Galatians Part 5 – “Be free and live by the Spirit!”
Thesis: Freedom in Christ opens up the one thing that helps us to keep in step with the Spirit.
Opening thought about chapter 5: Paul tells the Galatia church to be free, to remember the one thing which is “faith is to express itself through love” and this action will help us to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit of God!
Did you hear that – “Only one thing counts in life according to Paul, “Faith expressed through acts of love!”
Introduction Summary of what we have learned in Galatians:
As we have been progressing through the book of Galatian’s we have discovered that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to get into Heaven. Human effort driven by a works religious mindset will not get you into Heaven instead it will put you into bondage and steal away your joy and grace.
Paul has been confronting the false teaching of the Judaizers and re-convincing the Galatian Churches to return to the true Gospel. He has stressed that it is more important to please God rather than to please others. He has told them if you quit serving God and pleasing Him than the sacrifice of Jesus means nothing. He challenges them about their actions by asking, “Do you really want to negate Christ’s death and resurrection?”
Paul frequently has referred to his former way of life when he too was trapped into a works related religious mindset. He convincingly relates to them how he too at one point thought that he could earn his way to heaven. But that all changed when he had a divine encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. He actually discovered that his religious mindset and works driven religious mindset actually put him in opposition to the Lord. The deceived mindset of the religious actually does not draw them closer to the Lord but further away and in opposition to His message of “grace.”
Paul also in our book asked the Galatians a few questions about their past experience in Christ to remind them of what the truth looks like. Many time’s in life we need to go back and remember what Jesus did for us so as to refresh our memories.
He also reminded the Galatian church that Abraham became saved and a friend of God not because he followed the Law but because he believed by faith. He uses Abraham as an example to show that the law had a purpose for a short time - but once Jesus “The Seed” came he brought in the fulfillment of the law. Therefore, Jesus in Paul’s own words did the following Galatians 3:25 “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
He stressed in chapter three that the law was not opposed to the promises of God but taught about those promises and taught us about how life really is birthed. Life is birthed through faith in the Promised One. The law showed that we are all prisoners to sin and we cannot get to heaven by human effort therefore we needed the Promised One to set us free. Therefore, Jesus came fulfilling the prophetic words of the OT and fulfilling the covenant of faith promised to Abraham.
As a result of the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ and our willingness to accept Christ by faith we then get the awesome privilege of becoming “The Sons and Daughters of God.” Since Jesus came and ushered in this new era of faith and grace there is now no more distinction between Jew or Greek, slave or free man, male or female but we are all one in Christ Jesus. We are all on the same plain equal in the eyes of the Lord Yes, we are all equal in that we all belong to Him. Therefore, we are free!
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1- 26:
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For 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. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
I. Be free! Stay free!
a. Illustration: Brave Heart – the scene where William Wallace is being martyred for fighting for the freedom of Scotland and he yells out “Freedom!”
i. Freedom – the ability to be free – live free – be free to make my own decisions and choices. Has been the battleground of all the wars which plagued the World from the beginning of time. Freedom and our freedom in the USA, was and is a common theme. We hear it talked about last weekend for the Memorial Day weekend where we were honoring all of those who fought and died for our country – so that we could be a free nation of citizens.
1. I love the phrase freedom is never free!
a. The truth is men and women died so we could have the freedom we have today!
ii. Freedom is still being fought in this country:
1. Freedom of Speech – we see Musk from Tesla buying out Twitter to insure freed speech!
2. We see the battle being fought in the News each day and night.
a. Freedom of religion and faith
b. Freedom to own guns.
c. Freedom to not live under tyranny.
d. Freedom from excessive taxation.
e. Freedom to vote.
f. Freedom to be able to live as equals in our society.
b. Galatians 5:1,13: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery... 13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
i. When we experience grace through faith, we discover freedom which delivers us from sin and unleashes us to express our gratitude toward Jesus by loving Him and others.
1. Out freedom in Christ came from Jesus sacrificing his life so we could be set free! So, freedom even in the spiritual realm is not free.
c. Paul shares another text on freedom in 2 Corinthians. Listen to what he says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Cor. 3:17 NIV
i. What does it mean for me to be free? What am I free from?
1. Does it mean I am foot loose and fancy free?
a. I can do whatever I want when I want!
b. I can party hardy and be the life of the party and still be free in morning?
2. Does it mean breathe easy?
a. I can breathe easier and not be stressed because I have free air.
b. Since I am free and can breathe in free air I don’t have to worry about who gave me the free air?
c. Because it’s free!
3. Does it mean I get off Scott free?
a. Does it mean I am off the hook when I should not have been?
b. Does it mean that yes I got a way with it and now I’m Scot free?
4. Does it mean I am freed from paying taxes?
a. Free from money concerns and therefore I don’t have be a good steward of my money?
b. Am I free to go on a spending spree?
5. Does it mean free from being in need?
a. Am I free because I don’t have to worry about my needs?
b. Does my freedom mean I am carefree so don’t bother me about meeting my families basic needs.
c. Remember I’m free from responsibility.
6. Does it mean free to come and go?
a. Does it mean I can go anywhere in this world because I’m free?
b. I can go stay or just melt away because I’m free.
7. Does it mean I get freebies?
a. Does it mean I get free stuff?
b. Free means free right, so I take what I think should be free.
c. Even when it is not mine!
8. Does it mean free will?
a. Is it all about having the freedom to choose my own destiny?
b. Does it mean I’m free to be me?
d. So, what does Paul mean when he says, “We are free!” Well to understand freedom lets explore the meaning of the word first.
i. Free: adj 1: able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint; …3: costing nothing...6: not held in servitude.
1. adj. fre·er, fre·est
a. Not imprisoned or enslaved; being at liberty.
i. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
ii. We are free means we are delivered from the bondage of this world and from sin. This is what it means to be free!
e. Paul reminds us then to not take our freedom for granted. He says, “Stand firm in your freedom because that is why Jesus gave it to us!”
i. In Christ we have freedom from the law – from sin – from eternal punishment – from a religious works mindset.
ii. This is what it means to be set free!
1. It means to stay free and not return to slavery!
a. Be free and stay free!
b. Scripture: “He who the son sets free from his death and sacrifice is free in deed!”
iii. Don’t throw away your freedom for a works related religious mindset. Hang on to the freedom that is found in faith!
f. Paul does give us a balance to the being free by faith. He tells us remember that you are not to use your new found freedom to indulge the sinful nature.
i. Faith is not to be misused as a get out of Hell free pass! Or as a license to sin card.
ii. Should we use our freedom to sin freely and then think because I am free, I am not compelled to do right- remember Pastor Mike you said it is all about “Grace” – something I can never earn or attain so why try?
1. So, I’m free to sin and then free to repent the next morning!
2. So, we sin and think I’m still free because God has to let me be free!
3. Many think: He has to forgive me right is He not bound by the words of the Bible!
g. Key point: The truth is our freedom should drive us to live by faith and act in love and avoid the sinful nature which loves to rob us of our freedom.
i. True love does not indulge the sinful nature it repels it! Stays away from it.
T.S. – Our freedom in Christ should draw us to love and not to sin and therefore when we are drawn to love by faith then we are to practice the one thing that is most important. Faith when genuine will express itself through acts of love toward others.
II. Do the One Thing!
a. Video Illustration: City Slicker -- The one thing!
i. The old cowboy Curly talks about the one thing to the city slicker “Mitch” whose searching for purpose in life – or we could say the secret of life – Curly holds up one finger and says this is the purpose of life - for him it was cowboying. But Mitch asks, “That’s the one thing?” Curly says that’s what you got to figure it out!”
ii. Hold up your finger like Curly in City Slickers!
b. Faith is to be done in the context of love.
i. I can see Paul holding up this one finger when talking to the Galatian church!
1. This is the One Thing!
a. Faith expresses that it is genuine through actions of love.
i. Love to God!
ii. Love to others!
c. Faith should drive us to love and love should drive us to faith. This is how they compliment one another. Faith and love go hand and hand and are inseparable partners.
i. They go together:
1. Like Ice cream and apple pie
2. Like Oreos and milk
3. Like coffee and donuts
4. Like Policemen and donuts
5. Like Ben and Jerry
6. Like bees and honey
7. Like Tonto and the Lone Ranger
8. Like Batman and Robin
9. Like Superman and Lois Lane
10. Like chips and dip
11. Like Tami Faye and make up
12. Like Sylvester and Tweety bird
13. Like the Road Runner and Wiley Coyote
14. Like Smokey and the Bandit
15. Like George and Barbara Bush
16. Like Ken and Barbie
17. Like Adam and Eve
18. Like The OT and NT
19. Like French Fries and ketchup
20. Like Mike and Kathy
d. Paul reminds them and us that we are to serve one another in love because this is an act of faith.
i. You love everyone not because they deserve but because you have a deep faith and love for God.
1. God’s love was given to us by Jesus – this act of love caused us to have faith in Jesus – Our faith unlocked God’s love on us and should compel us to show love back to God and to others. Love = Faith= Love and more Love.
e. Paul reminds us of Jesus words, “Love your neighbor as yourself!”
i. Faith will cause us to love that neighbor that you really cannot stand.
1. You know what kind of neighbor I am talking about, don’t you?
a. The ones with the dogs?
2. We had crazy “Lucy” at the bottom of our hill in our neighborhood!
a. She was the mad, mad wicked woman of Castle Shannon!
i. She even looked freaky and many times carried a broom.
1. Because of these bizarre behaviors we branded her the wicked witch of hill.
ii. I remember the time she handed out poison apples for Halloween once!
1. Many kids through the apples at her house afterwards.
2. None of us wanted to die from those poison apples.
iii. She was famous for stealing our footballs and baseballs. We were told that she stole them to use them as voodoo items against us.
iv. Many of us believed she was possessed by Satan himself!
1. She had the big nose, the straggly hair!
2. One boy said when he looked at her eyes they lit up like fire balls.
3. She was scary!
v. Now remember we were kids and our imaginations could run wild.
vi. But the truth is Jesus said we needed to love her!
ii. Paul tells us to love your neighbor as yourself – Remember Paul is reiterating the words of Jesus himself!
1. We are to love – with action not just words – faith drives us to action – it is not just a touchy feely thing- but we are to love our neighbors as our self.
a. Let me ask a question and remember you have to be honest with yourselves.
i. How many have you looked in the mirror flexed (if you are a guy) or posed (if you are a gal) and thought or maybe even said, “The world is so lucky to have me!”
ii. How many have bought themselves something because you think you deserve it?
b. Interesting when I use to go to the gym to work out I would watch and observe the dedicated body builders. I watched one guy one day go do some reps with some weights then immediately he would go back to the mirror to see how it made him look. At one point during his work out he bent over with his head and kissed his bicep muscle.
c. Now that is how we are to love our neighbors.
2. This is one of the most important things we could ever learn!
a. Stop! – The kissing of your own muscles and falling head over heels in love with yourself.
i. NO, Faith is about loving others through the faith walk. It’s reaching out to your neighbor who many may think is the wicked witch of the hill and loving them into the kingdom of God.
ii. Share story of Nigerian who was Muslim and how the Christian Worship Leader took her kids under her wing and the whole family became Christian.
f. Learning about “The One Thing” when I first became a Christian:
i. Faith is to be expressed by Love!
1. God expressed His love to us first by sending Jesus – who is Love personified!
a. So, love was launched into this world by God the Father and Jesus’ love and His acts of love raised up faith in many of us – now that we have discovered this faith launched into our world and hearts by Love – we too should express our faith by acts of love – faith creates within us a desire to love God and love others!
i. At least it should do that!
ii. Does it do it for you?
2. Do you know what changed my life as a baby Christian?
a. It was faith being expressed by Love to me.
i. From God by feeling His presence and grace being poured out on me in services.
ii. From my prayers being answered and by even prophetic words being confirmed.
b. When I came to Outreach Church, I did not know love – I really had no clue what love was – but then my dad thru me out of the house because I had joined a cult – I actually came home one day and all my stuff was in the yard. Best thing that could have happened to me – because as my dad rejected me and through me out – God “Abba Father” stepped in to show me Love – Outreach opened their arms to me – Roland gave me a place to live – then three of us got an apartment together – Pastor Nate let me store, my stuff in the church for about 4 months before we found an apartment – others started inviting me over for dinner, taking me out to lunch, they loved on me!
c. How is faith expressed in love – how is that “The One Thing” people did many acts of love to show God loved me and they also loved me!
i. Meals, coffee, ice cream – they spent time with me – invested in me showed me I had value in the Kingdom of Heaven.
ii. They taught me things of the Bible mentored me – discipled me!
iii. Prayed for me cried with me – rejoiced with me.
ii. Faith expresses itself through love by the fruit of the Spirit:
1. Love = Faith = more acts of love which produce joy in our life.
2. Joy = a fruit of love and leads to happiness no matter what is happening around us and gives us the next fruit!
3. Peace = comes from love and having a relationship with “Love Personified Jesus Christ” we find eternal peace in our hearts and minds even living in chaotic world.
4. Patience = peace in the heart breeds patience with others – with God with life – it’s a fruit of love!
5. Kindness = rises up in a heart consumed in love – it just does – when we have been forgiven and shown grace by God – loved creates a heart that cares for others.
6. Goodness = the only one who is good is God by the way – so for us to do good requires our hearts to be filled with faith that expresses itself through love.
7. Faithfulness = to God causes us to grow in love and in actions of love – it’s just what happens as we get close to “Love personified.”
8. Gentleness = love makes us gentle toward the lost and the hurting and toward people who make mistakes or even though us under the bus. It’s love in us created by faith that helps us to be gentle with others.
9. Self-control = Love helps us to stay in control it does not allow us to go out of control and sin – love keeps us under control and connected to the Holy Spirit.
iii. When I went to Outreach and heard the message on faith and placing my life in Jesus hands – that faith in Jesus unlocked a love I never knew existed in this dark world. I discovered God’s love – I discovered the love of the Body of Christ- Love produced more love and the love kept pouring out – this why my first sermon I ever preached was on love. I was blown away by the Love of God for me and the love expressed to me by many at Outreach Church.
1. Faith opened the door of my heart to Jesus “Love personified” – it empowered me to then pass on the love to others!
a. My faith and it being expressed through love caused me to remodel Outreach Church – to volunteer at church – to tithe to the Lord – to serve the Body of Christ!
b. The more I loved the more I experienced the blessings of God the Father and His love.
c. Relationships were healed especially between my dad and I.
d. Remember Faith opens up “Love Personified and freedom in the Spirit – Not religious works mindsets!”
g. Paul tags on this thought at the end of this section, “If you keep devouring one another then you will destroy each other.”
i. This is not the way of love!
ii. Yet many in the church of Jesus Christ frequently seek to devour one another because they have not learned that one thing!
iii. “Faith is to be expressed by love!”
T.S. – Paul tells us that the one thing is “Faith expressing itself through love!” and the truth is this will always lead us to living by the Spirit and in turn this will help us keep in step with the way of the Spirit.
III. Keep in step with the Spirit and Live by the Spirit!
a. Illustration: Pick someone out to dance with and keep stepping on their toes. This illustration shows what can happen to a beautiful dance when someone does not keep in step.
i. Illustration from Shall We Dance when in the competition he loses his focus and therefore misses his step and then disaster strikes.
1. The beautiful dance is no longer beautiful!
a. Keeping in step is a must!
b. I have learned this in dance lessons – you cannot get out of step or out of rhythm with your partner! You have to be in step with each other the whole time.
c. You have to be focused! Not distracted by others.
d. You need to hear the heavenly music and keep in step with it.
e. You have to stay focused on where you are going.
f. You have to be in step with your partner.
2. So how is your dance going with the Spirit of God- With Love Personified?
a. Is like a beautiful Waltz or Fox Trot?
b. Is it graceful and smooth?
c. Is it filled with love and respect?
d. Is it elegant and breath taking?
e. Is it out of step and out of sync?
f. Is it something beautiful to watch?
b. What does it men to keep in step and live by the Spirit?
i. Does it mean you read your Bible daily?
ii. Does it mean you pray daily?
iii. Does it mean you believe in Jesus?
iv. Does it mean you go to church 3-4 times a week?
v. Does it mean you sing real loud during praise and worship?
vi. Does it mean dance in the spirit?
vii. Does it mean you say, “Amen! At different points in the sermon?”
viii. Does it mean you become a holy roller?
ix. Does it mean you talk the religious talk? Like:
1. “Brother Mike are you saved by the way of grace?”
2. “Yes, I have been washed in the blood?”
3. “Can I get an Amen!”
4. “Friend I have been sanctified!”
5. “I am a tongue talking, spirit filled, Pentecostal, faith believing radical believer for Jesus.”
c. Paul tells us that we need to decide, to commit to living by the Spirit then we will not get trapped into living by our fleshly evil desires.
i. He says, “We will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature!”
1. When we reject fleshly ways and sin we live and are in step with the Spirit.
ii. Choosing to live by the Spirit means we choose to not live by the sinful nature. We choose to be free in Jesus and the Spirit.
iii. We are to choose the path of love not hate.
1. I wish some in the Body of Christ could hear and internalize this message!
d. Paul tells us that there is a raging battle going on inside of each of us because the sinful nature and the way of the Spirit are at war against each other.
i. There is a major conflict going on and it occurs everyday and in all of our lives.
1. But what needs to happen in the Body of Christ is for many of us to get some wins in this department. We lose far too often and the result is we become dispensers of pain, misery, hurt and Jesus cries.
ii. Hands illustration. Which is your dominant hand? The Spirit? Or the Sinful nature?
1. Who is winning the war in your heart and mind?
a. The Spirit?
b. The sinful nature?
2. Remember they do not like each other and they will not live at peace within your heart because these two do not go together!
a. They are like Sonny and Cher
b. They are like Jihad and forgiveness
c. They are like fire and water
d. They are like pretty and ugly
e. They are like sharks and dolphins
f. They are like liver and onions
g. They are like Jumbo and shrimp
h. They are like cheap gas
i. They are like Democrat and Republican
j. They are like Ford and Chevy
k. They are like MTV and TBN
l. They are like cops and robbers
m. They are like light and darkness
n. They are like an airplane with no wings
o. They are like David and Saul
p. They are like Dolly Pardon and Mick Jager
q. They are like Mother Theresa and Saddam Hussein
r. They are like good and evil
s. They are like Biden and Trump
e. What does the sinful nature do? How does it manifest itself on a daily basis in people? Many times in Scripture it tells us to examine our hearts so maybe you can take out a piece of paper and check if you have any of these behaviors. Remember be honest with yourself!
i. By Sexual immorality – This is the evil ascribed to sexual acts that violate social conventions and put people in bondage.
1. Is it present in your life?
ii. By Impurity – This is the quality or condition of being impure, especially: Something that is Contaminated or polluted with toxins from the world.
iii. Debauchery - a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity a drunken revelry. WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
iv. Idolatry – is the worship or divine honor paid to any created object or image.
v. Witchcraft - n: the art of sorcery. WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
vi. Hatred - n. Intense animosity or hostility. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
vii. Discord - n. Lack of agreement among persons, groups, or things. Tension or strife resulting from a lack of agreement; dissension.
viii. Jealousy - n 1: a feeling of jealous envy the green-eyed monster! Paul Blanshard WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
1. How has this affected society?
a. Domestic abuse!
b. Divorce!
2. Do you have this in your life?
ix. Fits of rage – Out of control anger!
1. How has this affected society? Just look at the road rage on the highways!
x. Selfish ambition – adjective for self - concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for other
xi. Dissension - DISAGREEMENT; especially: partisan and contentious quarreling
xii. Factions - 1: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking.
xiii. Envy - 1: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
xiv. Drunkenness – 1. DRUNK 2 obsolete : saturated with liquid 3 a : given to habitual excessive use of alcohol b : of, relating to, or characterized by intoxication
xv. Orgies - 1: secret ceremonial rites held in honor of an ancient Greek or Roman deity and usually characterized by ecstatic singing and dancing 2 a: drunken revelry b: a sexual encounter involving many people; also : an excessive sexual indulgence
3 : something that resembles an orgy in lack of control or moderation (Websters).
xvi. And even similar things come on you know what they are!
1. MOST IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN: All these will disqualify you from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
a. DP you have any of them? Then get rid of them! Tale that paper write them down – pray and repent of them and ask God to Help you overcome them! Then come throw the paper in the garbage
f. What does it mean to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit.
i. It means we love like Jesus did!
1. Faith is expressed by loving like Jesus did not by sin, not by religious works, not by hate, not by self or even pride.
ii. It means we have joy like Paul did even in prison and in trials!
iii. It means we experience peace in the midst of storms like Jesus did on the water.
iv. It means we have patience to allow God to work out His plan in His time.
v. It means we display kindness when others mistreat us!
vi. It means we love goodness over badness!
vii. It means we show God faithfulness by trusting Him to the end!
viii. It means we display gentleness in troubled times.
ix. It means we have self-control because we crucify the self everyday!
1. Truth is there are no laws forbidding this kind of behavior.
a. God wants us to do these acts of love to others.
2. Those who have gained the mastery of these fruits of the Spirit have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
3. It means we have done the one thing “Faith is being expressed through our lives by acts of selfless love!”
g. Paul placed great emphasis on this thought, “ 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
i. Keep in step with the Spirit. Did you hear that?
ii. We are in a dance with the Spirit of God and we need to keep in step.
1. We are to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!
2. BY the way today is Pentecost Sunday were many church remember and recall the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2.
iii. We need to make sure we don’t keep stepping on the toes of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion:
Paul concludes with these words: 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Paul adds these warnings:
DO not become conceited watch your ego!
DO not provoke one another watch your tongue!
DO not envy one another watch your heart!
He just wants to make the point clear live by the fruit of the Spirit not the sinful nature!
The closing thoughts remind us that we must become free!
We must do the one thing -- Let our faith be expressed by actions of love!
When we do this - we will live by the Spirit and it will also ensure that we are in step with the Holy Spirit. Others will look at your dance with Love personified and say, “Wow that is beautiful!”
