Galatians 5: 19-26 “Keep in steep with the Spirt”

Galatians 5: 19-26 “Keep in steep with the Spirt”

Recap Paul is in the middle of a very practical section, explain what it looks like to follow Jesus Christ, and what the walking in the Spirt looks like and what walking in the flesh looks like. Paul would like to call the Galatians and us, back to trust in Jesus Christ, and walk by the Holy Spirt, and not in the flesh. Then we will not create divisions, and listen to false teaching, envy, provoke one another.

Then does Paul here a new set of law or rules?

I don’t think so, I think he is showing some behavior that is motivated by the flesh,

And contrasting it with what it looks like when we live by the Spirt, - What works does the Spirt work in us and what works do the flesh bring out.

It is kind of a scan (Spiritual health check/car review) of our motivations and what is behind the actions. – We can look to the list – look at our behavior and see Oh, that was not the Spirt, that was my selfishness, flesh, - or wow, the Spirt is working in and trough me, as I have love for this person, as I grow in joy in Christ,

As the text said the works of the flesh and they are easy to see: Satan/devil

What is on the list: sexual immorality /fornication, (all kinds – that are outside sex in marriage of 1 man 1 woman). (Prostitution, sex outside marriage). (A work of the flesh – that most today say is a freedom that has no limits except when it breaks the law. Paul is clear it is not freedom in Christ is slavery to one flesh, Jesus Christ offers a life that is much more that sex and sexuality. Sex is a good gift God gives to people in marriage to enjoy and bring closeness and intimacy, but used apart from Gods plan it can be very destructive and reduce people to objects, to be used, a dehumanization). Slave – just an animal only restrains by the law.

2. Impurity, motives and uncleanness also spiritually, lewdness no restraint,- unclean, not pure, - in our life today, we don’t have much about being impure, but we do understand impure motives, - what is behind our actions?

Sensuality – lack of control over oneself, often liked with food and sex, self-abandonment – like a lifestyle.

4 idolatry – worship of idols, greed serving false gods. -The idols are many today, money, sex, power, my cause, children, nature, many false religions,

Sorcery, magic, drugs – the practice of drugging form mysteries liquids, enchantment, witchcraft, used in idol worship. - this one surprised me, drugs and drinking a used by many today, escape, expanded mind,

6 Eenmity alienation, - enmity, discord, feud, hostility, - Oh, we see that everywhere.

Strife, contention, altercation attitude/disposition -

8 Jealousy, rivalry, - positive enthusiasm, eagerness -

Fits of anger wrath, rage, indignation strong swelling of anger. Outburst of.

Rivalry - Selfish ambition, the service of a party, partly spirt, frude fraction, contentious disposition,

11 Dissension – standing apart, division, between persons.

Divisions – on purpus to chose faction, discord contention,

12 envy, jealously spite, gourge (muder)

Drunkenness, indulge in drinking, deep drinking,

Orgies, - a festive procession, merrymaking a lewd immoral feasting - festival of revealing,

14 -things like these. There is more.

Points: The list is not complete, - it ends with: “and things like these”. Someone pointed that out, it is very wise, because it stands the test of time, on one can make up a new word or action, based in the flesh and say it is not on the list so it is okay. NOPE. – The flesh is the flesh, - and if not blind we can see it works of the flesh.

This is a warning – as Paul writes that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. A great warring and the very real conserveness that being led by the flesh, brings. As a life, a way of walking, in the flesh and for one self, - can’t inherit the kingdom of God. (actions has conckvences, - prestitens to the end). But God had made me this way, - yes and in Jesus we can be made new reborn. By Spirt to new life.

It is Paul yelling, stop! Let the Spirt control you, - and guide lead. Don’t be out of control. Don’t build you own kingdom. PPT.

What has control? – The flesh or the Spirt - will The Spirt lead us or will we, fill our self with drugs, alcohol, selfish ambition, create division, be restrained by no one… - Oh what a false Gospel in our day, you be you don’t let anyone tell you, you are wrong, today the gospel do what ever you want to fulfil yourself and your selfish ambition: Sex, drugs, reverlys, fractions, angry outbursts fits of anger, slavery to the lord of this world, and the flesh, - and it will lead to death, and destruction of lives, sin and the flesh, offers thing it cant do, tempory pleasure that then leads to despair.

I am again overwelmed by how relavant this letter is today, and what Paul writes, we can see this in culture around us, - and if we are honest we can see I in us… - Wanting what we want, - and not what God wants. Life is not found in self-satisfaction, self releastion, self infcation – no, but, by humily, by repentenace, by seeing what Jesus has done, looking not to what we want, but looking to what the Spirt lead us to do, and the greatest joy is the prize,as Randall also said last week, is that we Get God… We get to be with God, because of what Jesus did, life, death, resurrection. Abundant life is not getting what we what but what we need. – And letting our mind be changed so we can see and let the Spirt lead us to true life in Christ Jesus. And then our real needs are meet in Jesus, the only one that can fill our empty, holes in our soul, meaning, purpus, why am I here, why was I made this way, - most of us know – in general, to golryfi god and enjoy God forever. We will know, we will see as the Spirt changes us leads us.

The fruit of the Spirt (Who God is): The list below is not something we can grow our self, by trying hard, - it is not another list of works riotousness. No, it is the fruit that God can grow in us as the Holy Spirt works in us. We might be able to water, and bring our minds and heart to God but we can not bring the growth.

Fruit = singular – fruit used as outcome of good actions by the Spirt.

Love – agape, love of people and Gods love to people – (Not sexual) I will grow in Love, as I sit down and tell my self to be more loving. – No, - When we experience Gods love in Jesus Christ we might be able to extend it.

Joy – the experience of gladness, - in salvation, a sign that the Holy Spirt is working Joy makes people able to endure trials and suffering – both internal and an action a person does. (I will be more joyfilled – or when Jesus works in us we can have a joy that no one can create them self).

3 peace, tranquility unity, blessing shalom, harmonious relationship, - Christ brought peace between humans and God, Jew and Gentiles = Gospel of Peace.

Patience in enduring evil, slowness of avenging, long suffering forbearance. Clemency/pardon, (Threw in enduranc).

5 Kindness Goodness, gentleness (Expericing Gods kindnes)

Goodness -Kindness, a personal quality,

7 faithfulness: faith, belief, truthfulness trustworthiness, (Seeing Gods faithfulness)

Gentleness, meekness, mildness, forbearance, (Gods gentelness)

9 Self-control -continence temperance – self-mastery, restraint, control, (or the Spirts Control).

The law is not against the Fruit of the Spirt. (True God.)

What about you? As we read what parts – tuned un the red light, - in the flesh? What was green in the Spirt? What and were is god working in you. Red light in the flesh – Important to fight it by the Spirt, not accept is repent of it and ask God to help you fight it by the Spirt reminding our self that it is crucified with Christ.

What is your deep real motivation? To life for what? I think it gets exposed here.

Out of control or in control? (Who and what is in control?)

Vers 24. A great encouragement that if we belong to Christ Jesus, we have crucified the flesh with its passions, and desires. That is our way of life if we belong to Christ Jesus we seek to be listening to and be controlled by the Holy Spirt.

Not out of control or controlled by, sex, alcohol, magi, selfish ambision, riverly, desent, impure motives, fits of anger, stress, money,

Instead live by the Spirt and keep in step with the Spirit, - not becoming arrogant concetid provoking one another, envuying one another.

I think Paul is concerned that the pherical spirt will make the ones walking in the Spirt, create divisions, and agguments, and even frustration whit people growing, or not growing, - envy. – Paul again warns, no don’t do that, - He will next week talk about what to do when someone is stuck in trangration.

It is not a new list, - it is a tool to see where were are what is our spitual MRI – what needs to be killed what needs to be clebreated in Joy as the Spirt is working in us. It all is made possible by Jesus, - Gospel. How great a freedom to not be slaves of the law and the flesh, instead free in Christ Jesus, to walk in the Spirt, to do Gods will, do what we were created to do. Worship and enjoy God. By praising Jesus, by the power of the Spirt. – And walk in the good works laid out for us to walk in and know that true life is walking with us, the prize, it with us Jesus. (As we walk towards God’s kingdom).