Walking in the Spirit

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:16-26

I invite anybody who would like and is able to stand with me in honor of the reading of God's word. Galatians chapter 5, beginning in verse 16.

The word of God says: “I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Father God, thank you for your word. I pray your word will speak to our hearts. And I pray you'll use it to mold us and to shape us more and more into your image, God, so that we'll live more and more for you. And God, I pray if there's anybody that needs to give their life to you, that today would be the day they turned their life over to you, Jesus. We love you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. All God's people said, amen.

The Challenge: Walk in the Spirit

Paul wrote Galatians under the inspiration of God. He challenges believers to walk in the Spirit.

“But I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

As we enter the new year, do you want to turn from sin? Do you want to turn from fleshly living and live more for God? Do you have some area in your life right now that is holding you back from living more for Jesus? Do you have some area where you're giving in more to the flesh and letting the enemy tempt you to sin?

We are challenged to walk in the Spirit.

The Battle Inside: Flesh vs. Spirit

We are in a battle on the inside. We have a war within us between the flesh and the Spirit.

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

They are opposite. The flesh takes you away from God. The Spirit takes you toward God.

What are you going to let rule inside? The flesh or the Spirit of God? Out of the heart flow the issues of life. It starts on the inside.

If we don't choose to walk in the Spirit, we give in to sin.

When the Flesh Rules

When we give in to the flesh, we do things we don't want to do. Have you ever given in to the flesh and fallen into sin? Every one of us has.

Examples: erupting in wrath and anger, yelling, cussing. Right after, believers feel bad. Repent quickly.

What we watch and fill our minds with leads to fleshly living. Filling our heart and thoughts with fleshly things makes walking in the Spirit hard.

The Works of the Flesh

Verse 19 lists examples: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.

These come out when we let the flesh rule. That's not how I want to live. Is there anybody here that wants that coming out of them?

Look at the list. Are any of these in your life right now? There probably are.

Contentions, dissensions, jealousies—even in church—lead to bitterness, talking behind backs. That's flesh. That's sin.

Drunkenness is sin. Revelries refer to wild partying, sexual immorality. Adultery, fornication—sexual activity outside marriage—all sin.

If any are in your life, there should be conviction. These are works of the flesh.

Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Living for the flesh is miserable. It's not who we're meant to be. If you're a child of God, that's the old man. Old things have passed away.

We must help each other when we see someone struggling with flesh and sin. We're family.

I remember partying in college. It became miserable. Not fulfilling. Praise God, He gave me Crystal who witnessed to me. I finally gave my life to Jesus.

Living in the flesh is miserable—especially for a believer.

The Fruit of the Spirit

When we walk in the Spirit, we see fruit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

That's who I want to be. I want more of that coming out of me and less flesh.

How does it happen? We choose daily to walk by the Spirit, ask God to help us let the Spirit guide, not the flesh.

When we walk in the Spirit, we look more like Christ. More love, kindness, goodness, self-control.

Personal story: Walking and praying in the neighborhood, connected with God. Waved at an angry neighbor. He cussed me out loudly for no good reason. God restrained me. I stayed calm, said “Have a blessed day,” kept walking and praying—even prayed for him. God canceled out what could have been anger. That man needs Jesus.

When we walk in the Spirit, God helps us not give in to the flesh.

Choose to Walk in the Spirit

Do you want to choose to walk in the Spirit? If we don't choose, we give in to the flesh more easily.

None of us walk perfectly, but that's no reason to let the flesh rule.

Verse 24: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Remember Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

Remember Christ died for you. Remember He saved you. Crucify the flesh.

Remember the moment God saved you. You're changed. You're not meant to live in sin anymore.

Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Sow to the Spirit, not the flesh. Put in the work: time with the Lord, Bible, prayer, church, serving, tithing.

What needs to come out of your life to sow more to the Spirit? Remove distractions keeping you from God.

Fill your mind with godly things. Seek things of God daily.

Closing Challenge and Prayer

We have a war inside: flesh vs. Spirit. Make a choice. If we don't, we get in the flesh and struggle with sin.

Commit in the new year to walk in the Spirit. Ask God to help. Identify what needs to go. Build disciplines: read Bible, pray, church.

When we walk in the Spirit, we get peace, joy, fruit of the Spirit. God works through us more. He uses us for salvations, restoration, witnessing.

God, thank you for your word. Convict hearts. Turn from sin and flesh. Help believers choose to walk in the Spirit, focus inside on things of God, produce fruit.

Right now, altar is open. Come pray. Lay something down. Confess sin. Turn from it. Crucify the flesh. Seek forgiveness. Restore relationships. Give your life to Jesus today.