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

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.

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 7:15-19The 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

A clear way to deal

with the flesh“Do not let sin reign in

yourmortal 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 paradoxWhile my life is not mine, but Christ’s, at the same time I am

living it.

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 ofGod, 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.

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

COMMUNIONFOURFOLD LOOK

I Corinthians 11:23-32

We look… backwithinaround ahead