RELATIONSHIPS: Ruled by the Spirit/Ruined by the Flesh - YOUR CHOICE!

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Galatians 5:19–21 NASB95

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This we as we resume our search of the book of Galatians under the theme: Walking In Freedom.

We are reminded that we have been set free by Jesus Christ

All of us, have been set free and made sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ

It was not becasue of our works or merit, but by His amazing grace!

This freedom, is to allow the Holy Spirit to have unrestrained rule in our spirits, so that the image of Jesus can be formed in us

This freedom cannot be suppressed through human ingenuity and regulation

Nor should it be abused through a licentious license - It is for God to reign, and transform us into something He is pleased with!

God’s goal is for us to look like Jesus

Romans 8:29 “29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

Philippians 2:5 “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Colossians 2:6–7 “6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

Colossians 3:1–2 “1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Paul said it like this to the Galatians. . .

Galatians 2:20 “20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

One of the struggles in operating and living by the Spirit is the pull of the flesh. Paul says it “sets its desire against the Spirit”

But if by the Spirit I walk, I can be victorious over the flesh

This is the tension

Every decision, answer, move, objective, agenda and aim can be directed by the flesh or the Spirit

As is the case today, Every Relationship can be run by the FLESH or by the Spirit

The categories we saw in the “deeds of the flesh” were

Sensuality

Religious

Now we consider those that are RELATIONAL in nature

These deeds, if existing in the Christian, would wreck, ruin and ravage any relationship or, the possibility of a relationship

For the Galatians, Paul is saying thes cannot/should not be named among you. . .becasue God made you a family

Paul reminds us in this very book

Galatians 3:28 “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 4:7 “7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Galatians 5:13 “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.”

Christians, you need other Christians. You also need to learn how to operate with other Christians.

If you can’t live with other christians, can’t stand other christians, maintaining your boundaries, keeping toxic folks away, my blood doesn’t take that christian. . . .ARE YOU REALLY LIVING LIKE JESUS?

What I’m saying is that you might be putting energy in the wrong place

You love, forgive, tolerate, be patient, be gentle - Let God cut whatever and whoever He needs to cut out of your life!

Don’t cut what God intends to keep, Don’t keep what God is trying cut.

Develop your character and let God work the other stuff out

These Galatians ended up in a situation where they were biting and devouring one another. NO DEVELOPMENT

And one of the key areas God is developing your character is through yiur realtionship with others (especially other Chrsitians)

Four (4) things that you do not need in relationships with each other

#1 - Enmity

Hatred for and feuding with someone.

Feuding refers to a prolonged and bitter disposition of hate and hostility towards someone. To have arguments that fuel anger toward someone that exists for a long time. In the enmity, anger persists between parties.

It is an inner disposition, something that you only see when it acts out. Outside the Gk NT, it lit. means a “hater” – enmity could shake your hand, by lunch for you, rub your back and then stab your back

How do I overcome enmity? I need to realize I was an enemy of God, and if God could save me and bring me into fellowship with Him, then I need to respond the same way to others.

My brother/sister is someone that God sent Jesus for, now I’m proposing to God that I have enmity with them?

KJV translates this “hatred” it’s hard for us to have enmity and it not breed hate.

1 John 4:20 “20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

There was spirtual enmity and racial enmity and God dealt all on the cross!

Some of us have been locked in and sipping on hater juice for so long, drinking anything else now seems strange. It’s not that we don’t know it is wrong, we just don’t care that it’s wrong.

This is of the flesh, and it will reap corruption and death

#2 - Strife

Zeal for contention that has roots in personal benefit

It is a penchant for quarrel, fusses, fights, contention that really seeks to feed and satisfy the one chasing after the quarrel

Paul is saying that attitude is of the flesh - it will reap corruption and break relationships down and not build them up.

It spoils and stains the testimony of the Christian and the church too!

Proverbs 17:14 “14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water [floodgate], So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”

Proverbs 20:3 “3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.”

Proverbs 28:25 “25 An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.” - The Preacher identifies that pride is something that manifests itself in STRIFE.

The word “arrogant” means wide or broad. Regarding the heart, it is one that is overly inflated, broad wide.

Proverbs 29:22 “22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.”

Proverbs 15:18 “18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.”

#3 - Jealousy

Jealousy in the OT was used a lot of God. Many times in marital sense when Israel went into idolatry

It’s a concern for something that someone possesses to the extent you feel dissatisfied about what you have

You think they have something you deserve

It becomes overly possessive when there seems to be a threat to what is possessed

When used of God, Israel is His and He desires to protect that relationship

When used of people in relationships (negatively) it means a resentment of what someone because a desire for something are or have. Breeding a rivalry and a hatred for what someone has.

Jealousy says to God I am not satisfied with what you gave me.

Proverbs 14:30 “30 A tranquil heart is life to the body, But passion is rottenness to the bones.”

This hurts relationships instead of helping them. The danger in Jealousy is that it shows that the your desires are controlling you - and it can be spotted

Its hard to say something nice about someone

Its hard not being the center of attention

I always have to be the best, brightest, most skilled,

I desire affirmation from people more than anything else

I build my identity in things, so when someone else has a better thing, I don’t feel happy, I feel hurt

James 3:16 “16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

#4 - Outbursts of Anger (Wrath)

This is a fit of rage, a flying off the handle.

A hostile feeling that resides within the individual and has firey explosiveness, a fierce and intense expression of anger - this ought not to characterize the Christian

It becomes difficult to see reason, even more difficult to hear God

What this does (similar to Jealousy), it takes us away from God

It leaves no room for growth in God but further cementing your desire of the flesh

Proverbs 29:11 “11 A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds [bring it to a rest] it back.”

Proverbs 25:28 “28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.”

Is your anger at the right thing? Is it motivated by the right thing? Are you holding on to it longer than you should? What kind of results is it having?

You cannot continue in this!

Paul wants the Galatians to improve their relationship, they are devouring each other.

We can’t do much if we don’t get along

We can’t represent God if we can’t get along

We can’t lift each other up, strenghten each other, be fully shaped