tells them and us:
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Paul is saying to stand firm on the true Gospel message. The message that Jesus is enough. It is not about how good you are or how many good deeds you do or if you follow the Law to the exact. The Law, works, cannot save you. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ can.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Christianity is not about what I know and practice, it is about who I know and follow.
A Little Goes Along Way
A Little Goes Along Way
If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of adding to our salvation.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
You ever find yourself following Jesus one day only to have someone come along and deflate your joy?
You know Jesus…that’s nice. Why are you still cussing? Why are you still dressing that way? Why are you still watching those movies? Why are you still this or that?
They just come along and put a hole in your bouncy house. You thought you were free and now you find yourself back in the prison of guilt, shame, and condemnation.
In our text, Paul is reminding these Christians they started off very well. They were living in the freedom of the Gospel the way they were intended to. But then someone came along and started adding to the Gospel.
They popped their bubble of joy and bloated their lives with rules and regulations.
IHe uses the example of adding leaven to dough. Leaven is another word for yeast.
When you add yeast to dough, it makes the dough rise, adds flavor, the fermentation strengthens the gluten network, improving dough elasticity and workability. Yeast adds proteins, vitamins, and minerals to the dough.
These benefits make yeast an essential ingredient in many types of bread and other baked goods, contributing to their texture, flavor, and overall quality.
I remember growing up my mom would make homemade bread. I remember her taking the dough and placing it in a bowl to set for an hour or so. Taking it down. Kneading it. Punching it down. Then setting it aside again to rise. This took a lot of time. It took a lot of work.
Alright Paul, why do you use this as analogy for our walk with Christ?
I grew up hearing this verse used about sin in our life. But that is not the context in which Paul uses it.
This particular Scripture isn’t dealing with sin, it is dealing with those who are trying to add to the Gospel.
He is saying that those who add to the Gospel, changes it completely. Just like yeast transform the dough, adding to the Gospel changes it and makes it more complex.
Paul was reminding these Christians about the importance of un-leaven bread and what it represents.
You see un-leaven bread is quick to make, it is simple, and because it is simple, there is a longer shelf life.
Paul was using this analogy to remind them that those who were in bondage in Egypt were set free and when they were set free, they didn’t have time to take bread made with leaven. They had a rapid departure. When God said go, they went and were set free immediately!
39 They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
Instant departure out of bondage. Instant freedom.
We too experience an instant departure and freedom from guilt, shame, and condemnation!
This happens when we confess Christ and believe He is raised from the dead.
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Once you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead…you are saved, you are free, instantaneously!
You don’t have to do anything other than that. You don’t have to follow the Law first or follow some list of things to check off before you get saved. NO! It takes place instantaneously!
“I confess Jesus as Lord. I believe that God raised Him from the dead.” - BOOM! Salvation.
You are free from guilt, shame, and condemnation!
The moment someone tells you follow Jesus and then try to add something that Jesus already died for, is the moment you will be back in those shackles. Just like yeast shortens the shelf life of the dough, you will quickly fall away from Christ because no one can follow the Law.
That is the curse.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”
Does this freedom mean I can do anything I want? No.
Freedom Defined by God
Freedom Defined by God
God defines freedom differently than we do.
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
God does not view freedom as “do whatever one desires”. This will result in chaos. The result will be death and destruction.
We see this taking place in the Garden of Eden in Genesis.
Adam and Eve were granted freedom to choose, but they were also prohibited by God from eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
God’s Word brings freedom. Freedom from what? Death and destruction.
Living outside of God’s Word does not lead to life, but death and destruction.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
This is a result from mankind gaining the knowledge of good and evil. Everyone according to their own idea of what good and what evil is defined as, has been twisted since the fall of man.
We see this clearly in Galatians as those religious leaders were saying if you don’t follow the Law with Jesus, then you are not saved.
This still takes place in the church culture today where we tell people they have to add this check list of do’s and don’ts to their salvation and if they don’t they are a bad Christians and probably are not saved anyways.
The solution to this problem is to have some sort of compass that directs us to what is good. Or better yet, something that directs us away from death and destruction and move us towards life.
The great news is we have that. It is called the Word of God.
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Fruit of the Flesh
Fruit of the Flesh
Remember, God’s freedom is a freedom from death and destruction. So what causes death and destruction?
A way that seems right to a man.
We live in a world that culturally believes all these things are good.
Our American culture revolves around “self” and anything that's against this hypersensitive Self must be removed, modified, silenced or canceled.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
I like how the Message translation puts it.
19 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.
Paul here is describing the sinful nature of man. Without God intervening, we will naturally, without anyone teaching us, gravitate to our flesh. Those who live by the flesh will be evident by how they live their lives.
Categories of Sinful Behavior:
Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Lustful Pleasure: These terms cover a range of sexual sins, including any form of sexual activity outside the marriage relationship ordained by God in Genesis with Adam and Eve.
The world says, “If you liked it put a ring on it.” God is saying, “If you love her/him, you will put a ring on before you get to the it.”
Idolatry and Sorcery/Witchcraft: Idolatry refers to the worship of false gods, while witchcraft includes practices related to the occult and the use of magic or spells.
Hatred, Discord, Jealousy, Fits of Rage, Selfish Ambition, Dissensions, Factions, Envy: These behaviors describe relational and social sins, such as strife, selfishness, and discord among people.
Drunkenness, Wild Parties, and the Like: These are behaviors associated with excess and indulgence, including substance abuse and wild parties.
All these things will lead to death and destruction. Through Christ, you can be set free.
Free to do what?
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit
Free to live a life, producing evidence, that God is the one directing your life. Jesus came to bring abundant life to all those that follow Him.
When you are led by the Spirit of God it is very evident as well.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
While salvation is instantaneous, these things will take time. A lifetime. I don’t know anyone who is hitting all of these 100% of the time.
If you are hear today and you look at your life and you are thinking, “I am a really bad Christian because I didn’t exercise self control this week when that car cut me off.”
Don’t fall into the trap that you have a check list of things to do. That is not what this is about.
Listen how Paul closes this out. Notice what he does.
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 walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
First and foremost, to follow the Spirit of God you have to be willing to lay down your thoughts, your opinions, your ideas, your judgements, ect. Crucifying your flesh is simply laying down you, and picking up God.
When you do this then you can walk by the Spirit.
I love the phrasing Paul chooses. The phrase ”walking by” or to ”keep in step" with the Spirit, is a metaphor derived from the imagery of marching in line with others. It suggests moving together in harmony and alignment with a common direction.
We are to walk in harmony with the Holy Spirit. It’s about cooperating with the Spirit’s work in our lives, letting go of the desires of the flesh and embracing the new life God offers. It is letting go what “I think is good” and asking God His thoughts and opinions.
After God speaks what is on His mind, then it involves submitting to God’s leading and allowing the Spirit to transform us, so our lives increasingly reflect God’s holiness and love.
Ask yourself, “are my life’s choices in step with the Holy Spirit?”
If not, here are some practical applications you can begin to do today.
1. Prayer and Scripture:
Regular prayer and meditation on Scripture are essential for keeping in step with the Spirit. These practices help us discern God’s voice and understand His will.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
2. Community and Accountability:
Being part of a faith community provides support and accountability. Fellow believers can encourage us, pray for us, and help us stay on track with God’s Spirit.
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
3. Walking in Love and Humility:
Keeping in step with the Spirit involves living out the love and humility exemplified by Christ. It means prioritizing others, serving selflessly, and fostering peace and reconciliation.
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
When we keep in step with the Spirit, we will live in constant alignment with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, and walking in obedience to God’s will.
It’s a call to a dynamic, Spirit-led life that reflects the character and priorities of God’s Kingdom.
Closing
Closing
It’s a call to freedom. When you live your life in step with the Spirit of God, you will live the life that Jesus called you to live.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Jesus came that we would live a life free from death and destruction. When you live life knowing that you are free from death and destruction…that is true freedom.
Here is ten promises that Jesus gives to those who believe.
Eternal Life Assurance: Through faith in Jesus, believers are promised eternal life, overcoming the finality of physical death.
Freedom from Sin: Jesus' sacrifice frees believers from the power and penalty of sin, breaking the cycle of spiritual death and destruction.
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, given to believers, empowers and guides them, ensuring they are not alone in their spiritual journey.
Peace and Security: A relationship with Jesus brings peace and security, knowing that one's eternal destiny is secure in Him.
Victory over Fear: Believers can live without fear of death and destruction, trusting in Jesus' victory over the grave.
Moral and Ethical Guidance: Jesus' teachings provide a moral compass, helping believers avoid destructive behaviors and choices.
Transformational Power: The transformative power of Jesus' love and grace leads to a renewed mind and spirit, fostering a life free from the destructive patterns of sin.
Hope and Purpose: Knowing Jesus gives life meaning and purpose, providing a hopeful outlook even in the face of life's challenges.
Supportive Community: Being part of the Christian community offers support, encouragement, and accountability, helping individuals stay on a path away from destruction.
Promise of Resurrection: Jesus' resurrection is a promise that believers too will be raised to eternal life, ensuring that death is not the end but a transition to a new, eternal existence with God.
Altar Call
Altar Call
If you are here this morning and you are tired of living a life filled with guilt, shame, and condemnation. I invite you to start a relationship with Jesus.
Maybe you are here this morning and you are not walking in step with the Holy Spirit and you want to start.
Come out of your seat and we will pray for you.
**Call altar workers**
Dear Jesus,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn away from my sins and open my heart to You. Please come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Help me to follow You and grow in my faith.
Thank You for saving me.
Amen.
