Keep in Step with the Spirit

  

Freedom In Christ- 10

 

TITLE: Keep in Step with the Spirit

TEXT: Galatians 5:16-26

TONE: Encouragement

TARGET: Believers

TASK: To encourage believers to keep in step with the Spirit daily.

TEACH: There is an old Indian proverb about two dogs that goes like this: “Inside each of us, there are two dogs that are always fighting. One dog represents anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, and ego. The other dog represents love, compassion, humility and kindness. The one that wins is the one you feed.” The two dogs symbolize the dual nature of Christians. Each Christian has the capacity for both positive and negative emotions and actions. The ‘good dog’ represents the Spirit’s virtues, the positive aspects of our character, while the ‘bad dog’ embodies our flesh, the negative tendencies and destructive behavior. The point being that we have the power to influence which dog wins by who we feed, the Flesh or the Spirit.

 

TRUTH: In this section, Paul continues to talk about the flesh and its dangers. But as the keynote of the section, the opposing power of the Spirit is brought onto the scene. Paul’s purpose is both to warn and to assure believers. He warns them that Christians find themselves in a continuing battle between these two powers. But, more importantly, he assures believers that, because we are in Christ, the Spirit now the dominate power and provides the believer with victor over the flesh and release from any threat that the law may pose (Douglas J. Moo, Galatians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 351).

 

I.                             We are called.

Explanation: But what are we called to? This question often lingers in the hearts and minds of believers. The answer, while profound, is deceptively simple: we are called to walk in the Spirit. This divine directive serves as our guide for daily living, challenging us to let our conduct be directed by the Holy Spirit.

 

Yet, this calling is not without its conflicts. Every day, we are bombarded by competing influences that vie for our attention and allegiance. The world around us tempts us with distractions, desires, and doubts that pull us away from the path of righteousness. In a culture that often prioritizes self-interest and instant gratification, walking in the Spirit can feel like an uphill battle, fraught with challenges at every turn.

 

Charles Swindoll encapsulates this struggle perfectly when he states, “The issue is control; the solution is surrender.” Surrendering to the Spirit requires not just a passive assent, but an active choice -a daily decision to relinquish control over our lives. This is where the conflict intensifies. Our flesh resists this surrender, clamoring for autonomy and the comfort of familiar patterns. We grapple with out innate desires, wrestling against the very instinct that seeks to lead us away from the Spirit’s guidance.

 

Application: Commit to daily surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Start each day with Scripture and prayer asking for the Spirit’s leading. 

 

II.                         We are in conflict.

Explanation: You may wonder, “Conflict with whom?” The answer lies within ourselves. This conflict is not an external struggle but an internal one, a battle between our sinful nature -often referred to as the flesh -and the desires of the Holy Spirit. This conflict is inherent in the Christian walk, where the spirit, empowered by God, seeks to dominate the flesh, which is influenced by the world and Satan, requiring believers to make conscious choices to follow the spirit’s leading. The Spirit refers to the divine nature within believers, guiding them towards righteousness and intimacy with God, while the flesh represents human weakness and sinful tendencies that oppose the Spirit’s leadership.

 

In essence, this is more than just a simple conflict; it resembles a war. Each of us experiences a continues struggle as we navigate our daily lives, where our inherent sinful desires clash with the transformative desires instilled in us by the Holy Spirit. This tension can be challenging, as our flesh yearns for immediate gratification, while the Spirit calls us to a higher standard of holiness and integrity. Believers can overcome the flesh by surrendering to the Spirit. We surrender to the Spirit’s control through the spiritual disciplines of: prayer, fasting, meditation on Scripture, and trust in God to transform our lives.

 

Faith is the foundation for our spiritual lives. Faith enables us to trust God. We must be mindful to apply faith to our daily lives, whether in time of joy or hardship, and make decisions that align with biblical principles. We must grow in faith in order to deepen our lives spiritually. Faith grows through experience, both by triumphant and tragedy, in each case we learn to depend on God.

 

It's crucial to recognize that while this war rages on, we do not fight as those without hope. The victory has already been secured through Christ’s death and resurrection. We are not engaged in a battle for ultimate victory; rather, we are fighting daily skirmishes that test our faith and commitment to God.

 

This ongoing conflict is a reminder of our human condition, but it also emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us. With each battle, we can grow in our faith and reliance on God. We can take comfort in knowing this to be true.

 

Imagine the tension of a soldier in the heat of battle, torn between following the orders of a commanding officer and the instinct to flee from danger. Similarly, as Christians, we find ourselves in a spiritual skirmish, facing the internal struggle of surrendering our will to the Spirit while contending with the pressures and temptations of the world.

 

Application: Recognize that the internal battle is a normal part of the Christian life. Acknowledge your struggles and seek the Spirit’s help in overcoming temptation.

 

III.                      We are characterized.

Explanation: Every individual is characterized by one of two distinct natures: we are either marked by the works of the flesh or by the fruit of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul emphatically states that the works of the flesh are obvious, presenting a stark contrast to the life-giving qualities that come from walking in the Spirit.

 

But what does it mean to be characterized by the works of the flesh? Paul’s point was to paint a dreadful overview of various lifestyle steeped in sin. Four major subjects appear in Paul’s sin list: The following list is from (Charles Swindoll, Galatians, pg. 126).

                 

1.        Sexual sin: This includes things like uncontrolled lust, adultery, fornication, homosexual practice, prostitution and pornography.

 

2.        Religious sin: This includes such things as occult involvement, false religions, superstition, and idolatrous materialism.

 

3.        Social sin: This includes things that are destructive to our families, churches, and communities, such as slander, gossip, harboring bitterness, bearing grudges, taking revenge, refusing to forgive, unjust or unnecessary lawsuits and physical or verbal abuse. 

 

4.        Personal sin: This includes sins against one’s own body, such as drug addiction, alcoholism, barhopping, gluttony and other forms of destructive behavior.

 

These are not merely bad behaviors; they represent a deeper, more profound spiritual condition. They reflect a heart that is disconnected from God and driven by its own desires, often leading to chaos and destruction in our lives and our relationships.

 

Paul says that those who practice these deeds of the flesh ‘will not inherit the kingdom of God” (5:21). Does Paul mean that true believers who get entrapped in some of these sins will lose their salvation? By no means! Paul means that those whose lifestyles continually demonstrate indulgence in the deeds of the flesh do not have the Spirit of God.

 

Application: Take inventory of your life and identify areas where the flesh may be manifesting. Confess these sins to God and seek accountability from fellow believers.

 

Conversely, the fruit of the Spirit -love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control paint a picture of a life transformed by divine influence. These characteristics are not merely attributes we can strive for; they are the natural result of a heart that has been transformed by the Spirit of God. And the more we allow the Spirit to guide our actions and choices, we become vessels through which His love and grace flow, impacting not only our lives but also the lives of those around us.

 

Each of these attributes is beautifully manifested in the life of Jesus through the NT. Here are a few examples:

 

1.        Love (John 13:34-35): Jesus demonstrated love for His disciples, even washing their feet (Jn. 13:1-17). He commanded them to love one another as He loves them.

 

2.        Joy (Luke 10:21): Jesus expressed joy in the Holy Spirit when the seventy-two returned with reports of their successful ministry.  He rejoiced not just in their achievements but in the revelation of God’s truth to the humble and childlike (Luke 10:21), highlighting the joy that comes from fulfilling God’s mission.

 

3.        Peace (John 14:27): During chaos and impending suffering, Jesus offered His disciples peace, saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” He embodies peace, calming storms (Mk. 4:39) and bringing reconciliation between God and humanity through His sacrifice.

 

4.        Patience (Matthew 17:17): When faced with the unbelief of His disciples and the challenges of His ministry, Jesus exhibited great patience. He expressed frustration, calling them a “faithless and perverse generation,” but He continued to teach and guide them patiently.

 

5.        Kindness (Luke 6:35): Jesus demonstrated kindness through His relationships with those marginalizes by society, such as the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn. 4:1-26) and the tax collectors and sinners (Matt. 9:10-13).  He welcomes them, showing kindness that transcended social forms and prejudices.

 

6.        Goodness (Acts 10:38): The ministry of Jesus is described as one doing good and healing all who were oppressed. His life was marked by acts of compassion and benevolence, from feeding the hungry (Matt. 14:15-21) to healing the sick (Matt. 9:35).

 

7.        Faithfulness (Hebrews 3:2): Jesus is described as faithful to God who appointed Him. Throughout His ministry, he remained faithful to His mission, even in the face of opposition, betrayal, and ultimately, crucifixion.

 

8.        Gentleness (Matthew 11:29): Jesus described Himself as “gentle and humble in heart.” He approached people with gentleness, reaching out to the broken and the lost, often treating them with tenderness and care, as seen in His interactions with the woman caught in adultery (Jn. 8:1-11).

 

9.        Self-Control (Matthew 4:1-11): In His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus demonstrated self-control by resisting the temptations presented by Satan. He relied on Scripture, showcasing His commitment to God’s will over personal desires.

 

Application: Intentionally cultivate the fruit of the Spirit by engaging in practices that foster these qualities. Ask yourself which fruit do I need to cultivate and practice more in my life?

 

IV.                     We are commanded. (Inclusio: Gal. 5:16; 25)

Explanation: Paul stated, “let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” This command serves as both a directive and a reminder of the communal nature of the Christian faith.

 

The phrase “keep in step with the Spirit” suggests a dynamic and active relationship with the Holy Spirit. It evokes the imagery of a soldier marching in formation, where each step is in sync with others, guided by a common purpose. Similarly, as followers of Christ, we are called to align our lives with the leading of the Holy Spirit, who empowers and guides us in our daily walk.

 

Keeping in step with the Spirit takes:

 

1.        Intentionality: It involves a conscious decision to yield to the Spirit’s guidance in every aspect of our lives. (prayer, fasting, scripture reading)

 

2.        Consistency: Maintaining a consistent walk with the Spirit is crucial. Spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continual process of transformation.

 

3.        Community: Paul’s admonition to avoid conceit and envy highlights the importance of community in our spiritual journey.

 

Take-Away: The outcome of this internal battle has real consequences in our lives. Feeding the good dog leads to a more fulfilling and abundant life, characterized by being centered in the will of God. Feeding the flesh (the bad dog) can lead to strife, unhappiness, and conflict, both within ourselves and in our interactions with others.

 

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