WALK BY THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16-26 / Keywords 5:16

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

 

5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Footnotes

c. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what

1. When we live by the law, we are still in our flesh. How can we overcome the desires of our flesh when we are in Christ? Paul tells us that when we live by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of our flesh. God’s Spirit is His gift to us. When we live by the Spirit, we are no longer under the law. But when we live by the flesh, our deeds and lives are destructive. We hurt God, others, and ourselves. Those who live as such cannot inherit the kingdom of God, no matter their religious activities.

 

2. A life led by the Spirit is keenly different. It is marked by fruit. It is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. Do we have these fruits in our lives? We can learn to crucify our flesh by keeping in step with the Spirit every moment of each day. He will transform us to bear good fruit that reflects God’s kingdom and love on earth.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit. Help me to walk by the Spirit and bear good fruit in my life.

One Word Live by the Spirit