04/16/2010

Good Morning

Galatians 5 (English Standard Version)
Walk by the Spirit
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Footnotes:
a. Galatians 5:4 Or counted righteous
b. Galatians 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13
c. Galatians 5:11 Greek proclaim
d. Galatians 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder


In our Acts study, we talked about the Judaizers who came to Antioch and insisted that anyone who wanted salvation first had to be circumcised. Paul argued strongly about it, insisting that in doing so, the person was binding himself (herself) to the Law – and had lost the freedom found in Christ Jesus. In the verses above, Paul urges us to walk by the Spirit – that is, in the power and under the control of the Holy Spirit that indwells the believer. You can read the list of the actions that are evidence of the works of the flesh and compare them to the attitudes that make up the fruit of the Spirit. Which would you prefer to have in your life?

The key to having the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is being led by the Spirit. One illustration I used to use in class was a chair with an “e” and a cross beside it. The “e” stands for ego (self) and the cross stands for the Holy Spirit. When the “e” was on the chair, it meant that self was controlling the activities of the life – and the result was the works of the flesh. When the cross was on the chair, it meant that the person was being led by the Spirit and the attitudes that lead to the fruit of the Spirit were in evidence. I think I would rather have the love, joy, peace and the like flowing out of my life…

Have a blessed weekend.

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi