Fruit of the Spirit
Part 2 – Walking in the Spirit
Rev Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Christ set us Free
2. Walking in the Spirit
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. July 30th, 2023
Last week we began a new series to look at the Spiritual Fruits. These come from the Spirit of God, which we receive when we belong to Christ Jesus.
Jesus has freed us from the bondage of sin, and given us many gifts through the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Will of God, the Fruits of the Spirit is one of them.
Today we will Learn what it means to Walk in the Spirit
SCRIPTURE READING (Legacy Standard Bible)
Galatians 5:16-26 Walk in the Spirit
“But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.”
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. CHRIST SET US FREE
a. Free from what? The yoke of slavery
i. We are enslaved by sin, which is revealed by the Law
ii. When we choose to walk in the flesh, we are choosing to be judged by the Law
iii. No one but Christ Himself could fulfill the Law
1. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
2. Galatians 2:16 “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
iv. The Law does not justify (save), only reveal the sins of the flesh and the need for a savior.
v. Paul says in Galatians, if the Law could save, then Christ died for nothing.
b. Walking in the flesh brings condemnation of the Law
i. We bring judgment of the Law upon ourselves when we choose to walk in the flesh
c. If we live in the flesh we will be judged by the Law
i. And if we be judged by the Law, we WILL be found guilty!
II. WHAT IS WALKING IN THE FLESH
a. Paul explains clearly what walking in the flesh looks like
i. Choosing to live in the sinful desires of the flesh which is contrary to the Spirit of God.
ii. You cannot walk in the Spirit and live in the desires of the flesh at the same time, because they are a contradiction to each other.
iii. Paul says the deeds (works) of the flesh are evident
1. φανερὰ (phaneros) means visible, external, public, apparent
2. This is the VISIBLE fruit of the flesh
Matthew 7:20-21 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
This echoes Matthew 12:28-50 where scripture says, “Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
You do not enter the kingdom of heaven because you claim to be “Christian,” rather, you enter by being in the Family of God by “doing” the will of God the Father.
James 1:22 “But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Someone living openly in sin is revealed to all publicly as one walking in the flesh. This is NOT a “judging” done by the onlooker, rather, the judgment brought on by the Law to those who choose to live in the flesh.
b. Though not every single possible sin is (or can be) listed, enough are
i. Sexual Immorality
1. Including, but not limited to
a. Adultery
b. Fornication
c. Bestiality
d. Homosexuality
ii. Impurity [πορνεία (porneia)]
1. Pornography
2. Sexual relations with close family members
3. Worship of idols
iii. Sensuality
1. Lust
2. Unprincipled and promiscuous
3. “slutty”
iv. Idolatry
1. Tokens or statues representing gods
2. Worship of anything other than the True God Yahweh
v. Sorcery
1. Witchcraft
2. Spells
3. Incantations
4. Potions
5. Manipulation
6. Divining
7. Fortunetelling
8. Palm reading
9. Tarot Cards
vi. Enmities
1. Hatred
2. Hostility toward others
vii. Strife
1. Conflict over fundamental issues
2. Fighting / arguing
viii. Jealousy
ix. Outbursts of Anger
1. Shows lack of self-control, which is a Spiritual Fruit
x. Selfish Ambition
1. Putting yourself before others
xi. Dissensions
1. Disagreements which lead to a division
xii. Factions
1. A small group against the whole
xiii. Envying
1. Discontent because you long for another's possessions
xiv. Drunkenness
xv. Carousing
1. Boisterous drunken parties with others getting drunk
xvi. And things like these…
c. Choosing to walk in the flesh is choosing to oppose the Spirit
i. Choosing to eat the fruit of the tree was choosing to disobey God
III. WE ARE CALLED TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
a. When we choose to walk in the Spirit, Fruits are produced in us
i. Spiritual Fruits which are also evident are;
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control
10. Against such things there is not Law
Remember last week, Romans 4:15 “for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no trespass.”
You will never have to face the wrath of God for walking in the Spirit, and having these fruits evident in your life. There is no law, and therefore no trespass, therefore no wrath.
b. The Fruits of the Spirit bless us and those around us
i. When things are “evident” in our life, they draw others to us.
ii. We are the light of the world because of the Spirit of God within us.
iii. When our light shines, it IS our Spiritual Fruits on display.
c. We must choose to walk/stay in step with the Spirit
i. We can choose not to suppress or quench the Holy Spirit
ii. We can choose to allow these fruits in our lives
iii. We must also, however, keep in step with the Spirit
This means, the Spirit of God is alive and moving. We must move with it.
As believers with the Spirit of God in us, it is growing us, maturing us Spiritually, and we must be willing to “keep in step with the Spirit,” which is growth.
If we do not keep in step with the Spirit, we will not mature Spiritually…
Hebrews 5:11-14 “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil.”
It is time for those who claim to belong to the Lord to choose to walk in the Spirit, and allow God’s Holy Spirit to do a work. You MUST keep in step with the Spirit of God and grow Spiritually mature, for that is what we are called to do.
Why is Growing Spiritually Mature Important?
CONCLUSION
Because God’s Will is that all are saved 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:17
Our purpose as believer’s is to fulfill God’s Will Matthew 28; Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:44-49
For us to accomplish this, we MUST grow from Luke 5 disciples into Matthew 28 disciples by maturing spiritually, and this happens by “Keeping in Step with the Spirit!”
Next week:
Fruit of the Spirit Part 3: Love
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