Empowered Pt. 2

Galatians 5:16-25

welcome

recap part one = being plugged in…

preach on that for a little

Last week, we talked about being Plugged In—connected to the power source: the Holy Spirit. But I’ve got news for you today:

Being plugged in is great… But the real question is: Is your battery actually charging?

Let me break it down:

You can be near the outlet. You can be touching the cable. You can even look like you're charging… But unless that connection is real, your life will stay on low battery.

Paul teaches us in Galatians 5, what it means to walk by the Spirit to be led by the spirit.

our passage for today is found in Galatians 5.16-25

Galatians 5:16–25 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

we must be plugged in = give example of when I plugged my phone into an outlet that didnt work...woke up the next morning and oh boy it was dead…

Spirit does not operate automatically in a believer’s heart. He waits to be depended on.

When a Christian does yield to the Spirit’s control, the promise is that he will not in anywise (the double negative ou mē is emphatic) gratify (telesēte, “complete, fulfill” in outward action)

the desires of the sinful nature. Thus, while no believer will ever be entirely free in this life from the evil desires that stem from his fallen human nature, he need not capitulate to them, but may experience victory by the Spirit’s help.

POINT 1: POWER IS PROVEN BY FRUIT, NOT FEELINGS

speak on not just a feeling, holy spirit can manifest himself in many ways…but you might walk out of church and say yup worship was powerful im plugged in…

preach

see pastors = something is off…

Matthew 7:16 ESV

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

this is the start, last week we learned who the holy spirit is, not a side piece or side kick no he is equal to the father and the son he is God…

so how do we become doers of the word and not just hearers

You can feel something in church and still not live changed. Power is not proven in a shout. Power is proven in self-control.

The Holy Spirit isn’t just here to give you goosebumps. He came to grow you.

preach

You ever seen one of those fake fruit baskets at grandma’s house? It looks good from a distance. Glossy. Colorful. But try to bite it—and you’ll break a tooth.

A lot of people have plastic fruit spirituality. Looks good in public. But no flavor. No life. No Spirit.

Real power shows up in real fruit.

so how do I be fruitful??

POINT 2: YOU CAN’T BE FRUITFUL IF YOU’RE FLESH-FULL (Gal. 5:17)

Galatians 5:17 ESV

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

preach

There’s a fight inside of you. It’s not just between good and bad… It’s between your flesh and the Spirit.

You can’t walk in the Spirit and feed your flesh at the same time.

Ever tried running a race while dragging a heavy backpack? That’s what walking in the flesh is like—it slows your stride and exhausts your spirit.

I once tried to start a fast while binge-watching food shows on Netflix. Don’t judge me. Guess how long that lasted? About 23 minutes. Why? Because you can’t feed the flesh and expect the Spirit to win.

So how do i bear real fruit?? you cant feed your flesh at the same time…

tell story of season of struggle with my sin and our marriage…= marriage counselor said something that really help me understand the meaning to crucify the flesh he said you must suffocate it….kill it….

Galatians 5:24 ESV

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

preach

POINT 3: STAYING “CHARGED UP” TAKES DAILY DEPENDENCE (Gal. 5:25)

Galatians 5:25 ESV

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

Notice the wording: Keep in step.

tell story of alex walking faster than everyone else…heaven fest…

That means walk WITH Him. Not ahead. Not behind. In step.

why wouold you want to be ahead of him?? being behind him doesnt work either youll lose sight of him

no in step with him…being yoked to him…

so what does that look like??

That’s not a once-a-week shout. That’s a daily dependence.

stand with me…

POINT 4: FRUIT ISN’T FAST… BUT IT’S ALWAYS FAITHFUL

Paul doesn’t say “the flash of the Spirit.” He says the fruit—because fruit takes time to grow.

You don’t wake up one day with perfect peace and patience. But over time, if you’re plugged in and charged up, you start seeing fruit where you used to see frustration.

Maybe you used to cuss someone out in traffic— But now you catch yourself… and you breathe. That’s fruit. Maybe you used to get offended by people easily— But now you're staying, serving, and forgiving. That’s fruit.

it takes time…and thats why we need to be in step, daily with the spirit…

You ever walk into a room and smell fresh oranges or ripe strawberries? Fruit affects the air around it.

When you walk into a room, people should breathe in love, joy, peace, kindness—not drama, jealousy, or bitterness.

thats how we can make sure we are plugged in and actually charging…our fruits…

lets pray

HOLY SPIRIT TAKE OVER AND PREACH IT!!!!