Sermon Central
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Just Be Like Jesus Series
Contributed by Aarron Ellerman on Feb 27, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: What does it mean to "walk in the Spirit" and how do we accomplish it?
Series: Study of Galatians
Text: Galatians 5:16-25
Title: “Just Be Like Jesus”
I. The Spirit vs. The Flesh (16-18)
Vs. 16
• “Walk” present active tense, so what Paul is saying is “to keep walking” in the Sprit and don’t ever stop.
• What exactly does it mean to “walk in the Spirit?”
o Walk is a verb, so an action is portrayed, so that means we must be actively doing something.
o However the contrast is that it cannot be done in our own power.
o There exists a healthy tension between our walking and the Spirit’s providing.
Ephesians 3:16 -- 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
• Walking in the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to control our heart, soul, emotions, thoughts, will and our actions.
o So the question is how do we get there? It can only be achieved through the word of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 -- 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2 Peter 1:20-21 -- 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Vs. 17
• The Spirit and the flesh are in opposition to each other. Nothing of any spiritual good can be accomplished in the flesh.
• “So that you do not do the things you wish.”
o Part of walking in the Spirit is realizing the things we naturally want to do are of the flesh.
o Even though we are born again, a new creation, we still struggle against our sinful flesh and its desires.
Vs. 18
• We know the law reveals sin (Romans 7), but if we are led by the Spirit then we are not sinning and therefore not condemned by the law.
II. The Works of the Flesh (19-21)
Vs. 21
• “Those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
o Again “practice” is in the present active tense: so Paul is talking about someone who habitually lives in sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
o All these sins, and the like, are the result of walking in the flesh which happens naturally if we are not purposely putting on the new man.
Ephesians 4:22-24 -- 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
• It is the shed blood of Christ only that can over take these sins of the flesh and make us whole and clean.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -- 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
III. The Fruit of the Spirit (22-26)
• The important thing to remember is that this is God’s conduct in us.
o Love – is to have God’s love (agape).
o Joy – God’s joy.
o Ect.
o 3 groups of 3 (emotional, evidential, elemental)
Vs. 23
• “Against such there is no law.”
o Meaning if you live such a life the law cannot condemn you.
• How do we achieve victory in this battle of the Spirit over the flesh?
Vs. 24
• We must crucify the flesh.
Vs. 25
• It takes discipline to match our walk with our life.
