Galatians Part 5 – “Be free and live by the Spirit!”
Thesis: Freedom 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!
Introduction:
As we have been progressing through the book of Galatians 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.
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 times 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 period 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.
Opening Illustration: Calvin’s story- from Brooklyn Tabernacle reveals what it means to be free. Listen to Calvin’s story and watch how he communicates what it means to be free.
T.S. – Calvin’s testimony and song should help us understand what the apostle Paul means when he says, “Stand Firm … be free!”
I. Be free!
a. 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.”
b. 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?
c. 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; "after the Civil War he was a free man" n : people who are free; "the home of the free and the brave" … adv : without restraint; "cows in India are running loose" …6: free from obligations or duties 7: free or remove obstruction from; "free a path across the cluttered floor" 8: let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility"
1. adj. fre•er, fre•est
a. Not imprisoned or enslaved; being at liberty.
b. Not controlled by obligation or the will of another: felt free to go.
2. tr.v. freed, free•ing, frees
a. To set at liberty; make free: freed the slaves; free the imagination.
b. To relieve of a burden, obligation, or restraint: a people who were at last freed from fear.
c. To remove obstructions or entanglements from; clear: free a path through the jungle. 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!
d. 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 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!
e. Paul does give us a balance to the being free by faith. He tell 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!
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!
f. 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!
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.
II. Do the One Thing!
a. Only one thing counts in life, “Faith expressed through acts of love!”
b. Illustration: City Slicker -- The one thing!
i. Curly talks about the one thing!
c. Faith is to be done in the context of love.
d. Faith and love go hand and hand and are inseparable partners.
e. Faith should drive us to love and love should drive us to faith. This is how they compliment one another.
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
f. 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.
g. 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?
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 – it is not just a touchy feely thing- but we our 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!”
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!- No not kissing your own muscles and falling head over heels in love with yourself.
b. NO it’s 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.
h. Paul tags on this thought at the end of the 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 and Live by the Spirit!
a. 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.”
a. We were taught at my first church to great each other with a holy kiss as it says in the word. So we were good at kissing and hugging each other and therefore loving on one another in this way. Dennis Swanberg referred to this weekend and said they did this in his church but his pastor always told the church which was Baptist to watch out for those Pentecostals because “They like to over emphasize tongues!”
i. Think about it!
b. 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!”
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 not chose to be mean and live by the sinful nature.
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!
c. 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 Hilary in 08
i. Share what a retired man does for fun!
d. 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 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.
1. What does it do to our society and to people "sexual immorality is the major reason for last year’s record number of abortions" according to WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
2. 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.
1. What does this do to our society and to other people?
a. It causes a Lack of consistency or homogeneity; adulteration.
b. It is a state of immorality; sin. Something that renders something else impure; an inferior. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
2. Impurity has led to the disintegration of the family unit in our society.
iii. Debauchery - a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity a drunken revelry. WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
1. This has affected society by creating the drunk driver who kills 1,000 every year.
2. This has led to degradation of women in our society and to several 1,000 of cases of rape.
3. Do you have this surfacing in your life?
iv. Idolatry – is the worship or divine honor paid to any created object or image. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are:
1. (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.
2. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.
3. (3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with heathen nations. The first allusion to idolatry is in the account of Rachel stealing her father’s teraphim (Gen. 31:19), which were the relics of the worship of other gods by Laban’s progenitors "on the other side of the river in old time" (Josh. 24:2) …but when the Jews entered Palestine, they came into contact with the monuments and associations of the idolatry of the old Canaanitish races, and showed a constant tendency to depart from the living God and follow the idolatrous practices of those heathen nations. It was their great national sin, which was only effectually rebuked by the Babylonian exile. That exile finally purified the Jews of all idolatrous tendencies (Easton)
4. The first and second commandments are directed against idolatry of every form. Individuals and communities were equally amenable to the rigorous code. The individual offender was devoted to destruction (Ex. 22:20)…In the New Testament the term idolatry is used to designate covetousness (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13; Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5). Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary
5. How has idolatry affected our nation? It has caused people to worship their things and to forsake God and even their families. It has resulted in leading to increased dysfunctional society!
v. Witchcraft - n : the art of sorcery. WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
1. How has this affected our society? Just look at some of the kids in this younger generation the Goths. Just look at the internet and a lot of the computer games and some X box games out there today.
2. Some believe the use of Meth. is associated with this evil influence.
vi. Hatred - n. Intense animosity or hostility. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
1. How has this affected our society? Just look at the crimes committed and the wars we find ourselves in because hatred is at the root of it.
2. Just look at how many people have left the church and spilled their hate out against it.
3. Just look at the 1,000 of church splits!
4. Hatred is at the root!
5. Just look at domestic violence you see hate raising its ugly head again.
6. Do you do this?
vii. Discord - n. Lack of agreement among persons, groups, or things. Tension or strife resulting from a lack of agreement; dissension.
1. Synonyms: discord, strife, contention, dissension, conflict, clash, variance. These nouns refer to a state of disagreement and disharmony. Discord is a lack of harmony often marked by bickering and antipathy: family discord. Strife usually implies a struggle, often destructive, between rivals or factions: political strife. Contention suggests a dispute in the form of heated debate or quarreling: lively contention among the candidates. Dissension implies difference of opinion that disrupts unity within a group: rampant dissension among the staff. Conflict suggests antagonism of ideas or interests that often results in hostility or divisiveness: conflict between smoking and nonsmoking factions. Clash involves irreconcilable ideas or interests: a personality clash. Variance usually suggests discrepancy or incompatibility: actions at variance with his principles. American Heritage Dict.
a. How has this affected society? Look at Divorce and broken families in our society.
b. Look at the many church splits and the black eye to the Gospel!
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!
2. Do you do this?
x. Selfish ambition – adjective for self
1 : concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others
2 : arising from concern with one’s own welfare or advantage in disregard of others
1. How has this affected society? This has led to CEO’s who rip off their faithful employee’s. The stealing of pensions!
2. The disregard for others well being.
3. Do you have this?
xi. Dissension - DISAGREEMENT; especially : partisan and contentious quarreling
1. How has this affected society. Just watch the news and see how people disrespect others and even the leaders of our nation.
xii. Factions - 1 : a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : CLIQUE 2 : party spirit especially when marked by dissension
1. How has this affected our society?
2. Just look at all the special interest groups!
3. Look at the newspapers and how its us verse them!
4. Do you have this?
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 1
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).
1. How has this affected society?
2. It is the 2nd biggest money maker on the internet! It has given birth to Pornography! Gambling is first!
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
e. What does it mean to live by the Spirit
i. It means we love like Jesus did!
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!”
f. 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!
iii. We need to make sure we don’t keep stepping on the toes of the Holy Spirit.
iv. 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.
1. Clip from Shall We Dance when in the competition he loses his focus and therefore misses his step and then disaster strikes.
a. The beautiful dance is no longer beautiful!
b. Keeping in step is a must!
c. So how is you dance going with the Spirit of God?
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 you 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 and we must do the one thing -- Let our faith be expressed by actions of love and this will help us live by the spirit and it will ensure that we are in step with the spirit.
