WALKING BY THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:16-18; John 3:8

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT IS BASIC TO HOLINESS I can be holy without legalism We don’t set up does and don’ts to live a holy life I have to make a choice of living by a lot of rules or simply walking by the energy of God’s power The Lord empowers me to do the things that I couldn’t force myself to do no matter what the outside rule is.

A present tense command I. THE COMMAND TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT A present tense command

A. The meaning of my walk in the Spirit This walk is… not a code of conduct. implying progress. a continuous exercise. This command is… like the wind filling a ship’s sail. opening the sail of our will in submission and being carried along by the Spirit.

B. The misunderstanding of my spiritual walk Some believe that walking in the Spirit does not require any effort on our part. God’s grace takes care of the sin nature. If holy living were entirely the responsibility of God, we wouldn’t need the command.

II. THE CONFLICT OF WALKING IN THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:17, 18

A. Defining the flesh Flesh refers to the part of man that is easily attacked by temptation. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? Gal. 3:3 We try to accomplish holiness on our own Man is carnal (fleshly) Romans 7:14

Romans 7:15-19 The flesh… serves sin is independent of God is the place where sin lands to do its work struggles to dominate the believer

B. Dealing with the flesh “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh.” Romans 8:3 “The Spirit also helps our weakness.” Romans 8:26 “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:13,14

“Do not let sin reign in your I need to kill the flesh/starve A clear way to deal with the flesh “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body” Romans 6:12 Flesh will not go away without a fight or without replacing the desires of the flesh. I need to kill the flesh/starve it/refuse to feed it Romans 8:12,13

Walking by the Spirit is not a state of passive surrender “I beat my body and make it my slave.” I Corinthians 9:27 Christian life is a paradox While my life is not mine, but Christ’s, at the same time I am living it.

III. THE CURE FROM THE LAW Galatians 5:18

A. Understanding the role of the law The law does not stop the flesh it stirs it up the flesh Romans 7:8,9 The Spirit fulfills the law so it conquers the flesh. The law has a protective quality. The role is to protect us from the flesh that wants to destroy our Spirit.

B. Understanding the release from the law If you are led by the Spirit, you are not left under the law. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14 God only gives His Spirit to those who have accepted Him. Everyone else is under the law.

THE CURE FROM THE LAW Walking in the Spirit means having an internal direction, not external. The Holy Spirit only leads us in areas that will build our character and satisfy our spiritual man.

“God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.” Jim Elliot “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

If I am to save my own life from being trapped in the flesh and sin, I have to obey the COMMAND TO WALKING IN THE SPIRIT. I must be aware of the CONFLICT OF WALKING IN THE SPIRIT, and deal with it, so I will be CURED FROM THE LAW, that tries to hold me in spiritual bondage

“For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. An so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3,4

COMMUNION FOURFOLD LOOK I Corinthians 11:23-32

We look… back within around ahead