Keep In Step With The Spirit Of God

Articles

Antoine N. Holloway
08/31/14 - Church Bulletins

In Galatians 5:16-26, the Bible reads, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

The apostle Paul is encouraging the church of Christ in Galatia to keep in step with the Spirit of God.

If we are led by the Spirit, walk with the Spirit, & live in the Spirit, then we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Instead, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, & temperance.
We cannot be led by the Spirit & fulfill the lust of the flesh at the same time, for they are contrary of one another.
Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections & lusts.
The works of the flesh are clearly seen in the things listed in Galatians 5:19-21.
These sins are broken down into 4 categories: 1) Sins of Sensuality – Excessive devotion given to the gratification of one’s sexual appetite (Sexual immorality, Impurity, & Sensuality). 2) Sins of Religion – A cause, principle, &/or activity pursued with zeal &/or conscientious devotion (Idolatry & Sorcery). 3) Violations against Brotherly Love – Breaking the 2^nd Greatest Commandment, which is love your neighbor as yourself…Leviticus 19:17-18 & Matthew 22:34-40 (Enmity, Strife, Jealousy, Fits of anger, Rivalries, Dissensions, Divisions, & Envy). 4) Sins of Intemperance – Lacking Self-Control (Drunkenness & Orgies).