Fruit of the Spirit Series: “Step by Step”

Bugs Bunny

We are at war

“desires of the flesh” vs “Spirit”

The Warning

Paul warns the Galatians of their calling

This series we will look at how to walk by the Spirit

Today we simply need to be warned of the seriousness of sin in our life

“irreconcilable war”

We are being warned, just like the Galatians because:

We often forget we are at war

King David - 2 Samuel 11-12

David takes Bathsheba

He then tries to cover it up

confronted by the prophet Nathan

2 Samuel 12:1–15 ESV

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.

We need to understand the _consequences_ of this war

Jonathan Steingard - Lead Singer of Hawk Nelsen

Instagram post

preachers son, grew up in the church

“No Longer believes in God”

“long process”

“More like pulling on the threads of a sweater.”

“Once I found that I didn’t believe that the Bible was the perfect Word of God - it didn’t take long to realize that I was no longer sure he was there at all.”

“pulling on the threads of a sweater”

“We didn’t enjoy going to church. We didn’t enjoy reading the Bible. We didn’t enjoy praying”

“Its going to be 72 degrees here in San Diego. Its sunny here. Its a beautiful day. No Sweater needed.”

We need this warning because we often _justify_ our own sins

Building a swing set on a Sunday

Neighbor said “don’t worry you are no longer under the law”

Not freedom to sin, freedom to not sin

So What?

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

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.

We may have convinced ourselves we aren’t this bad.

But, sin carries with it a subversive and covert nature.

There is a fine line between a protest and a riot:

Cities all over are protesting the death of Mr. George Floyd.

Message: Heed the warning

Sanctification is a process

“remnants of corruption”

“continual and irreconcilable war within”

We need to heed this warning, especially today as many Christians have made themselves comfortable and are not using the tools God has given us to mortify sin in our lives.

We, like the Galatians are turning from Jesus Christ to something else.

God has given us the means of grace:

Word of God

Prayer

Sacraments

i.e. the Church

During this time of separation, how many of you continued to worship with your family? Continued to read your Bible? Continued in daily prayer? etc . . .

Remember Jonathan Steingard’s words above:“We didn’t enjoy going to church. We didn’t enjoy reading the Bible. We didn’t enjoy praying”

The warning for us is that we are at war, especially if isolated. Neglecting these means of grace will only provide us an atmosphere of turning from Jesus.

Good News: Jesus invites us to continue to walk with him and HIs Spirit.

We can heed the warning today, see the seriousness of our sin, and turn to Jesus seeking forgiveness and strength to combat our sin.

Galatians 5:24 ESV

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

Let us be a people who seeks to walk by the Spirit and not the desires of the flesh.