GateWay Church of Visali
Freedom! When Religion Becomes Unreasonable
Galatians 5:16-26 Pastor Ed Kemp
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
Teleos : perfect, to bring to the full stature of growth
Peripateo : walk, to live out inner convictions
Epithumia : over-desire, all controlling drive
The battle: between the Spirit of God in you and your sin nature
3 general attitudes:
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
2 destructive religious words:
20 idolatry, sorcery,
4 destructive attitudes:
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
4 results of those destructive attitudes:
disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying,
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
2 destructive religious words:
20 idolatry, sorcery,
4 destructive attitudes:
enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger,
4 results of those destructive attitudes:
disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying,
2 results of destructive religious destructive attitude:
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But (in contrast to the desire of the flesh) the fruit of the Spirit is
3 dynamic attitudes: love, joy, peace,
3 dynamic communicators: patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But (in contrast to the desire of the flesh) the fruit of the Spirit is
3 dynamic attitudes: love, joy, peace,
3 dynamic communicators: patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
So What?!
You have the freedom to:
#1. FOCUS.
Walk (peripateo) by the Spirit
Walk (peripateo) by the Spirit
#2. FIGHT.
17 For the flesh sets its desire (epithumia) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
17 For the flesh sets its desire (epithumia) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
#3. FLOURISH.
22 But (in contrast to the desire of the flesh) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
22 But (in contrast to the desire of the flesh) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
FREEDOM! : When Religion Becomes Unreasonable
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Did your family have fruit trees or a vegetable garden when you were growing up? What was your favorite fruit/veggie to eat?
Read: Galatians 5:16-26
This passage of Scripture is one of the easiest in the whole Bible to understand; sin versus righteousness, but it is the most difficult to apply! Without getting graphic or too self-revealing, which of the works of the sinful nature do you see in your life? Those are most often created by an over-desire to be something or to have something, which is it for you?
Paul starts Gal. 5 with the idea, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Have you experienced some aspects of freedom from that struggle?
There are 4 ministries of the Spirit of God to us:
#1. He illumines our minds, read I Corinthians 3:10-16
#2. He empowers us for change, read II Corinthians 3:18
#3. He convicts us of sin, read John 16:7-11
#4. He creates desire for obedience, read Philippians 2:12-13
Which one of the above has God been working on most in your life lately?
Paul uses the word fruit for areas in need of spiritual maturity. The word fruit implies 3 similar things and 1 contrast:
#1. Christian growth is gradual just like the growth of fruit. Why?
#2. Christian growth is inevitable just like the growth of fruit. Why?
#3. Christian growth is a sign of life just like fruit is a sign of a live tree.
How?
#4. Christian growth is multi-disciplinary (9 fruits) but a tree grows 1 fruit
is on 1 tree.
Which fruit is your strongest? Which is your weakest? Which are you choosing to ignore? Which one do you feel God is focusing you on? Which is most difficult to understand? Which is hardest to develop? Would the people in your Small Group commit to memorizing Galatians 5:22-23 so you could work on developing the fruit of the Spirit in your lives?
Family Time: Talk to your kids about what kind of fruit they like to eat. Maybe go to the grocery store and let them buy their favorite fruit (my son loved to get a fresh pineapple!) Read Gal. 5:22-23 to them and talk about how they put literal fruit in their stomach and how God through His Spirit puts His fruit of the Spirit in their minds, hearts and souls. What fruit do they want to see grow in their hearts? Would you as a family memorize Gal. 5:22-23?
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Did your family have fruit trees or a vegetable garden when you were growing up? What was your favorite fruit/veggie to eat?
Read: Galatians 5:16-26
This passage of Scripture is one of the easiest in the whole Bible to understand; sin versus righteousness, but it is the most difficult to apply! Without getting graphic or too self-revealing, which of the works of the sinful nature do you see in your life? Those are most often created by an over-desire to be something or to have something, which is it for you?
Paul starts Gal. 5 with the idea, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Have you experienced some aspects of freedom from that struggle?
There are 4 ministries of the Spirit of God to us:
#1. He illumines our minds, read I Corinthians 3:10-16
#2. He empowers us for change, read II Corinthians 3:18
#3. He convicts us of sin, read John 16:7-11
#4. He creates desire for obedience, read Philippians 2:12-13
Which one of the above has God been working on most in your life lately?
Paul uses the word fruit for areas in need of spiritual maturity. The word fruit implies 3 similar things and 1 contrast:
#1. Christian growth is gradual just like the growth of fruit. Why?
#2. Christian growth is inevitable just like the growth of fruit. Why?
#3. Christian growth is a sign of life just like fruit is a sign of a live tree.
How?
#4. Christian growth is multi-disciplinary (9 fruits) but a tree grows 1 fruit
is on 1 tree.
Which fruit is your strongest? Which is your weakest? Which are you choosing to ignore? Which one do you feel God is focusing you on? Which is most difficult to understand? Which is hardest to develop? Would the people in your Small Group commit to memorizing Galatians 5:22-23 so you could work on developing the fruit of the Spirit in your lives?
Family Time: Talk to your kids about what kind of fruit they like to eat. Maybe go to the grocery store and let them buy their favorite fruit (my son loved to get a fresh pineapple!) Read Gal. 5:22-23 to them and talk about how they put literal fruit in their stomach and how God through His Spirit puts His fruit of the Spirit in their minds, hearts and souls. What fruit do they want to see grow in their hearts? Would you as a family memorize Gal. 5:22-23?