GO! And Walk By The Spirit - Galatians 5:16–26
INTRODUCTION — A CALL TO A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING
If there were ever a passage that exposes the war within the human heart, it is Galatians 5:16–26. We live in a generation that tells us to “follow your heart”, yet Scripture tells us the heart is deceitful, prone to wander, and constantly pulled between the sinful nature and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Everyone in this room knows the tension:
You want to live for God, but temptation whispers.
You want to walk in peace, but anger rises.
You want to show love, but bitterness lingers.
You want to be patient, but everything feels urgent.
Today’s message is God’s answer: “Go! And walk by the Spirit.”
GALATIANS 5:16–26 (NLT):
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
THE WAR WITHIN (vv. 16–18)
“Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” (v. 16)
Paul uses the Greek verb pe??pate?te (peripateite) — “walk continually”. This is not a momentary spiritual high; this is daily, deliberate, ongoing obedience. To walk by the Spirit is to live a Spirit-directed lifestyle, not just have a spiritual opinion.
The Conflict Explained
Verse 17 describes two opposing forces:
s??? (sarx) — the sinful nature, the self-centred, God-resisting part of us.
??e?µa (Pneuma) — the Holy Spirit producing God-honouring desires.
They are “constantly fighting” — the Greek ??t??e?ta? (antikeitai) means “set in opposition, waging war.”
This explains why even Christians feel internal tension.
In Romans 7:15–25, Paul confesses this struggle, saying: “I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.” (v. 19)
Paul writes both Romans and Galatians to show believers that spiritual victory does not come through willpower or the Law but through the Spirit.
If you feel torn between right and wrong — good news — that struggle is evidence the Spirit is at work in you.
John Piper: “The Christian life is war. It is a warfare fought by the Spirit, empowered by the Gospel, and aimed at holiness.”
Piper is right: this isn’t a Sunday stroll; it’s a daily battle. And the battlefield is your heart. The Spirit wins the war as we yield—He never forces Himself; He leads.
THE WORKS OF THE FLESH (vv. 19–21)
Paul lists 15 examples of what happens when we follow the sinful nature.
A Word Study on “Works” — ???a (erga)
“Works” of the flesh are manufactured. They are things we produce when left to ourselves. The flesh never rests. It always produces something destructive.
Paul is not giving a full list; he says “other sins like these.” The point is not to memorise the list but to recognise the source — the sinful nature.
Ephesians 2:1–3 tells us before Christ we were:
Dead in sin
Obedient to the devil
Following the passions of our sinful nature
Ephesus was filled with pagan immorality — similar to modern Western society.
The Two Dogs
An old illustration tells of a man with two dogs who constantly fought — a black dog and a white dog.
Someone asked, “Which dog wins?”
He replied, “The one I feed the most.”
The flesh and Spirit are not equals. What you feed grows.
Feed lust ? lust grows.
Feed pride ? pride grows.
Feed Scripture, prayer, worship ? the Spirit’s fruit grows.
R.T. Kendall: “The greatest threat to holiness is not the devil outside us, but the sin that remains within us.”
Kendall reminds us: external circumstances don’t make us sinful — the flesh responds sinfully. The problem isn’t out there… the battle is in here.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (vv. 22–23)
Paul changes the word from works to fruit.
Word Study — ?a?p?? (karpos)
Karpos is singular — one fruit with nine flavours.
The Spirit doesn’t give you some fruits and not others.
He grows the whole character of Christ in you.
In John 15:4–5 Jesus said: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you…For apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jesus spoke these words just hours before His arrest. His final theme to His disciples was the absolute necessity of abiding.
Each Fruit Is Christ’s Character
Love (agape): sacrificial, cross-shaped love.
Joy (chara): joy independent of circumstances.
Peace (eirene): wholeness, tranquillity with God.
Patience (makrothumia): long-suffering with people.
Kindness (chrestotes): a disposition of benevolence.
Goodness (agathosyne): moral integrity in action.
Faithfulness (pistis): reliability, fidelity.
Gentleness (prautes): strength under control.
Self-control (enkrateia): mastery over desires.
This is the portrait of Jesus Himself.
Max Lucado: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
Lucado captures the heart of sanctification. The Spirit is not interested in improving you — He is committed to transforming you. He is preparing you for eternity.
The Apple Orchard
An apple tree doesn’t strain to produce apples; it produces fruit because it’s an apple tree.
Likewise, Spirit-filled believers don’t perform the fruit; it grows naturally as they abide.
Holiness is not achieved — it is produced.
CRUCIFY THE FLESH (v. 24)
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.”
Crucifixion was final, irreversible, and public.
Paul uses the Greek ?sta???sa? (estaurosan) — past tense.
Belonging to Christ means the power of the flesh has already been broken.
Romans 6:6 “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ…”
Your flesh is defeated — but not yet silent.
It has lost authority but still whispers.
It has lost dominion but still tempts.
Tim Keller: “The Gospel is not just the A-B-C of the Christian life; it is the A–Z.”
Keller reminds us: We do not move beyond the cross — we live under it. Our victory is not in striving but in standing firm in what Christ accomplished.
5 — FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT’S LEADING (vv. 25–26)
“Let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
The Greek phrase st????µe? (stoichomen) means “to march in step” — like soldiers following a commander.
Psalm 143:10: “Teach me to do your will…May your gracious Spirit lead me forward.”
This requires:
Surrender
Submission
Sensitivity
Scripture
Sanctification
THE GOSPEL — THE POWER FOR A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE
You cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit without the root of salvation.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world, lived a sinless life, willingly went to the cross, and died in our place.
He was buried, and on the third day He rose again, conquering death, sin, hell, and the grave.
Through His blood:
Your sins are forgiven.
Your record is cleansed.
Your heart is changed.
The Holy Spirit dwells within you.
This is the Gospel — and this Gospel empowers Spirit-filled living.
CALL TO ACTION FOR BELIEVERS:
Feed the Spirit, not the flesh.
Nail every sinful desire to the cross daily.
Walk intentionally in step with the Spirit.
Display Christlike fruit in every environment — home, work, online, in conflict, in crisis.
The world needs to see Jesus — and the Spirit displays Him through us.
INVITATION TO SALVATION:
If you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the Spirit cannot lead you — because He does not yet live within you.
But today, you can come.
Jesus is calling.
The cross is open.
Grace is available.
Repent — turn from sin.
Believe — trust in Christ alone.
Surrender — give Him your life.
Call upon His name — and He will save you.
BENEDICTION / EXHORTATION:
May the Lord fill you with His Spirit.
May He strengthen you in the battle, guide your steps, and transform your character.
May the fruit of the Spirit overflow in your life so that Christ is magnified in everything you do.
Go! And walk by the Spirit.
