The Holy Spirit and the Christian Life

The Presence of the Holy Spirit Produces Faith (3:1–9)

The Christian life begins with faith

Paul had been to Galatia and many had believed

There had been evidence of their new life

The Holy Spirit will draw you to faith in Christ

Now these converts had concluded that keeping the law was necessary

Here is a mistake of many cults

The law is fulfilled in Christ

The Holy Spirit comes in response to faith, and He matures our faith

He increases our faith through the written Word

He was at work in revelation

2 Peter 1:21 NKJV

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

He was at work in inspiration

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

He is at work in illumination

John 14:26 NKJV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

He increases our faith by revealing Christ, the living Word

This is the promise of our Lord ()

John 16:13–14 NKJV

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The more we know of Jesus, the stronger our faith

The Presence of the Holy Spirit Produces a Fight ()

Peace at the moment of conversion

Spiritual life has come

Fellowship with God becomes a reality

But soon we learn we are in a war

1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

War with the devil

Ephesians 6:11–12 NKJV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

War with the flesh

1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

What is the point of conflict?

The Holy Spirit vs. the sin nature ()

Galatians 5:17–21 NKJV

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Consider Paul ()

Romans 7:15–25 NKJV

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

How do we stay victorious in this battle?

By feeding the new nature on the Word of God

By yielding to the Holy Spirit

The Presence of the Holy Spirit Produces Fruit ()

How to see who is winning the battle

Here are the things the Holy Spirit wants to produce in you

Notice the natural divisions in this list:

First in relation to God … love, joy, peace

Second in relation to fellowman … longsuffering, gentleness, goodness

Third, in relation to ourselves … faith, meekness, self-control

Conclusion

III. Conclusion

What is the Holy Spirit Producing in You?

By Yielding to him, we become Fruitful