Video teaching coming soon
There is no online teaching for this study yet, but the written notes and any available study resources are still below.
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- 1st – Galatians 1:1-2:21 – Paul personal expereince with the Gospel of Grace…
- The message of the Gospel – Grace and Peace through the cross of Jesus…
- Having been saved by Grace – why try and grow in Jesus through the Law…
- 2nd – Galatians 3:1-4:31 – The Gospel of Grace in light of the Law of Moses..
- Anyone who follows the Law/works – is under a curse – Deuteronomy 27:26
- Grace (the Promise to Abraham) came 430 years before the Law…
- The Law was given to reveal our sin – show us a need for a savior – Jesus…
- 3rd – Galatians 5-6 – The application of Gospel of Grace in our daily lives…
- Two commands – stand in the liberty we have in Jesus / Do not get wrapped up in bondage
- If we go back to ‘rules’ – Jesus profits us nothing – and we are still in debt to God!
- But if we abide in Grace we are righteous by faith – working through love!
- Paul warned the church not to be ‘cut off’ in their race…
- Those who taught legalism were trying to trip up the believers…
- Paul told them to kick them out – because a little leaven spreads quickly…
- Instead they were to lovingly share the message of Grace with others!
- The Spirit vs. the Flesh... (3 things)
- 1st – The battle inside of us... vs. 16-18
- We are all made up of 3 parts – Spirit / mind / and body…
- Spirit – the only part of us that is eternal…
- Body – the flesh – the physical body we live in…
- Mind – where we make our choices and decisions – either the Spirit or the flesh
- Defining the flesh or body…
- The physical desires/needs of men – representing the sinful nature of man…
- Has no desire to please God – serve God – it only thinks about its momentary needs…
- Does not think about the consequences for its actions – only momentary pleasure
- Defining the Spirit…
- Dead before we were saved – born again when we believed in Jesus…
- The eternal part of man – the knowledge of God placed in the heart of a man…
- Understanding life is about far more than momentary needs and pleasure…
- Recognizing the consequences – both temporary and eternal – for actions…
- Desires to please and serve the Lord in both actions and thought…
- The war over our mind – do we obey our flesh or our spirit…
- Every decision we make is influences by this battle….
- Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions…
- Do we choose to live for pleasure/the moment – or do we live for the Lord…
- The flesh says I am hungry – and have no food – so I will steal food to eat…
- The Spirit says it is wrong to steal – trust in the Lord to provide for our food
- The Spirit says to get up in the morning and spend time with God in His Word…
- The flesh says keep sleeping – you can always read your Bible – buas lang
- How do we overcome our flesh…
- The first place we often look – rules – we think they can keep us from sin…
- We know keeping rules cannot save us – we cannot be perfect…
- Romans 3: 20 – “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight…”
- But we think perhaps once we are saved – rules can keep us from sin…
- Go to church twice a week / pray every day / read a Bible chapter ever day…
- Then I will be able to avoid sin – live for Jesus – and follow Him…
- As if having been saved by Grace – our good works can now keep us from sin!
- But the flaw in looking to rules – is we are still depending on our flesh…
- Depending on OUR convictions / OUR ability / OUR strength to keep us from sin!
- The problem is we are NOT dependable – we are sinful – and we will fail…
- We can promise ourselves we are not going to give into THAT sin again…
- But it only takes one moment of weakness – one opportunity – and we fall again!
- The problem is not our rules – the problem is our heart…
- The rules are all good things – and we might even do them – for a few days…
- It is not that we do not want to do the right things – we cannot do the right things!
- Romans 7:15 – “I want to do what is right, but I do not… Instead, I do what I hate.”
- My problem is my heart/desires – I am the problem – I sin because I want to!
- Why do I do what I know is sin – because I want to – no one forces me…
- Why do I not do what I know is good and right – because I do not want to…
- And I cannot change my heart – how can I change what I want…
- If we walk in the Spirit – we will not fulfill the desires of our flesh…
- I fear many people come to the ‘battle against sin’ woefully unprepared…
- They come depending on themselves – then are confused when sin wins the battle…
- We constantly fall into sin in life – because we bring ‘sticks to a gunfight’…
- So how do we overcome our desires – how do we change what we ‘want’…
- By the Power of the Holy Spirit – who can change our desires and our wants!
- Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit…
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin before we believe in Jesus – John 16:7-8
- The Holy Spirit come to live within us when after we receive Jesus – John 20:22
- The Holy Spirit is also the gives us the power to overcome the flesh/sin…
- Saul was a man with a tainted history – murderer – never really used by God…
- Until he was filled with the Spirit – Acts 13:9 – and his name was changed to Paul…
- Filled with the Spirit he became one of the greatest men used by God in history!
- Perhaps you have a reputation – your name carries a lot of baggage with it…
- God wants to fill you with His Spirit – give you a new name – change your heart!
- How do you get the Power of the Spirit – just ask…
- Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find…”
- Not just once – but over and over and over again for – asking for the Holy Spirit
- Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Spirit to those who ask Him.”
- You need gas to run a car – but you need to keep filling that car up with gas…
- We need also need to be daily filling up on the Holy Spirit to overcome our flesh!
- The result of being filled with the Spirit…
- II Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
- If we are full of ourselves – our flesh – then we will have a defeated life in Jesus…
- But when we are emptied – not depending on ourselves – full of Jesus – Holy Spirit…
- Then we will find God changes our hearts – our desires – we will find victory over sin
- Not that we can no longer do the things we used to ‘want’ to…
- We will no longer have the desire – instead we will ‘want’ to live for Jesus!
- 2nd – The works of the flesh… vs. 19-21
- Take a long hard look at your life – and see if your are following the Flesh or the Spirit…
- II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine…”
- If we are still acting like (or worse) than the world around us – where is Jesus…
- If you are wondering where your walk with the Lord is – examine yourself…
- Do we live in willful sin – ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives…
- Or are we forgiven by grace – not living for sin – but living our lives for Jesus!
- Paul gives a list of ‘works’ – that show we are following our flesh – 4 categories…
- 1st – Sexual sin – is evidence of a life dominated by the flesh…
- Adultery – any sexual relationship outside of the bounds of marriage…
- Fornication – pornia – where we get the word pornography – images of women…
- Uncleanness – thinking about sex – fantasizing about women in your mind…
- Lewdness – living only to talk about sex / green jokes / inappropriate comments…
- A life that is dominated by sexual sin – is a life that is dominated by the flesh!
- 2nd – Not putting God first…
- Idolatry – putting anything before God in our lives…
- Which leads to trusting in things other than God to save us in times of trouble…
- Horoscopes / faith healers / superstitions / palm reading / witchcraft…
- It is playing with the demonic – opens you up to the powers of darkness…
- Putting our trust in men – circumstances – demons – rather than in God…
- 3rd – In our personal relationships…
- Hate / quarrelling / outbursts of anger / murder – whether in action or in the heart
- Jealousy / envy – wanting what others have – feeling like we deserve it more…
- Selfishness – putting our needs before the needs of others…
- A self-centered life – is a life dominated by the flesh!
- 4th – Drunkenness and partying – are evidence of the flesh…
- Some get drunk to forget their sin – rather than come to God and repent…
- Others go to parties / discos to enjoy the moment – with no thought for tomorrow…
- Not a complete list – just good examples of the Flesh…
- We know we are walking in ‘the flesh’– because of what is on our mind…
- If we are ‘in our flesh’ – we will be dominated by the ‘desires of our flesh’…
- Momentary pleasures / anger / pride / lust / hate / bitterness / jealousy…
- All the while ignoring the things of God – the Word / prayer / fellowship
- The result of walking in ‘the flesh’ – we will not inherit the Kingdom…
- Meaning those who do these things will not go to heaven!
- If we say we are Christians – but still live like the world – do we really have faith…
- We can call ourselves Christians – but if we are continually sinning – are we…
- Our lives after we believe in Jesus should be different – changed…
- James 2:17-18 – “So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless…”
- Not to say that we never sin – but those who practice these things…
- I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not [continue to] sin…”
- As believers – if we sin – there should be remorse – confession – repentance…
- If there is no remorse – no repentance for sin – there is good reason for concern…
- We cannot say we are saved and continue to live in unrepentant sin!
- 3rd – The fruit of the Spirit… vs. 22-26
- It is not the works of the Spirit – but the fruit…
- We create the ‘works’ of the flesh – they come from our own sinful desires…
- But the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit is something that God creates in us – it is from Him!
- You cannot make yourself a Godly man – it is the result being connected to Jesus…
- John 15:5 – “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
- The fruit of the Spirit…
- There is only one fruit – Love…
- Notice it does not say the ‘fruits’ of the Spirit – but the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit…
- THE fruit is Love – you know you are walking in the Spirit when there is Love…
- Most importantly – a Love for God – Deuteronomy 6:5
- But almost equally important – a love for others – Leviticus 19:18
- The evidence of walking in Love – 8 examples…
- Joy – happiness is based on your circumstances…
- If you find P100 on the ground – it makes you happy – free money…
- If someone sees you pick it up and says it is theirs – you are now sad…
- Joy is far deeper – it is not based on your circumstances – you are ‘Joyful’ in Jesus!
- Peace – Because you are forgiven – no longer living in fear of the judgment of God…
- Longsuffering and kind – because we are fighting for people’s eternal salvation…
- The people we are reaching out to – are currently working for our enemy – satan…
- That means they will say and do many hurtful things to us…
- Rather than react – we need to be longsuffering – and show them kindness…
- Because it is the goodness of the Lord that brings them to Jesus – Romans 2:4
- Goodness – A life defined by doing good things – upright in heart and life…
- Faithfulness – People do not question our integrity – we finish what we start…
- Meekness – We understand it is not about our ability – it is all about Jesus!
- Self-control – We do not let our passions / desires drive our life – Jesus is in control!
- If we are walking in the Spirit we no longer have a need for rules…
- Because we have a changed heart – and do not need rules to tell us what to do…
- We are already doing all the right things – bearing good fruit – by the power of the Spirit
- We have crucified our flesh – with its passions and desires…
- If we are ‘in the Spirit’ – we will be full of the ‘things of the Spirit’
- Eternal perspective – heaven / loving God & others / pleasing the Lord…
- Desiring to be in the Word of God / spend time talking to God – prayer…
- Not caught up in the pleasures of this world – instead desiring to please God!