Freedom to Walk in the Spirit Pt.2

They are not particularly the words one wants to hear over the phone when you are told there is a parent holding on the phone… I picked up the phone and the mother ask, “what did you do to my child?”

Her daughter was elementary age

Her daughter a few weeks prior had been at our camp

Her daughter while at camp made a decision to place her faith in Jesus Christ…Now...

She seemed to have a joy about her

She listened and obeyed

She no longer fought all the time with her siblings

There was something very noticeably different in how she lived!!!

How do we find out more about this Jesus!? Led her to Christ over the phone,

they all started going to church

Brothers, father soon accepted Christ!

WHY??? because a little girl was willing to allow the Spirit to work in and through her!!!

Paul is challenging our walk as followers of Jesus Christ...

Last week we looked at:

The conflict that we face

The reason for victory being the cross

The Result was… walking by the Spirit, so you will not carry out the desire of the flesh!!!

Today… I want us to take a close look at that walk. Galatians 5:16-25

Galatians 5:16–25 NASB95

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 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. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Notice… This is NOT fruit you and I produce! It is produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit

Christ taught this principle when He walked on earth. John 15:4-5

John 15:4–5 NASB95

4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

The attributes we see in the fruit here were demonstrated clearly and consistently in the life of Christ, God in the flesh.

Now God indwells the believer through the Holy Spirit in us!

As Paul stated earlier in his letter, “it is no longer I who live but Christ in me!”

Pay close attention as well that this is SINGULAR (fruit) in form NOT PLURAL (fruits)!

There is One God, One Spirit… Ephesians 4:4-6

Ephesians 4:4–6 NASB95

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

When we walk by the Spirit we demonstrate in our life a single focus/UNITY!

These are not separate attributes we display by preference!

We don’t pick and choose what fruits we want on a particular day.

We don’t say, “I’m just not feeling patient today, or loving”

Of course you aren't…!!! That is the flesh! We are called to allow the Spirit to LIVE through you!

What would you look like… WHO would you look like if your daily walk produced this fruit?

The first three virtues (LOVE JOY PEACE) are habits of mind which find their source in God

Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 608). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

The Spirit’s Love...

Agape… God’s love through you!

Controlled by the Spirit… one can allow the love of God to be given to others

Self-Sacrificing… John 3:16

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The Spirit’s Joy...

This is NOT a feeling, however it can produce feelings.

Not happiness due to circumstances

Deep inner Joy based on being His, Forgiven, Heirs!

The Spirit’s Peace...

Based on the knowledge of knowing intimately, the One who is in control

Allowing the One who is in control, to control you

Not based on the scary things we face, how good or bad government is, or what the 6 o’clock news says

The next three virtues deal with our interactions and reaching out to others (PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS)

The Spirit’s Patience…

I am so glad right now that this slide does not say “Jed’s Patience”!

Don’t you dare say, “I don’t have the gift of patience”

This gift comes with the Spirit!!!

Another translation puts it “long suffering”!

This is not a patience that we have when all is good...

This is in the midst of provocation

Entertaining no thoughts of retaliation… when wronged!

How do we respond???

The Spirit’s Kindness...

We respond in kindness!!!

Romans 2:4

Romans 2:4 NASB95

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Consider the kindness God has shown us as sinners!

These are genuine from God through us!

The Spirit’s Goodness...

But Pastor you don’t know how bad they have hurt me...

Romans 12:19-21

Romans 12:19–21 NASB95

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Can you trust God to work?

Can you allow His Spirit to use you to draw people to himself?

This is the walk we are being called to church!

It is not easy, but it is doable in the Spirit

The final three we look at will be evident and seen in the conduct of the believer...

The Spirit’s Faithfulness…

2 Timothy 2:13

2 Timothy 2:13 NASB95

13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

As followers of Christ… we are to have the character of one who is reliable, faithful, trustworthy!

If not… what are we saying about our great God, the One we say indwell us!?

The Spirit’s Gentleness...

A “meek” individual...

This is NOT weak or wimpy

It is in contrast to a harsh answer or response

It depicts one who bears the sword, can use the sword, but chooses not to for another’s benefit

One who submits to God’s Will over one’s own desires

Dealing with others gently when harshness is deserved

We see this with Christ throughout His life Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Christ had the power to call on all heaven… but He did not. We deserved it… He dealt in a gentle manner

NEVER ONCE was the Gentleness He demonstrated because He was weak… Rather just the opposite

He showed such a gentle spirit because of His strength!

The Spirit’s Self-Control...

Through the Spirit we are able to not give into self… our FLESH

The Spirit is in control…

The ironic thing is, when we try to control our life, our passions, our desires,

Rather than seeing a life that is controlled and stable

We see a life spinning out of control!

This is what Paul is trying to show through all this in Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:16 NASB95

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

The Result is Freedom!!!

There is no law for those who live this way!

God wants us to truly LIVE!

Not crawling along, spinning out of control, knowing what you are in your heart and what others see.

Each day when you look at yourself and see less of you and more of His Son… that is freedom!

That means He is going to have to chisel away all that looks like this world… until all that is seen is His Spirit in me!

It hurts

It is difficult

It is worth it

When people look at you… will they ask “What has God done with you? You are different!” Galatians 5:25

Galatians 5:25 NASB95

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.