Galatians 5:16-26

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. 

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. 

Important Thought:

Paul shows us that there is a real battle inside every believer — the flesh against the Spirit— and the only way to live a fruitful, victorious Christian life is to learn to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. 

A Church In Crisis

Galatians 1:6-9

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 

9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 

Important Thought:

Paul writes this letter with urgency because the gospel itself was being distorted. 

The Constant Battle Within You

Galatians 5:17

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. 

Galatians 4:23

23 The son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

John 10:10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

How do we overcome the opposition?

1.

Romans 8:8

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

2.

Philippians 3:3

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 

3.

Romans 13:14

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. 

Important Thoughts:

1. The flesh will always oppose what God has promised.
2. The works of the flesh can never produce the righteousness of God.
3. Fruit only grows from life.
4. The flesh can manufacture behavior, but only the Spirit can grow character.

A Walk Worth Living

1.

Galatians 5:16

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

2.

Galatians 5:18

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

3.

Galatians 5:25

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

Matthew 11:30

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Holy Spirit enables us to bear fruit.

Galatians 5:15

15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 

1. Fruit is character, not performance.
2. Fruit grows out of life, not effort.
3. Fruit multiplies.

The Field

Galatians 5:26

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

1. Fruit is never for the tree— fruit is for others.
2. The world needs more Spirit-filled believers.