The Spiritual Mans Walk Series

(Galatians 6:1-5) The Spiritual Man’s Walk

The six chapters of this epistle are divided into three main sections of Paul’s teaching.

Chapters 1 & 2 are personal in nature and deal with Paul’s authority.

Chapters 3 & 4 are doctrinal in nature and deal with justification by faith.

Chapters 5 & 6, are practical in nature and deal with the application of the doctrine of justification.

While chapter 5 describes the characteristics of the fruit of the spirit, chapter 6 begins to describe its behavior.

If a person is walking in the Spirit, and has the fruit of Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance...

THEN HERE ARE THE THINGS HE/SHE SHOULD BE DOING:

1. SALVAGING the Fallen {vs 1}

> "...restore such an one in the spirit of meekness..."

2. SUPPORTING the Burdened {vs 2}

> "...Bear ye one another’s burdens..."

3. SHOULDERING our Own Responsibilities {vv 4-5}

> "Let every man prove his own worth....for every man shall bear his own burden."

4. SHARING our Wealth {vs 6; 1 Cor 9:11}

> "Let him that is taught....communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

> Communicate also means to SHARE or to give.

5. SOW Spiritually {vv 7-8}

> "....whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting..."

6. SERVING the Saints {vv 9-10}

> "And let us not be weary in well doing... especially unto them who are of the household of faith..."

While chapter 5 is technical in nature giving us the facts about Spirit filling. Chapter 6 is practical in nature, giving us the actions we should be taking.

Chapter 5 tells us what characteristics we should have; Chapter 6 tells us how they should be used to the benefit of others.

THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF SPIRIT FILLING. "Unto whom much is given, much is expected."

Meaning that as God gives you Spiritual gifts, with them also comes the responsibility of using them for His glory.

In this first lesson of Galatians 6, I want to speak about the responsibility of being Spiritual; "Ye which are spiritual.."

The term is not in Galatians 6:1 by accident. Chapter 5 just finished showing is the fruit of the Spirit, and the evidence of His work in our lives...

If this evidence is manifest in you, then you are to use that filling responsibly.

(Galatians 6:1-5)

I. CORPORATE COMMITMENT – "Brethren..." (v. 1).

A. We have an obligation as a congregation.

1. The epistle is first addressed to the congregation as a whole – "Brethren!"

2. By Corporate Commitment I mean that we must be united in our Spiritual responsibilities.

B. There are corporate responsibilities as well as individual responsibilities.

1. The church is to use its resources to train individuals of our Spiritual duties.

2. Without a combined effort, the church could not long stand.

> God established the leadership in the church, to keep order in the matter of church discipline.

> Without Spiritual leadership, it would be survival of the strongest or loudest; instead of the leading of the Spirit!

II. PERSONAL ASSESSMENT – "Considering thyself..."

A. Assess your own BLIND-SPOTS.

1. I blind-spot is an area that you can’t see in a mirror.

2. It often takes another to point out a blind-spot.

B. Assess your own BOASTING.

1. Never try to restore a fallen brother in the spirit of pride.

> Much Scripture against a prideful spirit.

> "Pride goeth before destruction..."

2. Deal with your own heart FIRST.

III. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY – "Ye which are..."

A. We are individually responsible to restore the broken.

1. The idea here is of a brother who has admitted his mistake.

> Some get the idea that this passage is talking about looking for brethren in sin, so that you can restore them.

> That is not what this passage is referring to; There is Scripture for such cases, but it involves CHURCH DISCIPLINE!

> This passage is NOT dealing wit church discipline, but with individual restoration.

2. If a brother comes to you broken over his sin, "ye which are spiritual restore such an one..."

> Paul’s plea is for a gentle response to one who has found himself caught off guard by some temptation, and fallen into sin.

> He now approaches you as a brother or sister for help. This is not an opportunity to punish him for his sins, but an opportunity to restore him.

B. Five Steps to restoration...

1. Listen with Humility.

> If you cannot maintain a humble attitude, you may want to send the brother to another for restoration.

> It would be less sin to admit you are not Spiritual enough for the task, than it would be to try to handle it in the flesh.