Faith and Freedom: Spirit Life

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do 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.

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do 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 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

24 And 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 keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

What if sins aren’t viewed as sinful?

Review: Pivot Point in the Book

Part 1 of Galatians: Free from Law

Part 2 of Galatians: Free to live in the Spirit

But not free to do whatever you want!

Jesus fulfills Law- so law is obsolete

But not free to do whatever you want to do

Jesus fulfills Law

Spirit replaces Law- so Spirit become our moral compass

Not Under Law

Not Controlled by Sin

Analogy:

Shadow:

: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”

Shadow had it’s own personality, but it only made sense when attached to Peter

Peter Pan: Shadow had it’s own personality, but it only made sense when attached to Peter

Peter Pan

Distinct person. Tinkerbell ordained the Wendy, Michael, to Fly with the Kids!

No longer chasing a shadow, but being ordained with Stardust!

Tinkerbell

They didn’t fly just everywhere! They followed Peter to Neverland- they had a destination to go to. Wasn’t flying in random freedom!

The kids didn’t fly just everywhere! They followed Peter to Neverland- they had a destination to go to. Wasn’t flying in random freedom!

Tinkerbell was obsessed with Peter Pan

Understanding Analogy

Shadow= Law

: “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”

Peter is Christ

Christ reveals himself and puts the Law in its place. As a temporary way of understanding Jesus.

Tinkerbell is the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit comes and ordains us with power.

For us to be led in a direction towards the New Heaven and Earth!

Other lists: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .

The NIV Application Commentary: Galatians What Is the Fleshly Life? (vv. 19–21)

(1) sexual sins: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery”;

(2) religious sins: “idolatry and witchcraft”;

(3) social sins: “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy”;

(4) drinking sins: “drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”

Works: Plural: Stuff we work on, plot out, and plan for.

Law=works (“works of the law” (2:16; 3:2, 5, 10)

4 Lists

(1) sexual sins: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery”;

(2) religious sins: “idolatry and witchcraft”;

(3) social sins: “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy”;

(4) drinking sins: “drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

TRANSITION IN THE BOOK is super important:

Traits that grow within us organically.

Fruit: Singular

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Marching: 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Three Ways to Live

Life in the Spirit review:

The Zombie Christian

The

Life in the Spirit review:

(2) Those who are “in the Spirit” are persecuted by those in the “flesh” (3:4; 4:29).

(1) The Spirit of God is what the Christian receives at conversion (3:2, 3, 5, 14; 5:25), and this was evidently made known through charismatic experiences (see comments on 3:1–5). Such an experience makes the convert a “son of God” who can call God Abba (4:6). Indeed, the reception of the Spirit is what the entire Old Testament looked forward to as it came to fruition in the universal plan of God (3:13–14). To live in the Spirit is to live in the age when God inaugurates his kingdom. (2) Those who are “in the Spirit” are persecuted by those in the “flesh” (3:4; 4:29). (3) Those who are “in the Spirit” exercise hope for the coming establishment of God’s righteousness and their own declaration of fitness before God (5:5). (4) Those who are “in the Spirit” are victorious over the “works of the flesh” (vv. 16–18, 19–21) and so live a life full of the manifestation of the Spirit (vv. 22–23). For this victory to occur, Christians need only submit to, or walk in step with, the Spirit (v. 25; cf. 6:8).

(3) Those who are “in the Spirit” exercise hope for the coming establishment of God’s righteousness and their own declaration of fitness before God (5:5).

(4) Those who are “in the Spirit” are victorious over the “works of the flesh” (vv. 16–18, 19–21) and so live a life full of the manifestation of the Spirit (vv. 22–23). For this victory to occur, Christians need only submit to, or walk in step with, the Spirit (v. 25; cf. 6:8).”

How the Holy Spirit can keep us free

How to fly free, with direction and purpose- that’s the point of this morning’s sermon.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Works of the Flesh

Zombie Christian

How to kill wolves in the wild

What if sins aren’t viewed as sinful?

The Way Out:

Crucify the Flesh: “WE who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.”

Pick up cross

The point of picking up our cross is to make sure we execute the flesh.

Stott: “We must not only take up our cross and walk with it, but actually see that the execution takes place.”

Stott: “If, therefore, we are to ‘crucify’ our flesh, it is plain that the flesh is not something respectable to be treated with courtesy and deference, but something so evil that it deserves no better fate than to be crucified.”

Stott: “Secondly, our rejection of the old nature will be painful.”

Stott: “Thirdly, the rejection of our old nature is to be decisive. Although death by crucifixion was a lingering death, it was a certain death.”

Keep your sin on the cross! Don’t allow it to come down to restore its power. Stott: “We have crucified the flesh; we are never going to draw the nails.”

Thirdly, the rejection of our old nature is to be decisive. Although death by crucifixion was a lingering death, it was a certain death.

What if sins aren’t viewed as sinful?

Getting Canadian Mounties to laugh

Stott: “I belong to Christ. I have crucified the flesh. It is altogether out of the question that I should even dream of taking it down from the cross… I belong to Christ. The Spirit dwells within me. So I shall set my mind on the things of the Spirit and walk by the Spirit, according to His rule and line, from day to day.”

I Belong to Christ. That means I will crucify the desires of the flesh

Works of the flesh

I Belong to Christ, therefore I’m to never going to draw the nails

I Belong to Christ, therefore I’m not a prisoner of my past

I Belong to Christ, therefore I’m to never going to draw the nails

I Belong to Christ, therefore I’m going to desires of the Spirit

What are they?

WORKS of the Flesh:

Plural

Stuff we work on, plot out, and plan for.

4 Lists from John Stott

(1) sexual sins: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery”;

(2) religious sins: “idolatry and witchcraft”;

Works: Plural: Stuff we work on, plot out, and plan for.

(3) social sins: “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy”;

(4) drinking sins: “drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”

What do to do with desires? Kill em?!

Part I: Crucify: Active nailing

Part II: Don’t ‘finger the nails’ (Stott)

I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Two Big Challenges:

1. Zombie Christians

Zombie’s experience a resurrection. They were dead, but they’re now alive.

They died with their sin and rose with their sin and not Christ.

Those who profess Christ with their lips

: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bride his tongue but deceives his heath, this person’s religion is worthless.”

: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

but their heart is far from me;

Experienced resurrection but didn’t die to sin.

Examples:

Christian leaders who love the clout but don’t follow Christ.

Sunday Christian- disintegrated faith.

What’s done in secret? What’s done when you can get away with it.

What’s invested in, especially in the secret.

We miss the mark through loosing our temper or saying one thing but doing another. Thoughts of prejudice and racism, greed and gluttony slide in our minds without warning. We size up or size down, we cheat on taxes or take music and movies without owning the rights to it. We gawk at what does not belong to us, whether things or people. We judge the appearance of her outfit, and we talk behind their backs. We fight. We yell. We stay silent. We retreat. We resent. We push back, insult, and put salt in people’s wounds. We use, misuse, and abuse God’s good creation. We deny our sin, defy those in authority, we idolize, and vocalize our opinions without considering the feelings of others. We have regrets of the past we can’t get over, we have addictions we can’t shake off, and our compulsive behavior trumps doing what honours God. We overgeneralize and ostracize. We excuse our sin and point at splinters in the eyes of others. We murder with our mind, lust over the ladies, judge without justice, fight without fairness, point the pointer, and bend the rules of righteousness.

2. Confused Freedom

Rejection of the Flesh: Experienced irritable bowl syndrome trying to overcome the pain

Redefining Sin

What is wrong? What is your truth?

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.

What are they?

Fruit of the Flesh

Organic, growth, maturity

Be led by the Spirit v. 18

What does that look like?

You are defined by being a Free Child of God, not the sins of your past.

Hear that: You are not defined by what you’ve done in the past.

Total Freedom from skeletons in your closet and the shadows of the past

Church:

Place for Zombie Christians to experience full resurrection!

Place for those stuck in memories that have a stronghold over your heart

Place where you are led BY THE SPIRIT, and not led by the expectations of friends or family or anything.

: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Place of healing for those of you hurt by the Works of the Flesh! To experience the freedom to fly in FORGIVENESS, not forgetting the past, but experiencing FREEDOM from the past. BIG DIFFERENCE!

Freedom= Sons of God

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15

Romans 8:14: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Demanding attention! Clay: “Guess what Dad?”

Submit to marching orders!

“I want attention!” Beautiful aspect of the Freedom we experience, because it keeps us focused on Him.

Review of Spirit within Galatians:

But the question remains, HOW do we experience this freedom? It one thing to be told: You have freedom, so experience freedom!

One thing experiencing freedom in a sermon and being told of your freedom and to be encouraged to fly in your freedom. BUT...

Tomorrow’s Monday. Next day is Tuesday.

How do we not revert! Backslide. How do we grow organically in the Fruit of the Spirit without investing in the Works of the Flesh.

Spirit

(4) Those who are “in the Spirit” are victorious over the “works of the flesh” (vv. 16–18, 19–21) and so live a life full of the manifestation of the Spirit (vv. 22–23). For this victory to occur, Christians need only submit to, or walk in step with, the Spirit (v. 25; cf. 6:8).”

(2) Those who are “in the Spirit” are persecuted by those in the “flesh” (3:4; 4:29).

24 And 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 keep in step with the Spirit.

Pick up cross

The point of picking up our cross is to make sure we execute the flesh.

Crucify the Flesh: It’s passions and desires.

(3) Those who are “in the Spirit” exercise hope for the coming establishment of God’s righteousness and their own declaration of fitness before God (5:5).

ACTIVE! WE, who belong to Jesus, HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH- remarkable language!

Picture of Guy Holding the Cross:

This is NOT what I’m talking about. Your cross to bear is not something you bear, but a destination you need to go to. You are called to go to Golgotha with it!

Stott: “We must not only take up our cross and walk with it, but actually see that the execution takes place.”

Part I: Crucify: Active nailing

Stott: “Secondly, our rejection of the old nature will be painful.”

Stott: “Thirdly, the rejection of our old nature is to be decisive. Although death by crucifixion was a lingering death, it was a certain death.”

Part II: Don’t ‘finger the nails’ (Stott)

Stott: “If, therefore, we are to ‘crucify’ our flesh, it is plain that the flesh is not something respectable to be treated with courtesy and deference, but something so evil that it deserves no better fate than to be crucified.”

Stott: “Secondly, our rejection of the old nature will be painful.”

(4) Those who are “in the Spirit” are victorious over the “works of the flesh” (vv. 16–18, 19–21) and so live a life full of the manifestation of the Spirit (vv. 22–23). For this victory to occur, Christians need only submit to, or walk in step with, the Spirit (v. 25; cf. 6:8).”

Stott: “Thirdly, the rejection of our old nature is to be decisive. Although death by crucifixion was a lingering death, it was a certain death.”

Keep your sin on the cross! Don’t allow it to come down to restore its power.

Stott: “We have crucified the flesh; we are never going to draw the nails.”

Kneel at the Foot of the Cross

Because this battle is real!

LOCK STEP WITH THE SPIRIT!

Submit to Christ, lay it at the foot of the cross!

We’ve got to know what it means to be led by the Spirit! So conclude...

Conclusion:

Secured by Holy Spirit

3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

We receive the inheritance of faith and salvation

Spirit works miracles (mi

Aware of God as ‘Abba! Father’

4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Virtuous Future

5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Embrace Spirit Fruit

5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Driven by the Spirit

5:18: You are led by the Spirit

5:25: If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

“Spirit take the wheel”

SPIRIT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO ME

SPIRIT ONLY SPEAKS IN HIS WORD

Middle Ground:

Test your senses with Scripture.

Spirit Life= Missional Life

Faith and Freedom: Spirit Life

Introduction: Pivot Point in the Book

Introduction: Pivot Point in the Book

Introduction: Pivot Point in the Book

Works in the Flesh: The Zombie

Works of the Flesh

Desiring Fleshy Stuff

Desiring Fleshy Stuff

Desiring Spirit Stuff

Desiring Spirit Stuff

Crucify the Flesh: “WE who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.”