WALKING IN STEP
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37…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.(Mt. 22:37-39, kjv)
37…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.(Mt. 22:37-39, kjv)
The 2 Great Commandments—Our PRIME DIRECTIVE!
Our Passage Today will connect us to The Command to Love Our Neighbor.
Why has the LORD given believers liberty?
Why has the LORD given believers liberty?
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Gal. 5:13-15, kjv)
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Gal. 5:13-15, kjv)
Why has the LORD given believers liberty?
Why has the LORD given believers liberty?
a. Believers were called to be free, not to continue in the same vain but to serve one another through love.
b. When we selfishly ignore the purpose of our freedom, the church looks a lot like the rest of the world.
Why Do I struggle?
Why Do I struggle?
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal. 5:15-18, kjv)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal. 5:15-18, kjv)
Why Do I struggle?
Why Do I struggle?
a. A believer struggles when their fallen/sinful nature pushs against their new Spirit driven nature (17-18).
b. A believer can live and love empowered by the Holy Spirit (16).
What does the works of the flesh look like in my life?
What does the works of the flesh look like in my life?
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21, kjv)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21, kjv)
What does the works of the flesh look like in my life?
What does the works of the flesh look like in my life?
a. The flesh operates as a spiritual power that isn’t directly visible, you recognize its presence through the “works” it produces.
b. Anything the flesh uses to weaken Christian community and decrease love for the LORD and neighbor is a work of the flesh.
What does the works of the Spirit look like in my life?
What does the works of the Spirit look like in my life?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23, kjv)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23, kjv)
What does the works of the Spirit look like in my life?
What does the works of the Spirit look like in my life?
a. Being led by the Spirit is passive—The Spirit takes the initiate.
b. Walking by the Spirit is active—purposeful, moment-by-moment aware of what pleases the LORD, sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.
c. Walking in step with the spirit produces freedom from enslaving desires.
4 Main Areas of Distict Christian Behavior
4 Main Areas of Distict Christian Behavior
Forgiveness, Generosity, Hope, Sexuality
Forgiveness, Generosity, Hope, Sexuality
Sexuality—
The Christian view of sex is weird in a world that reduces it ot mere recreation or elevates it to an identity.
Sex is God’s way of saying, “I give my life to you.”
Sex is doing whole life, absolute loving commitment to another person; and is therefore only for marriage.
Generosity—
Christian generosity is weird in a world that measures worth by accumulation and security by ownership.
Christian generosity is weird in a world of tribalism.
Christian generosity is weird in a world that does not see everyone as an image bearer of God.
Christians are radically generous even in times of difficulty.
Christians are radically generous without strings attached.
Forgiveness—
Christian forgiveness is weird in a world that demands immediate vengeance and cancels withou room for redemption.
Forgiveness is weird in an “Honor and Shame” culture.
Treating insults and other such words as junk behavior (turn the other cheek)
Unearned grace drops the charges before remorse is expressed (70x7).
Longsuffering chooses to bear the pain rather than passing it back (do not repay evil with evil, but overcome evil with good).
Hope—
Christian hope operates as a stubborn conviction that the final word belongs to the LORD in renewal and redemption, even when the present moment suggests otherwise.
Not Optimism: Optimism expects things to improve. Hope persists when situations worsen.
Not niave wishful thinking.
Christian hope is in the ONLY RESURRECTED ONE, Jesus Christ!
CONCLUSION
*Signal musicians
Paul closes the passage with these final thoughts, as do we.
*Stand as we look up on the screen.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:25-26, kjv)
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:25-26, kjv)
Am I walking in step with the Spirit?
Am I walking in step with the Spirit?
In order to walk with the Spirit you must first be led by the Spirit.
Does how I treat comfort & pleasure point to the Spirit?
Does my generosity toward others point to being Spirit led?
Does my forgiveness of others point point to loving my neighbor as myself?
Is my hope and identity placed in Jesus Christ?
