Set Free - Galatians Week 5

Lead Off Question

Have you ever been told what to do and then done something else?

Illustration

Little league baseball when I used to buy one of everything at the concessions stand and only come back with $0.50 after being given a $5.

Transition

Tonight, so many of us find ourselves in similar situations. We have been given freedom because of what Christ has done for us, but we spend our freedom on things other than what he desires.

Bottom Line

We can love because we have been set free.

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Context

In Galatians, the book can really be broken into 3 sections, personal, doctrinal, practical. The personal section of Galatians applies directly to the people and how they are living their life, the doctrinal section applies directly to how the people are leading the church, and then the final section applies to how people are applying the teachings of the church to their life. Now, don’t forget here, this has all be done through a heretical lens. The people have pursued a different and perverted gospel, they have then gone to the church and taught the different and perverted gospel, and now, where we will pick up tonight, they are applying the different and perverted gospel to their life.

Bible Verse

>Galatians 5:13-18

Galatians 5:13–18 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:13 NIV

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

We were set free to tell others about our freedom.

Breakdown

We were given our freedom, but not to keep it to ourselves, and not to expend it on our desires. Rather, to use it in a manner that serves one another.

Bottom Line

We can love because we have been set free.

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Bible Verse

Galatians 5:14–15 NIV

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

We are to use our freedom to love and not destroy.

Breakdown

We must be persistent with how we view our freedom. When we allow ourselves to be manipulated and controlled by the wrong mindset we will end up hurting the kingdom of God more than helping it. The word used here in this verse ‘devour’ is very interesting. Take a look at 1 Pt. 5:8 where it is referenced about the adversary devouring us, and now here it is talking about us devouring one another, in other words, being used by the enemy.

Bottom Line

We can love because we have been set free.

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Bible Verse

Galatians 5:16–18 NIV

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

We are supposed to pursue the Spirit of God with our freedom.

Breakdown

When we are aware of who is leading us and we submit ourselves to the leadership of the Lord then we will find that our desires have been replenished by the desires of the Spirit of God. However, when we allow ourselves to pursue the things of the flesh we will find that we are destroying our own spiritual growth and inevitably disrupting the growth of others. Next week, we will be talking about the fruits of the flesh, and the fruit of the spirit.

Bottom Line

We can love because we have been set free.

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Application

We can love because we have been set free.

SMALL GROUP CONTENT

....What are things that typically stop us from telling others about our freedom in Christ?

....What does it mean to love your neighbor?

....What are things that typically keep us from pursuing the Spirit of God?