Walk In The Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26
We all know that to walk is to move at a slower pace as compared to running.
In the Bible the word "Walk" is also used to denote our conduct in this life or our walk in life.
The Bible declares how we should walk in this life.
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The message we learn from the Word of God is this.
"If we walk in the truth of God we can be cleansed from all sin"!
One the greatest examples of Christian faith can be found in the Old Testament.
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch walked in the truth of God and Enoch never saw death!
When we walk with God then it pleases God and God gives us all the gift of eternal life but that walk with God must be a walk of "Faith", just as Enoch walked!
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
BUT, that walk with God cannot be fruitful until we walk in the Spirit of God!
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
To walk with God is to be in daily combat with our greatest enemy, which is our own flesh!
So let's pick up where we left off last week:
*****Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Let's revue verse 13 to clearly understand what the Apostle Paul is saying:
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, "but by love serve one another".
Paul said there is only one way to use our Christian Liberty.
Paul said there is only one way to conquer the "lusts of the flesh", It Is By The Power Of The Holy Spirit!
What are lusts?
Lusts are the desires or the longing for forbidden things or deceitful things!
God says we are to put these thing off:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
To put off is to put away or to cast off anything that can lead to corruption!
Corruption leads to destruction!
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
In fact the Lord Jesus Christ says that it is sin to lust even if you have not reacted to that lust!
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The best way to keep sin out of the temple of God is to keep it filled with the Holy Spirit!
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Our own flesh is still our greatest enemy and it is our own flesh that Satan will attack with worldly desires!
*****Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is a constant theme of the Bible and we first see it in the Book of Genesis before the flood in Noah's day.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
So what is the truth?
When the Holy Spirit is not allowed to take control of our flesh, then we will face destruction!
All of us know we always seem to have a desire for something that we do not possess.
Our own flesh is difficult to control!
BUT, Our eyes are open to this sinful nature once we have accepted the truth of God!
The Apostle Paul and all the Apostles shared this same problem that we all have.
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Our flesh is contrary to God's Holy Spirit!
Our flesh is full of unregulated passions, desires and emotions and these things will control our lives and lead us to eternal death if we allow them to take charge of our true being!
This is what the Bible calls the "lusts of the flesh".
There is no law that has ever been written that can overcome these tendencies of the human being!
Laws just threaten us all with consequences for our failures!
It is only the Love of God that can truly constrain us!
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
And it is only the conscious commitment to God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit that can enable us to live in a way that pleases God.
*****Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Laws are made for all those that live by their own flesh!
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can walk away from all these things!
This what we call true repentance!
Repentance is a complete change of mind and a complete change of direction!
Repentance is walking the Christian walk by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Each of us that know the Lord Jesus as our Savior will always be at war with our own flesh because there can be no peaceful co-existence between the flesh and the Holy Spirit!
We have all given in to our flesh and done things we are not proud of!
We are all tempted and even when we know we have the power to over come that temptation, we still give in to our flesh.
In other words the flesh is controlling when we allow it to be that way!
This flesh we live in is so strong that it will often keep us from doing what we know is the right thing to do!
So it is impossible for our flesh to keep laws!
It is the Holy Spirit of God that is the only answer to this dilemma!
So what does the Bible say are the works of the flesh?
*****Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The works of the flesh include not only our sinful actions but also our sinful attitudes!
The works of the flesh are also separate from the works of the Law!
The flesh in itself is not sinful!
The flesh is God's creation!
The flesh was manifested for God's use and not to satisfy our own lust!
It is the "works of the flesh" that are the fruit of the sin in our lives passed down to us by Adam!
If God has taken the time and space to list these things then we should take the time to revue them one at a time.
1) Adultery: Is the sexual unfaithfulness to a husband or to a wife.
Adultery also includes looking and lusting after, even if the sexual act never takes place!
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
This would also include books and magazines and the television.
Committing this act within our hearts is the same as committing the physical sin!
2) Fornication: Is all forms of immoral sexual acts!
It is premarital sex and also adultery!
It is any form of abnormal sex beyond the bonding of a marriage relationship between "one man and one woman"!
Fornication includes all sexual vice and depravity!
Fornication is sinning against our own bodies!
Fornication also includes seeking to worship anything other than our Creator!
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
3) Uncleanness: Is moral impurity.
It is any action we take in this life that dirties, or pollutes or soils our lives from being pure in the eyes of God!
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
4) Lasciviousness: is absolute filthiness, indecency, outright shamelessness!
This is unrestrained evil thoughts and all evil behaviour!
These are people who have sinned so much that they no longer care what other people think about them!
In fact these people will openly do such things in the eyes of the public, in order to show the world they will do as they please unrestrictedly!
These include but are not limited to, an abnormal display of affection, carnality, gluttony, and sexual immorality!
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
4) Idolatry: Is the worship of any idol, or any work of man's hands.
Idolatry is creating within our own minds an image of God other than who God says He is!
Idolatry is devoting your time and energy to things other than God.
God said know this:
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
And God says this:
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, "and covetousness, which is idolatry":
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
6) Witchcraft: Is the use of sorcery, (including the use of drugs) or evil spirits, to gain control over the lives of others and this includes over your own life!
Witchcraft is seeking to control our own fate including, astrology, palm-reading, seances, fortune telling, using crystals or cards or any other from of witchcraft, rather than seeking God and the written Word of God.
Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them".
7) Hatred: Is enmity, hostility, or animosity directed at another individual.
Hatred comes from within an unclean heart!
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, "is in darkness even until now".
1Jn 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer": and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
8) Variance: is fighting against another person in order to have the advantage over that person.
It includes, strife, discord, contention, fighting, struggling, wrangling in order to gain a promotion, or a property, or recognition.
To be variant is to be a deceiver!
Satan is known as the Deceiver!
One who is variant will do anything, legally or illegally, morally or immorally or anything within their power to gain the advantage over someone else!
Pro 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
9) Emulations: like covetousness is that desire to have what someone else has, not a copy of, but that very thing.
It includes, jealousy, desire, and wanting.
It mainly includes material things but also includes recognition, honor, and/or position.
Pro 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
10) Wrath: Is a sudden burst of anger.
It is violent and explosive.
It is a quick temper that can also just as quickly fade away. It is anger that does not last!
God's answer to wrath is this:
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
11) Strife: Happens within our own selves.
Strife is that conflict, that struggle, that fight, within ourselves to do what is right.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
12) Seditions: Are rebellions.
Things that create division.
Sedition is standing against another without even knowing the truth.
Sedition is rejecting the Word of God!
God told King Saul:
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
God says it is these people who are self-willed and ignore the Will of God.
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
13) Heresies: Are things that reject the fundamental beliefs of God!
The basics are the rejection of Jesus Christ.
The rejection of the Scriptures.
Rejecting God's Church.
Rejecting Faith and the "Grace of God"!
Heresy, is holding to some teaching other than the truth of God!
Jesus said this:
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
14) Envyings: This is going beyond jealousy. This not just lust for the things of others but includes begrudging the fact that person has them.
This is not just wanting that person to loose those things but for them to also suffer because of the loss of those things.
Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
15) Murders: Murder is taking the life of another person.
The sixth commandment says:
Thou shalt not kill!
This is a direct commandment of God but it also includes hatred.
Every human being is a creation of God and only He has the actual right to take their life!
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16) Drunkenness: Includes anything that affects our senses.
Alcohol in any form, drugs in any form, "that are taken to affect our lust for pleasure or to loosen our moral restraint", must be avoided!
Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
17) Revelings: Is the uncontrolled indulgence of personal pleasure.
Taking part in wild parties.
Indulging in feeding the lusts of the flesh.
Orgies.
God says these are things what the world does and we are to avoid them!
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
These are the things we must avoid.
These are the things of the world.
God simply says that those who live by the flesh "shall not" inherit the Kingdom of God, which is the promise given to Abraham!
The world believes that God will accept them if their good out weighs their bad on the scales of life but this is not what the Bible says.
God says without the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are still unrighteous!
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
God says we must walk in the fruit of Holy Spirit!
*****Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In the Book of Genesis, God, speaking to the Holy Trinity, said let's make man in our image.
Gen 1:26 And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness": and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
This image of God is not in our form or features.
This image of God is not in our intellect, for we know that God's Angels and the Devil are far more superior in these things.
This image of God is not in immortality, for we are not like the self-existing God!
This image, God is speaking of, are the moral dispositions of the soul!
Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
It is because of the sin of Adam that we must be "Born Again" into righteousness!
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Once we are "Born Again" and become a temple of God and filled with His Holy Spirit, then there should be a noticeable change!
If we are led by the Holy Spirit, then we can avoid the works of the flesh and walk according to God's nature, or God's image!
What is the image of the Holy Spirit?
We can see that image in His fruit.
Note that word "Fruit" is singular and not plural. The Holy Spirit has only one "fruit"!
All these traits will be present in each believer and not just some of them!
1) Love: The Greek word used for love in this verse is "Agape".
Agape love is a love of the mind. Agape love, loves regardless of feelings.
Agape love, loves a person even if that love is not deserved.
Agape love, loves all those that are undeserving of any love.
Agape love is the Love of God!
Agape love is the love that was demonstrated by Jesus Christ for all the ungodly!
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Agape love is the love that was demonstrated by God, through Jesus Christ for all sinners!
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Agape love is the love of God for all those who do not deserve the love of God, through Jesus Christ!
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Agape love is God's gift and comes only by the Holy Spirit!
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Agape love is the greatest thing that God teaches each of us that believe!
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. "There is none other commandment greater than these".
Agape love is the greatest possession that a Christian can have!
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; "but the greatest of these is charity".
All the fruit of the Holy Spirit is based on God's love!
2) Joy: Love brings a delight of the mind. There is great joy when we consider our present situation and compare that to the glories of the Promised Land, the New Heaven.
Christian joy is a deep seated pleasure and it ignites a cheerful heart.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
3) Peace: Peace is a state of quietness and tranquility, free from agitation, again a temper of the mind.
But more important than this, peace also means we are joined to or woven together with God!
Peace by the Holy Spirit is knowing the greatest good, enjoying the very best, possessing the inner goodness of God!
The peace of God is independent of our own environment in this world!
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
4) Longsuffering: Is best described as "Patience"!
The longsuffering of the Holy Spirit means to never give in, and it is never broken, no matter what attacks it!
Longsuffering means we never strike back.
Praise God because He is longsuffering or I could not be saved!
1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
5) Gentleness: Gentleness is best describes as being kind and good, useful and helpful. That word "Grace" also fits well with gentleness.
Gentleness cares for the feelings of others.
Gentleness experiences the hurt of others within itself.
Gentleness suffers when others suffer.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
6) Goodness: Is the state of being good!
Goodness treats all other people as they should be treated.
Goodness does not stand by and allow others to take advantage of other people.
A good person will not let evil run rampant!
Goodness is the trait of the Church that stands up to this evil world!
God says goodness will disappear from this earth when the Church is removed at the Rapture!
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: "only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way".
7) Faith: Is faithfulness. Loyal and steadfast in devotion.
Faithfulness will never doubt God.
God's own faithfulness is our assurance of our salvation!
Our faithfulness as believers is our means of salvation!
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
8) Meekness: Is humility.
Meekness is a humble state of mind but to be humble is not to be weak!
Meekness is to be strength under control!
A meek person loves people and loves peace more than he loves war.
A meek person desires to be a friend to all and to help all.
God desires us to be meek:
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
We should never forget that the Holy Spirit is also the most powerful force that exist!
9) Temperance: Is to be the master of your being. To always be in control of your body and of your flesh!
It means self-control in all indulgences; lusts, desires, passions, and sensual urges and includes cravings.
To be temperate is to stand against our own flesh!
To be temperate is to win the war with our flesh everyday!
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the exact nature of God!
Our walk with God must show that we are aware of God's nature, as we strive to be like the Lord Jesus!
*****Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
When we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become His property and His possession!
Just as the flesh of Jesus Christ was crucified on that cross, we are to crucify our own flesh so that we are no longer slaves to our own flesh, subjected to its lusts, and subject to the judgment of God.
Upon our confession of "faith" God considers that we have also died in Christ' death and identified with Him!
In the eyes of God our flesh is dead!
We have been made free from the bondage of our flesh!
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So if we live in the Spirit then our walk in this life should resemble the Spirit!
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Notice now we see the warning. We are never to become super-spiritual!
We are never to think that others have been blessed with greater Spiritual gifts than we possess!
We are never to do anything that might cause divisions in the Church!
Pride can still be our greatest enemy!
Pride comes when we forget the cross that Jesus bore for our sins!
No matter where we stand with God, we are to measure our growth by the Lord Jesus Christ and we will always come up short!
We must remember it is by God's Grace and God's Promise that we can become God's children!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Galatians 5:16-26
We all know that to walk is to move at a slower pace as compared to running.
In the Bible the word "Walk" is also used to denote our conduct in this life or our walk in life.
The Bible declares how we should walk in this life.
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
The message we learn from the Word of God is this.
"If we walk in the truth of God we can be cleansed from all sin"!
One the greatest examples of Christian faith can be found in the Old Testament.
Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch walked in the truth of God and Enoch never saw death!
When we walk with God then it pleases God and God gives us all the gift of eternal life but that walk with God must be a walk of "Faith", just as Enoch walked!
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
BUT, that walk with God cannot be fruitful until we walk in the Spirit of God!
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
To walk with God is to be in daily combat with our greatest enemy, which is our own flesh!
So let's pick up where we left off last week:
*****Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Let's revue verse 13 to clearly understand what the Apostle Paul is saying:
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, "but by love serve one another".
Paul said there is only one way to use our Christian Liberty.
Paul said there is only one way to conquer the "lusts of the flesh", It Is By The Power Of The Holy Spirit!
What are lusts?
Lusts are the desires or the longing for forbidden things or deceitful things!
God says we are to put these thing off:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
To put off is to put away or to cast off anything that can lead to corruption!
Corruption leads to destruction!
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
In fact the Lord Jesus Christ says that it is sin to lust even if you have not reacted to that lust!
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The best way to keep sin out of the temple of God is to keep it filled with the Holy Spirit!
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Our own flesh is still our greatest enemy and it is our own flesh that Satan will attack with worldly desires!
*****Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is a constant theme of the Bible and we first see it in the Book of Genesis before the flood in Noah's day.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
So what is the truth?
When the Holy Spirit is not allowed to take control of our flesh, then we will face destruction!
All of us know we always seem to have a desire for something that we do not possess.
Our own flesh is difficult to control!
BUT, Our eyes are open to this sinful nature once we have accepted the truth of God!
The Apostle Paul and all the Apostles shared this same problem that we all have.
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Our flesh is contrary to God's Holy Spirit!
Our flesh is full of unregulated passions, desires and emotions and these things will control our lives and lead us to eternal death if we allow them to take charge of our true being!
This is what the Bible calls the "lusts of the flesh".
There is no law that has ever been written that can overcome these tendencies of the human being!
Laws just threaten us all with consequences for our failures!
It is only the Love of God that can truly constrain us!
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
And it is only the conscious commitment to God's Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit that can enable us to live in a way that pleases God.
*****Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Laws are made for all those that live by their own flesh!
1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can walk away from all these things!
This what we call true repentance!
Repentance is a complete change of mind and a complete change of direction!
Repentance is walking the Christian walk by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Each of us that know the Lord Jesus as our Savior will always be at war with our own flesh because there can be no peaceful co-existence between the flesh and the Holy Spirit!
We have all given in to our flesh and done things we are not proud of!
We are all tempted and even when we know we have the power to over come that temptation, we still give in to our flesh.
In other words the flesh is controlling when we allow it to be that way!
This flesh we live in is so strong that it will often keep us from doing what we know is the right thing to do!
So it is impossible for our flesh to keep laws!
It is the Holy Spirit of God that is the only answer to this dilemma!
So what does the Bible say are the works of the flesh?
*****Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The works of the flesh include not only our sinful actions but also our sinful attitudes!
The works of the flesh are also separate from the works of the Law!
The flesh in itself is not sinful!
The flesh is God's creation!
The flesh was manifested for God's use and not to satisfy our own lust!
It is the "works of the flesh" that are the fruit of the sin in our lives passed down to us by Adam!
If God has taken the time and space to list these things then we should take the time to revue them one at a time.
1) Adultery: Is the sexual unfaithfulness to a husband or to a wife.
Adultery also includes looking and lusting after, even if the sexual act never takes place!
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
This would also include books and magazines and the television.
Committing this act within our hearts is the same as committing the physical sin!
2) Fornication: Is all forms of immoral sexual acts!
It is premarital sex and also adultery!
It is any form of abnormal sex beyond the bonding of a marriage relationship between "one man and one woman"!
Fornication includes all sexual vice and depravity!
Fornication is sinning against our own bodies!
Fornication also includes seeking to worship anything other than our Creator!
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
3) Uncleanness: Is moral impurity.
It is any action we take in this life that dirties, or pollutes or soils our lives from being pure in the eyes of God!
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
4) Lasciviousness: is absolute filthiness, indecency, outright shamelessness!
This is unrestrained evil thoughts and all evil behaviour!
These are people who have sinned so much that they no longer care what other people think about them!
In fact these people will openly do such things in the eyes of the public, in order to show the world they will do as they please unrestrictedly!
These include but are not limited to, an abnormal display of affection, carnality, gluttony, and sexual immorality!
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
4) Idolatry: Is the worship of any idol, or any work of man's hands.
Idolatry is creating within our own minds an image of God other than who God says He is!
Idolatry is devoting your time and energy to things other than God.
God said know this:
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
And God says this:
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, "and covetousness, which is idolatry":
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
6) Witchcraft: Is the use of sorcery, (including the use of drugs) or evil spirits, to gain control over the lives of others and this includes over your own life!
Witchcraft is seeking to control our own fate including, astrology, palm-reading, seances, fortune telling, using crystals or cards or any other from of witchcraft, rather than seeking God and the written Word of God.
Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them".
7) Hatred: Is enmity, hostility, or animosity directed at another individual.
Hatred comes from within an unclean heart!
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, "is in darkness even until now".
1Jn 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer": and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
8) Variance: is fighting against another person in order to have the advantage over that person.
It includes, strife, discord, contention, fighting, struggling, wrangling in order to gain a promotion, or a property, or recognition.
To be variant is to be a deceiver!
Satan is known as the Deceiver!
One who is variant will do anything, legally or illegally, morally or immorally or anything within their power to gain the advantage over someone else!
Pro 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
9) Emulations: like covetousness is that desire to have what someone else has, not a copy of, but that very thing.
It includes, jealousy, desire, and wanting.
It mainly includes material things but also includes recognition, honor, and/or position.
Pro 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
10) Wrath: Is a sudden burst of anger.
It is violent and explosive.
It is a quick temper that can also just as quickly fade away. It is anger that does not last!
God's answer to wrath is this:
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
11) Strife: Happens within our own selves.
Strife is that conflict, that struggle, that fight, within ourselves to do what is right.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
12) Seditions: Are rebellions.
Things that create division.
Sedition is standing against another without even knowing the truth.
Sedition is rejecting the Word of God!
God told King Saul:
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
God says it is these people who are self-willed and ignore the Will of God.
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
13) Heresies: Are things that reject the fundamental beliefs of God!
The basics are the rejection of Jesus Christ.
The rejection of the Scriptures.
Rejecting God's Church.
Rejecting Faith and the "Grace of God"!
Heresy, is holding to some teaching other than the truth of God!
Jesus said this:
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
14) Envyings: This is going beyond jealousy. This not just lust for the things of others but includes begrudging the fact that person has them.
This is not just wanting that person to loose those things but for them to also suffer because of the loss of those things.
Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
15) Murders: Murder is taking the life of another person.
The sixth commandment says:
Thou shalt not kill!
This is a direct commandment of God but it also includes hatred.
Every human being is a creation of God and only He has the actual right to take their life!
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16) Drunkenness: Includes anything that affects our senses.
Alcohol in any form, drugs in any form, "that are taken to affect our lust for pleasure or to loosen our moral restraint", must be avoided!
Pro 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Pro 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
17) Revelings: Is the uncontrolled indulgence of personal pleasure.
Taking part in wild parties.
Indulging in feeding the lusts of the flesh.
Orgies.
God says these are things what the world does and we are to avoid them!
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
These are the things we must avoid.
These are the things of the world.
God simply says that those who live by the flesh "shall not" inherit the Kingdom of God, which is the promise given to Abraham!
The world believes that God will accept them if their good out weighs their bad on the scales of life but this is not what the Bible says.
God says without the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are still unrighteous!
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
God says we must walk in the fruit of Holy Spirit!
*****Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In the Book of Genesis, God, speaking to the Holy Trinity, said let's make man in our image.
Gen 1:26 And God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness": and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
This image of God is not in our form or features.
This image of God is not in our intellect, for we know that God's Angels and the Devil are far more superior in these things.
This image of God is not in immortality, for we are not like the self-existing God!
This image, God is speaking of, are the moral dispositions of the soul!
Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
It is because of the sin of Adam that we must be "Born Again" into righteousness!
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Once we are "Born Again" and become a temple of God and filled with His Holy Spirit, then there should be a noticeable change!
If we are led by the Holy Spirit, then we can avoid the works of the flesh and walk according to God's nature, or God's image!
What is the image of the Holy Spirit?
We can see that image in His fruit.
Note that word "Fruit" is singular and not plural. The Holy Spirit has only one "fruit"!
All these traits will be present in each believer and not just some of them!
1) Love: The Greek word used for love in this verse is "Agape".
Agape love is a love of the mind. Agape love, loves regardless of feelings.
Agape love, loves a person even if that love is not deserved.
Agape love, loves all those that are undeserving of any love.
Agape love is the Love of God!
Agape love is the love that was demonstrated by Jesus Christ for all the ungodly!
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Agape love is the love that was demonstrated by God, through Jesus Christ for all sinners!
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Agape love is the love of God for all those who do not deserve the love of God, through Jesus Christ!
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Agape love is God's gift and comes only by the Holy Spirit!
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Agape love is the greatest thing that God teaches each of us that believe!
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. "There is none other commandment greater than these".
Agape love is the greatest possession that a Christian can have!
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; "but the greatest of these is charity".
All the fruit of the Holy Spirit is based on God's love!
2) Joy: Love brings a delight of the mind. There is great joy when we consider our present situation and compare that to the glories of the Promised Land, the New Heaven.
Christian joy is a deep seated pleasure and it ignites a cheerful heart.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
3) Peace: Peace is a state of quietness and tranquility, free from agitation, again a temper of the mind.
But more important than this, peace also means we are joined to or woven together with God!
Peace by the Holy Spirit is knowing the greatest good, enjoying the very best, possessing the inner goodness of God!
The peace of God is independent of our own environment in this world!
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
4) Longsuffering: Is best described as "Patience"!
The longsuffering of the Holy Spirit means to never give in, and it is never broken, no matter what attacks it!
Longsuffering means we never strike back.
Praise God because He is longsuffering or I could not be saved!
1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
5) Gentleness: Gentleness is best describes as being kind and good, useful and helpful. That word "Grace" also fits well with gentleness.
Gentleness cares for the feelings of others.
Gentleness experiences the hurt of others within itself.
Gentleness suffers when others suffer.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
6) Goodness: Is the state of being good!
Goodness treats all other people as they should be treated.
Goodness does not stand by and allow others to take advantage of other people.
A good person will not let evil run rampant!
Goodness is the trait of the Church that stands up to this evil world!
God says goodness will disappear from this earth when the Church is removed at the Rapture!
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: "only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way".
7) Faith: Is faithfulness. Loyal and steadfast in devotion.
Faithfulness will never doubt God.
God's own faithfulness is our assurance of our salvation!
Our faithfulness as believers is our means of salvation!
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
8) Meekness: Is humility.
Meekness is a humble state of mind but to be humble is not to be weak!
Meekness is to be strength under control!
A meek person loves people and loves peace more than he loves war.
A meek person desires to be a friend to all and to help all.
God desires us to be meek:
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
We should never forget that the Holy Spirit is also the most powerful force that exist!
9) Temperance: Is to be the master of your being. To always be in control of your body and of your flesh!
It means self-control in all indulgences; lusts, desires, passions, and sensual urges and includes cravings.
To be temperate is to stand against our own flesh!
To be temperate is to win the war with our flesh everyday!
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the exact nature of God!
Our walk with God must show that we are aware of God's nature, as we strive to be like the Lord Jesus!
*****Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
When we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we become His property and His possession!
Just as the flesh of Jesus Christ was crucified on that cross, we are to crucify our own flesh so that we are no longer slaves to our own flesh, subjected to its lusts, and subject to the judgment of God.
Upon our confession of "faith" God considers that we have also died in Christ' death and identified with Him!
In the eyes of God our flesh is dead!
We have been made free from the bondage of our flesh!
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So if we live in the Spirit then our walk in this life should resemble the Spirit!
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Notice now we see the warning. We are never to become super-spiritual!
We are never to think that others have been blessed with greater Spiritual gifts than we possess!
We are never to do anything that might cause divisions in the Church!
Pride can still be our greatest enemy!
Pride comes when we forget the cross that Jesus bore for our sins!
No matter where we stand with God, we are to measure our growth by the Lord Jesus Christ and we will always come up short!
We must remember it is by God's Grace and God's Promise that we can become God's children!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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