HOW TO LIVE LIKE A CHRISTIAN
Galatians 5:18-6:10
LED BY THE SPIRIT
V:18. " But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the Law."
A. This should be the goal of every Christian; be led by the
Spirit.
1. It is the Holy
Spirit that Jesus sent to be our teacher, comforter and
guide.
2. We all(believers) have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
3. One of the jobs
of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all things.
4. So the question
is, are we willing to listen to the Holy Spirit?
B. The Question is, how do we hear from the Holy Spirit?
1. You hear from
the Holy Spirit by studying the Word.
a. John 14:26
" But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will
send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you
of
everything I have said to you. "
b. John 16:13 :
"The Holy Spirit will not speak on His own, but will speak
only
what He hears."
2. I believe that
if it is a question of what is right or what is wrong,
the Holy
Spirit will prick our minds and hearts in the direction of
righteousness.
3. Before you take
any action, take time to meditate and the Holy Spirit will let you
know what is right.
4. The key is to
never act without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
5. Another key is
to never think you know what is best without the
Holy Spirit
guidance.
OUR PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT
V:19-21. " Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21
envying, 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."
A. Verses 19 -21 list seventeen specific sins or categories
of sins which corrupts us.
1. We were born in
the flesh and therefore subject to the sins of the flesh.
2. Before Christ we
were powerless against our fleshly
desires.
3. If we are real
with ourselves, we would admit we have been involved in
some of these
sins.
B. We can't hide from
our sins, so we should admit to the Lord and go to
next step of
repentance.
1. We participated
in these sins before Christ and in some degree may still be
involved.
2. Old attitudes
are hard to change.
3. Change is a growing process that takes
place over time.
THE EVIDENCE OF OUR CHANGE
V:22-23. " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law."
A. Verses 22 and 23 list nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
1. As we grow, the
old fleshly habits gradually change to new habits, which
manifest
themselves in fruits of the Spirit.
2. All of us are in
different stages of spiritual growth.
B. Following the flesh, leads to death.
1. Following the
Spirit leads to eternal life.
2. The Good News is
Christ death on the cross has freed us from the
penalties of
our fleshly sins.
3. Christ is
tolerant enough to allow us to grow into spiritual maturity.
4. Christ is not
surprised that all of the fruits of the Spirit are not yet
manifested in
us.
A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
V: 24. " Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
A. Any man in Christ is a new creation.
1. By position
established with Christ, the flesh no longer has power over us.
2. We have to
learn to exercise God's power over our flesh.
B. Our fleshy passions and desires will subside over time as
we grow in the life
of Christ.
1. I think we must
be truthful with ourselves that we are not all that Christ
desires for
us.
2. We are still on
the road of spiritual growth with ourselves and those
around us.
3. Getting better
never ends.
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
V:25-26. " If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk
by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying
one another. Bear One Another's Burdens"
A. The Christian lifestyle is a new way of living.
1. We are to
live by the spirit.
2. We must yield
ourselves to the influence of the Spirit.
3. It is natural
for us to be under the influence of the world.
4. Since the
world opposes the Spirit, all we have to
do is be abnormal.
a The world
says hate, the Spirit says love.
b. The world
says get even, the Spirit says forgive.
c. The world
says show your pride, the spirit says be humble.
B. This Christian
life is not all about us.
1. The Christian
life is about serving one another.
2. Jesus said, I
did not come to be serve, but to serve.
3. Being a
Christian, sometime means the sacrifice
of our desires for the desires of
another. That
is change.
4. Our opinion
does not have to be pushed all the time. Let the
the other
person have the spot light.
5. We don't have
to be right all the time. Let the other person be right
especially
when it really does not affect anything.
TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS
V:6.1-2. "
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual,
restore such a one
in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too
will not be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ"
A. The world says if anyone is caught doing something wrong,
point it out
so every one can
see it.
1. The new
Christian attitude says treat everyone as you would like to be
treated.
2. Don't be to
quick to judge when you don't know the full story.
3. Even if the
fault is true, counsel the brother in private in the right way.
B. We should never be harsh when approaching someone.
1. Treat everyone
with the spirit of gentleness.
2. Even if you are
treated harshly, bless the other person with a spirit of gentleness.
3. Love covers a
multitude of sins.
DON'T THINK TO HIGHLY OF YOURSELF
V:3-4." For if anyone thinks he is something when he is
nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and
then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in
regard to another."
A. Don't think to highly of yourself.
1. To think highly
of yourself is to think your are better than someone else.
2. There is
nothing wrong with knowing what you are worth and standing
by what you
believe.
a. We have to be careful in so doing, not
to devalue another person.
b. To God, we
are all equal, but have different skill sets.
B. When we boast, we should boast in the Lord.
1. Give the Lord credit for your
accomplishments.
2. We can do all
things through Christ who strengthens us.
3. A good person is
satisfied with his own work and
and what he has
accomplished with his labor.
WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT
V:5. " For each one will bear his own load."
A. You will reap what you sow.
1. What you
measure out will be measured back to you.
2. Every man will
have his proper reward.
3. A virtuous man
will find contentment in his works.
3. A vicious man
will find misery.
4. One who is
generous, will have others generous to him.
5. One who causes
trouble will constantly be in trouble.
B. God will judge those who judge others.
1. We are
commanded not to judge so we want be judged.
2. The key is to
do unto others what you want done to you.
3. Whatever you do
for Christ, will have a reward.
BLESS YOUR PASTOR WITH YOUR INCREASE
V:6. " The one
who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who
teaches him."
A. Those who teach
and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be supported
by
those who benefit from the Word. 1 Cor
9:7-15
1. A laborer is
worthy of his reward. 1 Tim 5:18
2. The
congregation of any Church should take care of the shepherd
of the
Church.
B. God looks out
for His preachers and teachers who dedicate themselves to
Him.
1. God blesses
the members of the Church who bless their pastor.
2. God has given
us great spiritual resources through His shepherds.
3. We should see
it as our duty to share our material success with
the pastor.
YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW
V:7-8. " Do not
be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will
also reap. 8 For the
one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,
but the one who sows
to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
A. God does not like lazy and evil folk.
1. God does not
like the selfish or the proud.
2. The success or
failures of our lives depend on our own efforts.
B. Those who work hard will eventually reap the benefit of
their labor.
1. Those who serve
the Lord will reap spiritual benefits.
2. Those who cause
trouble in the lives of others, trouble their own lives,
3. This is the
simple principle of what goes around comes around.
4. If you Sow good
seeds, you will reap a good harvest.
5. If you Sow bad
seeds, you will reap weeds and thorns.
GOD PROMISES A REWARD FOR GOOD DEEDS
V: 9. " Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due
time we will reap if we do not
grow weary."
A. This is how faith
operates and how faith grows.
1. God is good to
us all the time.
2. God has been
good to us, so likewise we ought to be good to others.
3. It is easy to
do nothing, or do bad, but it takes a change in the heart
to do good to
those you come in contact.
4. It takes a
change in our lifestyle to see our mission in life as
doing good
things for others.
5. We don't just
serve God by coming to Church. That is what we
ought to do.
5. We serve God
when we sacrifice ourselves for the good of the Gospel.
6. We serve God
when we sacrifice ourselves helping others in need.
B. Our faith grows as we serve because we see the power of
God working.
1. There is a
promise of a reward given in this verse.
2. We will reap if
we continue to serve.
3. The word
"weary" is a Greek word which means to relax or set yourself free,
free from the
burden of doing good.
4. We have to
endure a time of doing good for others before we see the
good God has
for us.
5. Do not get
discourage because you don't see a change in your life as
you serve the
Lord.
a. God made
this promise of reaping.
b. Just hang
on, and God will make good on His promise.
6. Sometimes the
reaping is when you see the joy that you bring others by
serving
them.
7. Sometimes it is
your serving that brings you joy and peace.
DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN
V:10. " So then,
while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and
especially to those who are of the household
of the faith."
A. Time is not on our
side.
1. None of us
know how long we have to live.
2. You don't have
to be sick to die. Healthy people die.
3. You don't have
to be old to die. The young die also.
B. The Apostle Paul
urges us to do good all the time to all people.
1. All people
includes those you like and those you can't stand to be
around.
2. All people
includes friends and enemies.
C. Apostle Paul makes
a special request that we do good to our brothers
and sisters in
Christ.
1. How is it that
we can get along with folk outside the Church but
go the other
way when we see certain people in the Church?
2. We don't have
to like what someone does, to treat them with kindness
and
gentleness.
3. We really don't
know what some one is dealing with when we see them.
a. Their
reaction to you may be a response to something that is
troubling
them.
b. Your
tender, loving response might be the encouragement they need.
4. When you have a
lifestyle of doing good, rewards will come to you.
SAY GOOD MORNING WITH A
SMILE AND GOODBY WITH LOVE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
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