The Holy Spirit- God With Us and In Us

Introduction

You ever try to play a game with dead batteries? Maybe it’s your controller, your phone, your AirPods — and right when things start getting good… boom. It dies. You mash the buttons, shake it, yell at it — but nothing’s happening. Why? Because it’s disconnected from its power source.

And if we’re being honest — that’s how a lot of us live spiritually. We show up, we look the part, we go through the motions… but there’s no power. We’re trying to be loving, patient, pure, joyful — but we’re running on empty batteries. We’re trying to live the Christian life without the power of the Holy Spirit.

That’s exactly what Paul’s talking about in Galatians 5. He’s saying, “You can’t live for God in your own strength. You need the Spirit.” Because when you’re disconnected from Him, your life produces frustration, chaos, and sin. But when you’re connected to Him — when you walk by the Spirit — He produces fruit in you that you could never grow on your own.

So here’s the big idea for today: The Holy Spirit isn’t just your backup battery — He’s your power source. He’s the One who changes how you live, transforms your heart, and produces real fruit that lasts.

And Paul’s about to show us exactly what that looks like when we stay connected.

Scripture

Galatians 5:16–25 CSB

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now 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.

Body

Point 1: THE SPIRIT CHANGES HOW WE LIVE

Paul starts this passage with a clear and powerful command:

Galatians 5:16 CSB

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

That phrase — “walk by the Spirit” — describes a daily way of living, not a one-time decision. It’s the picture of someone who stays in step with God’s leading, who listens for His voice, and who depends on His strength with every step they take. The Christian life isn’t about occasional spiritual moments; it’s about a continual walk empowered by the Spirit.

When Paul says, “you will not gratify the desires of the flesh,” he’s contrasting two different ways of living. The “flesh” here doesn’t just mean our physical bodies — it’s that old, sinful nature inside of us that still wants to live life our own way. Even though we’ve been made new in Christ, that old self still whispers: “You don’t need God’s way. You can handle this on your own.”

But when we walk by the Spirit, we’re learning to tune out that old voice and listen to God’s. The Spirit changes our direction and our desires. Before Christ, sin felt natural — it was our default mode. But now the Holy Spirit gives us a new internal compass that points us toward what is good, right, and holy.

Paul describes it as a tug-of-war:

Galatians 5:17 CSB

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.

Every day, that tension is real. There’s a battle inside every believer — between what our old nature wants and what the Spirit wants. The difference now is that we actually have the power to win. The Spirit gives us strength to say no to temptation, to choose patience over anger, love over bitterness, purity over compromise.

And verse 18 gives us a freeing truth:

Galatians 5:18 CSB

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

When you’re led by the Spirit, your obedience is no longer driven by guilt or pressure. You’re not trying to check spiritual boxes to impress God. Instead, the Spirit changes your heart so that you want what God wants. He moves you from obligation to transformation.

Illustration

Imagine you’re driving somewhere you’ve never been before. You could pull out an old paper map — try to read every turn, keep checking where you are, maybe even get lost a few times. That’s like trying to live the Christian life on your own strength — constantly guessing, constantly failing.

But when you turn on GPS, something changes. The voice guides you step by step: “Turn right. Stay left. Recalculating.” It doesn’t just give you the rules — it gives you guidance. That’s what the Holy Spirit does. He doesn’t hand you a map and say “Good luck.” He lives inside you, leading you moment by moment.

You still have to follow the directions — you can ignore the GPS and go your own way. But if you trust His leading, you’ll end up exactly where God wants you to be.

Key Truth

Walking by the Spirit means learning to depend on His direction, not our determination. He doesn’t just change our behavior — He changes our heart, our desires, and ultimately, our lives.

Point 2: THE SPIRIT TRANSFORMS OUR HEARTS

After telling us to “walk by the Spirit,” Paul shows us what happens when we don’t. In verses 19–21, he paints a picture of what life looks like when the flesh — our sinful nature — is in control:

Galatians 5:19–21 CSB

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar.

That’s a heavy list. But Paul isn’t trying to shame us — he’s being honest about what happens when we try to live without the Spirit’s leadership. It’s what life looks like when we’re in charge instead of God.

You could sum this section up in one sentence: When we follow the flesh, we produce chaos. When we follow the Spirit, we produce character.

The Flesh Works From the Outside In

The “works of the flesh” are like weeds in a garden. They start small, but if you don’t deal with them, they grow fast and choke out life. And notice that Paul calls them “works.” They’re the things we do when our hearts are left on autopilot.

The truth is, sin doesn’t just show up in our behavior — it begins in our hearts.

Sexual sin begins with misplaced desires.

Jealousy begins with comparison.

Anger begins with pride.

Division begins with selfishness.

The flesh always tries to fix things from the outside in — trying harder, pretending more, hiding better. But the Holy Spirit works from the inside out — He transforms our hearts so that change flows naturally from who we’re becoming, not just what we’re forcing.

That’s why following Jesus isn’t about behavior modification — it’s about heart transformation. The Spirit doesn’t just tell you what to do; He changes why you do it.

Illustration

Imagine your phone screen is shattered. You can still see things, but every image is distorted. You can try to clean it, put on a screen protector, or change your wallpaper — but none of that fixes the real problem. The screen itself is broken.

That’s how sin works. We can try to clean up our behavior, act better, or hide our mistakes, but those are just “screen protectors.” The issue isn’t the surface — it’s deeper. We need the Holy Spirit to do heart repair, not surface cleanup.

When the Spirit begins to transform your heart, He doesn’t just fix the cracks — He gives you a brand-new screen, a new way of seeing the world, a new way of loving people, a new set of desires.

The Spirit’s Work Is Transformation, Not Behavior Management

Paul ends verse 21 with a sobering warning:

Galatians 5:21 CSB

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.

He’s not saying a single mistake disqualifies you. He’s describing a pattern — a life that continually rejects the Spirit’s leading and chooses the flesh.

But here’s the hope: the Spirit changes what we want. He takes our old cravings and starts to rewire them. Where there was jealousy, He grows contentment. Where there was anger, He grows peace. Where there was selfishness, He grows love.

This is how real transformation happens — not by white-knuckling our sin, but by surrendering our hearts to the Spirit.

Key Truth

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want to change your behavior — He wants to transform your heart. When your heart changes, your life will follow.

Point 3: THE SPIRIT PRODUCES HIS FRUIT IN US

After describing what life looks like when the flesh is in control, Paul now paints a totally different picture — the kind of life the Holy Spirit grows in us.

Galatians 5:22–25 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now 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.

Paul calls them “fruit” — not “fruits.” This isn’t a grocery list of virtues we pick and choose from. It’s a single, unified work of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit lives in you, these qualities begin to grow together, like branches all connected to one tree.

You don’t grow fruit by trying harder — you grow it by staying connected to the source. That’s what the Holy Spirit does. He takes ordinary, sinful people like us and begins producing something supernatural within us.

The Spirit Produces What We Can’t Manufacture

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Try to be more loving, joyful, and peaceful.” He says these things are the fruit of the Spirit. That means they come from Him, not from us.

Think about it: you can fake kindness for a while, you can force patience on a good day, you can act joyful when things are going well — but you can’t sustain that on your own. Real love, real joy, real peace come only from the Holy Spirit working within you.

The Spirit doesn’t just improve your personality — He transforms your nature. He replaces what sin breaks down with what Jesus builds up. The fruit of the Spirit is basically the character of Christ being reproduced in you.

Illustration

Imagine walking by an apple tree in the summer. You don’t hear it grunting or straining to pop out apples — “Ugh, gotta produce one more!” No, the apples grow naturally because the tree is alive and rooted in good soil.

That’s how spiritual fruit works. When you’re rooted in Christ and walking with the Spirit, fruit grows naturally. Not perfectly or instantly — but gradually and genuinely. If you stay connected to Him, He’ll do the growing.

Jesus said it this way in

John 15:5 CSB

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.

We don’t produce fruit by our willpower; we bear fruit by our relationship.

The Spirit Shapes Our Character

Let’s break it down for a moment. The fruit of the Spirit isn’t random — it’s a reflection of Jesus Himself:

Love – putting others first, even when it costs you.

Joy – deep gladness that isn’t shaken by circumstances.

Peace – confidence in God even when life is uncertain.

Patience – trusting God’s timing instead of forcing your own.

Kindness and Goodness – choosing to bless others rather than benefit yourself.

Faithfulness – staying steady when it’s easier to quit.

Gentleness – strength under control.

Self-control – saying no to what pulls you away from Jesus.

This is the kind of life the Spirit produces when we surrender to Him. These aren’t just traits to admire — they’re the evidence of a life where God is at work.

The Spirit Leads Us to Live Differently

Paul closes with this challenge:

Galatians 5:24–25 CSB

Now 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.

When Paul says “crucified the flesh,” he means we’ve made a decisive break from our old life. The cross wasn’t comfortable — and neither is killing sin. But as we daily choose to die to our old self, the Spirit grows new life within us.

“Keep in step with the Spirit” is a beautiful image — like marching in rhythm, step by step, listening for His direction. The Spirit sets the pace; our job is to follow. When we do, fruit grows. When we resist, growth slows.

Key Truth

The Spirit produces in you what you could never produce on your own. When you stay connected to Him, fruit grows — and your life begins to look more and more like Jesus.

Conclusion

When Paul says, “Keep in step with the Spirit,” he’s describing more than a religious idea — he’s describing a relationship. The Christian life is not about how perfectly we perform; it’s about how closely we walk. The Holy Spirit doesn’t call us to a sprint fueled by our effort — He calls us to a daily walk fueled by His presence.

Because here’s the truth: you can’t produce spiritual fruit through willpower. You can’t fight sin with sheer determination. You can’t love, forgive, or stay faithful for long on your own. But when the Spirit fills you, leads you, and transforms you from the inside out, the impossible becomes natural. The Spirit changes how you live. He transforms who you are. And He produces in you what you could never manufacture by yourself.

Illustration

Think about a kite. On the ground, it’s lifeless — colorful, maybe, but flat and motionless. No matter how well it’s built, it can’t fly on its own. It needs something invisible to lift it — the wind.

When the wind blows, and the string is released, the kite soars. The same breeze that looked invisible becomes undeniable as it fills the kite and carries it higher than it could ever go on its own.

That’s the Christian life. You and I are like that kite — crafted by God for something beautiful, but powerless without the wind of His Spirit. When we walk by the Spirit, when we surrender to His movement, He lifts us. He gives life where there was none. He directs our flight. The string — our obedience — doesn’t hold us back; it keeps us connected to the One who gives us lift.

So, the question this week isn’t just “Do I believe in the Spirit?” It’s “Am I walking with Him?” Every moment, every decision, every step — are you depending on His direction or your determination?

Because when you walk by the Spirit, you don’t just avoid sin — you begin to look like Jesus. You live differently. You love deeply. You bear fruit that lasts.

Let’s be a people who don’t just talk about the Spirit — but walk with Him every step of the way.