Fruits of the Spirit 11 - Conclusion - Still Hanging On

Reading: Galatians 5:16-26
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

I.    Sin Hanging on to us

      A.  Naturally, we fall

            1.   It is in our make up to tend to fall from the vine.

                   a.   We have a sinful nature - Paul calls it the “flesh.” It is the part of us that is stuck in the mud, that holds us back, the gets in the way of our spiritual health and growth.

                   b.   The NIV translators chose to translate not merely the word, but the idea — since God created our physical bodies good.

            2.   It’s natural/normal for sin to dominate in us.

                   a.   We inherit a tendency toward sin. It is as normal for us to be selfish and rebel against God’s authority as it is for us to breath.

                   b.   We do ourselves a great disservice if we underestimate how sin has become entrenched in us.

      B.  Wanting to be our own God

            1.   Looking at the list of all the things our sinful nature attracts us to, we see a list of activities that all say the same thing: “We want to be our own God.”

            2.   The very first sin was an attempt to become “like God” and everyone since too.

            3.   The truth is that we are in God’s image, but we are not God, nor can we be. But God made us to be his children and that is more than we deserve.

      C.  The war of a Lifetime

            1.   There is an inner battle going on in all of us. A war that will wage until we take our last breath.

            2.   We never outgrow it, get beyond it, get so holy that the war fades into the background, or a cease-fire is called.

            3.   The part of us that wants to be God, always pulls us away from our relationship with the true God.

                   a.   Those 2 parts of us will remain parts of us in the same way the tares and the wheat will grow together until the final harvest.

This sin is hanging on to us and holding us down. It wants us to fall off the vine. What should we do about that?

II.   Hanging on to the Spirit

      A.  More than following Rules (v.18)

            1.   In Galatians, Paul reminds us in no uncertain terms that merely following rules won’t fix us.

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Gal. 3:2 (NIV)

            2.   We can’t defeat our sinful nature by gritting our teeth, pulling up on our bootstraps, and trying harder.

            3.   Only God can do that — and he is doing it through the Holy Spirit in each of us.

      B.  Marching to a different Drummer

            1.   It is obvious to us what our sinful nature wants us to do (vv.19-21).

                   a.   You’ll usually know if something within you comes from God or not.

            2.   It is also obvious what God’s Spirit is doing in us: (vv.22-23)

                   a.   There is one work the Holy Spirit is doing — one fruit (singular). And many rebellions against it. The fruit is like an orange with many sections: one fruit with different components.

                   b.   All the overlap between the ideas of the 9 descriptions of this fruit are there because the ideas are supposed to overlap — it would be truer to say that it is a fruit with 9 adjectives describing it, than 9 pieces of fruit that all look somewhat similar.

            3.   Since merely keeping some rules has nothing to do with our progress, how do we grow?

                   a.   Recognize what your sinful nature is up to, what the Spirit is up to and then as far as it is up to you “keep in step with the Spirit.”

                   b.   Because we “live by the Spirit” — life comes from God. Only death comes from our sinful nature - as it has from the beginning.

      C.  Leave it hanging it on the cross

            1.   Jesus death on the Cross not only paid the penalty for sin, but also defeated the power of sin itself.

            2.   “Those of Christ” the ones who have an active relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit are united with him in such a way that the power of sin has been broken (have crucified).

                   a.   This is not something we ought to do, it has been done.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20 (NIV)

                   b.   As our relationship with Jesus grows, as the Spirit’s work in us helps us move toward greater maturity, our sinful nature dies with Jesus on the cross.

So how do we let our sinful nature be crucified with Jesus? How do we keep in step with the Spirt?

III.  God Hanging on to us

      A.  The Spirit Leads us (v.18)

            1.   Keeping in step with the Spirit means that the Spirit is leading us — from within us.

            2.   As Jesus says in John’s Gospel: But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

            3.   We don’t have to try to do this on our own for God. We do it this way: “Live by the Spirit” “Keep in step with the Spirit”

How do we live by the Spirit? How do we keep in step with the Spirit?

      B.  God Heals us from within

            1.   The law — following external rules sets boundaries, but doesn’t have the power to change whatever is in the boundaries.

            2.   Only God can change our hearts, and changed hearts is what God wants.

            3.   The Holy Spirit within us always points us in God’s direction — like a compass.

                   a.   Our internal compass (our sinful nature) doesn’t point to true North.

                   b.   The Spirit only points to the True God.

How do your hearts change so that His fruit will mature in you?

      C.  God Never lets go

            1.   And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.   John 6:39 (NIV)

            2.   being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Phil. 1:6 (NIV)

            3.   Even if you don’t know how to hang on to God, He is hanging on to you and He won’t let go! The vine promises to stay connected to you!

The Bottom Line:

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