Flesh or Sprit
I had an interesting conversation earlier this week with a dear friend. We found ourselves exploring Scripture together, specifically, a passage that is one of my favorites. In Galatians Chapter 5, the Holy Spirit shows the Apostle Paul one of the ways to walk in freedom. Both the Jews and the Gentiles Paul taught found themselves still caught in their old ways. If it weren’t true, Paul would not need to write about it. The world’s ways influence the church just as much as people outside the church.
Before we get into the godly formula Paul lays out, if these short teachings help you, please share. If you want to know when new videos and blogs are released, click the subscribe button on my YouTube channel and you will be notified.
Galatians, written to believers, gives great detail about Christ’s work on the cross. He fulfilled the law and now we walk by faith. So, once we are saved, why does it matter what we do every day? Well, it matters for several reasons, let’s look at three and some examples.
1. It matters to God – God’s desire is to mold us into the image of Jesus. Romans 8:29. So that we are like Him – full of life. This life in God has a certain look. It is the only place where life can be found and God knows it. He loves us so much, He paid a great price to buy us back and offer us this life in Christ.
2. It matters to others – We influence the people we are around whether we realize it or not. Just like others influence us. Our words and our behavior highlight what is going on inside of us and who we are serving. This week, observe how others treat you and be mindful of how you treat others. Pay attention to what goes on around you and what you learn.
3. It matters for you and me – Once we make Jesus our Savior and Lord, our words and actions show our love for the one who paid the price for us. If we say yes and then no to all the rest, our disobedience can lead us toward the wrong doors. Wrong influences can actually lead us away from the faith we once held so dear.
God’s great experiment of free will allows us to choose either the works of our flesh or the Fruit of God’s Spirit.
Let’s have a look: Galatians 5:17-23 (NKJV)
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.
The list Paul gives is not exhaustive. He says at the end and the like…Yet, when Paul gives the list of the fruit of God’s Spirit, the character of Jesus, he says against such there is no law. Because Christ has fulfilled the law!
Here is an example of one of the earliest records of sin and debauchery in the earth.
In Genesis 18, Abraham is standing in the gap for people who live in cities that God is about to destroy. Verse 20 says, that their sin was very grave. Abraham’s nephew, Lot and his family, lived in Sodom and Gomorrah. And Abraham did not want to see them destroyed. If you read the rest of this story recorded in Genesis 18-19 the minds of Lot and his family became debased by living amid sin.
We see the opposite in Abraham who walked with God, talked with God, and prayed for God to spare his family and others who may believe. It becomes obvious that Lot’s life did not influence those around him towards godliness, but he was influenced by those around him. It almost cost him his life.
Although there is an enemy on the earth and he comes to steal, kill, and destroy, God always has the last word. John 10:10 finishes with but I (that is Jesus Christ) have come to give you life and life more abundantly.
My prayer is that you and I choose daily to follow God’s spirit and produce the good fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Until next time, remember that the matter of the heart is the heart of the matter!
Dr. Michele Morgan
September 15, 2024
