FHBC Sermon Notes

Galatians 5:16-26 We investigate many things in our lives. We use evidence to help make assessments and decisions. God has not left us without evidence.

Is there evidence in my own life that I am truly a christian? If we on hearing the gospel have truly be changed, how are we to live?

1. The gospel imparts a new birth to the believer. V. 17

Paul references this in chapter 3 already. There is a remarkable and drastice change in the life of one who has become a Christian, who has heard and recieved the gospel. The Holy Spirit has rejuvenated, revived, made alive again the life that we have received, through those powerful words, the word of the gospel.

There are desires of the flesh and desires of the spirit. So often we are led first by those desires of the flesh. The desire for immediate sexual satisfaction, to be financially secure by any means. Things that lead us to lie and strife and dissension amongst one another.

But the desires of the spirit stand in opposition. Love, joy, peace, kindness. Furthermore, we gather together in worship to acknowledge, admonish, and encourage one another to recognize the power and truth of those words.

Questions.: Is there a desire for prayer, for the reconciliation of relationship among one another? Do we have these new desires?

2. The gospel empowers the believer to live in a new way. V. 13-15

The freedom we have is a power to live in freedom that only comes from being free of our desires. We walk and live by the Spirit.

There is a fight at hand, because the life of the Spirit is in direct opposition to the life of the flesh. Who is going to have supremacy? What we need to win this fight, is not a stronger internal resolve, but the Holy Spirit. Like the superhero that swoops in and takes out assailant.

No therapy or program can cure our disease. Who can cure alcoholism? Only the Holy Spirit. Who can help an addiction to pornography? Only the Spirit. Who gives contentment in the setting of our lives? Only the Spirit. (V. 24)

What replaces these fleshly desires? The fruit of the Spirit. These are things of joy and peace. May they fill our lives in every way.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.