Live and Walk By The Spirit Galatians 5:16-26

Live And Walk By The Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians 5:16–26

Paul says in Romans 7, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

There are few moments when I feel the truth of those words more deeply than when I'm driving in traffic. Someone pulls out in front of me without even looking. Another driver is riding so close to my bumper they can probably tell me what brand of tires I have. Then there's the person sitting in the left lane, scrolling on their phone while everyone else is trying to get somewhere.

Before long, I can feel the flesh bubbling up. My patience disappears. My attitude changes. In that moment, I have a choice: am I going to gratify my flesh, or am I going to walk by the Spirit?

The truth is, what comes out of us reveals what is growing inside of us.

No farmer plants corn in the spring and expects soybeans in the fall. We all understand that the seed determines the harvest. If you plant corn, you get corn. If you plant wheat, you get wheat. The harvest always reveals the seed.

Throughout Scripture, fruit is used as evidence of what is happening inside a person's heart. Jesus said in Matthew 7, "By their fruit you will recognize them." Good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit.

Paul takes that same picture in Galatians. He reminds us that those who belong to Jesus should bear the fruit of the Spirit. His command is simple: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

So far in Galatians, Paul has pleaded with these believers not to return to slavery under the law. We saw two weeks ago that Jesus set them free to serve one another humbly in love—not to indulge the flesh.

Today Paul shows us what those two paths look like. One leads to gratifying the flesh. The other leads to walking by the Holy Spirit. And the harvest of your life will reveal which path you've been following.

If you have your bibles. Right after 2 Corinthians right before Ephesians

The Spirit vs the flesh

Galatians 5:16-18

Galatians 5:16–18

Paul answers to the pervious problem from vs. 13-15. Indulging the flesh, biting and devouring each other but rather serving one another humbly in love. The answer is to walk by the spirit. Walking by the Spirit means living in daily dependence on the Holy Spirit through prayer, obedience to God's Word, repentance when we sin, and surrender to His leading.

Have you ever wondered why following Jesus sometimes feels like a battle?

Why part of you wants to forgive... while another part wants revenge?

Why one part of you wants to pray... while another wants to scroll social media?

Why one part wants purity... while another wants sin? That's the battle Paul is describing. If you're a Christian, there is a war inside you. And strangely enough, that's evidence the Holy Spirit lives in you.

The Spirit of God is in conflict with the flesh, with sin. Have you been saved and set free in Jesus to do whatever you want? No! You have been saved and set free to live and walk by the Holy Spirit. When we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, when we meet Jesus in baptism, not only are we forgiven of our sins but we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. Peter said.

Acts 2:38

Acts 2:38

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Now just as we are not saved by our own works we are not sanctified by our own efforts. Sanctification is the lifelong process of choosing to follow God’s will over living to please ourselves. And just as salvation is us being depended on God, so our living for God is depended on the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers when we surrender ourselves to Him and yield to His leading. And so, there is this conflict, this war that happens in us. Because our old self in conflict with our new self. And while we will never be entirely free from the sinful desires in this life, we can experience victory over them as we depend on the Holy Spirit.

Notice Paul doesn’t talk about this as a one time and done thing. Or state that we just now are. Unlike salvation which changes our state, sanctification is a journey. We walk by the spirit; we are led by the spirit. There is motion and movement.

What does walking actually look like? Walking implies...direction, relationship, dependence, daily decisions, progress instead of perfection.

Jim Putman put it this way, a disciple is “Being changed by Jesus (heart). Jesus said we would know a tree by its fruit (see Matthew 7:17-20). He did not mean perfect fruit; He meant growing fruit. As we spend time following Jesus, He changes us internally- He changes who we are.

Matthew 7:17–20

This is a lifelong process that won’t be complete this side of heaven. But when we spend time following Jesus, he changes who we are, and that fruit will be growing.

This is daily dependence on the Holy Spirit to choose God’s will over sin and self. This requires regular repentance and constant reliance on the Holy Spirit.

This lifelong journey following Jesus begins, continues and ends by God’s grace alone.

Then Paul lays out practical what the works or acts of the flesh looks like compared with the fruit of the spirit in the life of the believer.

Works of the flesh

Galatians 5:19-21

Galatians 5:19–21

Paul says the works or acts of the flesh are obvious. Not that they are all in the public but they are obvious that they come from the sinful flesh and not the new self with the Holy Spirit indwelling.

Sexual immorality- Sexual immorality is all forms of illicit sexual relationships. Anything outside of God’s design for the gift of sex. Sex is a gift from God given within the bonds of marriage between one man and one woman for life. Like marriage, God alone gets to define sex. So sexual immorality is sex before you say I do. If you’re going to get married but aren’t. This is sex with someone you didn’t say I do too. This also includes homosexuality. Any sexual relationship outside of one man and one woman in the convent of marriage. Sex is a gift that God has given to marriage and anything outside of that destroys what God has given to be a blessing.

Impurity- this is a sexual sin or moral uncleanness in thought, word or actions. This would be lust, pornography weather picture, video, novel, AI, ect.

Debauchery- the open and shameless displays of these evils.

We think we live in the worst society every. But the truth is there is nothing new under the sun, including evil. We may see it instantly on the phones in our pockets. But sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery have been around since sin came into the world destroying what God has given as a gift and blessing to marriage.

Paul also list Idolatry and witchcraft. The bowing down to idols, the worship of pagan gods, creation, the dead.

I shared this a couple weeks ago but, Tim Keller said, “Idol worship is anything more important to you that God.”

Paul also lists sins that impact how we relate to other people. Hatred- the felling of enmity between groups of people. Discord- this is the result of hatred. Jealousy- self-centered and sinful desires. Discontent with what you have or where you are. Tied closely to jealousy selfish ambition- self-centeredness that makes you step over and on anyone no matter what it cost them. Dissentions and factions which are the results of quarreling over issues or personalities that come from hatred, jealousy and selfish ambition. Envy- wrong desire of what belongs to others. Drunkenness and orgies.

Notice the progression.

Sexual sins.

Religious sins.

Relational sins.

Self-indulgent sins.

Do you notice something? Every one of these sins either dishonors God or destroys relationships.

Now in no way is Paul giving an exhaustive list of sins or acts of the flesh. But it’s these and things like them. Paul warns that those who live like this, those who habitually indulge in these fleshly sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. This doesn’t mean that a Christian loses their salvation if the slip into a sin of the flesh. But this is the fruit, evidence of someone not being a child of God. The one who lives continually at such a level of unrepentant moral corruption, is evidence that they are not a child of God and will not inherit the kingdom of God.

After showing us what life looks like apart from the Spirit, Paul now paints one of the most beautiful pictures in the New Testament. This is what Jesus looks like living His life through His people.

Fruit if the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23

Do you see the contrast of between the works of the flesh vs the fruit the spirit produces in us? When we walk by the Spirit this what our life our walk looks like.

Paul intentionally says works of the flesh. But fruit of the Spirit.

Flesh produces works. Spirit produces fruit. One comes from human effort. One comes from God's power.

Also notice that Paul doesn't say fruits. He says fruit. Meaning these aren't nine separate spiritual gifts where we pick our favorite. They're one Spirit-produced character. Someone can't say "I'm patient but not loving." Or "I'm joyful but harsh." The Spirit grows the whole character of Jesus.

Love- agape love- self-sacrificing love. This is the love that Jesus has shown to us. We follow the example of Jesus who sacrificed self for the needy, hurting and lost. We put our faith into action by mobilizing to help our community and world, even when called to sacrifice and suffer to care for their needs over our own.

The Spirit changes how we love God

Joy- a deep and abiding rejoicing in the promises of God that aren’t based on our circumstances.

Peace- again a gift of God. Peace even in the midst of the storm. Peace that defies human understanding. Peace the doesn’t make sense.

The Spirit changes how we treat people

Because the Holy Spirit produces love, joy and peace they bear patience- Patience isn't just waiting in line. It's responding with grace when someone wounds you.

Kindness- not just patience when wrong but action of benevolence towards others even when they have wronged us. Since God has shown us kindness we have this same kindness towards others.

Goodness- to do good even it’s not deserved. Do not grow weary in doing good.

The Spirit changes who we become

Faithfulness- being trustworthy, reliable.

Gentleness- Gentleness isn't weakness. It's strength under control. They are considerate of others.

Because they are self-controlled- their fleshly impulse that Paul list in verse 19-21.

Love, Joy, Peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These are impossible to live out apart from the power of the Holy Spirit who is living in us. But we must be fully dependent on Him. Since we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with Spirit.

Galatians 5:24-26

Galatians 5:24–26

If you belong to Jesus, your flesh with it’s passions and desires have been put to death, crucified. Since we live by the Spirit let us walk by the Spirit.

Notice how Paul talks about these fruit of the Spirit work practically in our daily life.

Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4–7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joy is rooted in God's unchanging promises rather than changing circumstances. Gentleness should be evident to all. Not worrying or being anxious about anything but in any and every situation trust God by taking everything to Him in prayer. And the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. The peace that defies human understanding.

Paul isn't giving us a checklist to see if we're good enough for God.

Sometimes we read this passage backwards. We think, "If I can just be more loving... more patient... more joyful... more self-controlled... then God will be pleased with me."

That's the very trap Paul has been warning about throughout Galatians. The fruit of the Spirit is not something you manufacture. It's something the Spirit produces. An apple tree doesn't wake up every morning straining to produce apples. It simply stays rooted, alive, and healthy—and fruit grows naturally.

The Christian life works the same way.

The question isn't, "How hard are you trying?"

The question is, "How closely are you walking with Jesus?"

The closer you walk with Jesus, the more the Holy Spirit changes your heart.

You won't become perfect overnight.

But over time people should begin to see more love...

more joy...

more peace...

more patience...

more kindness...

more goodness...

more faithfulness...

more gentleness...

and more self-control.

Not because you're stronger. Because the Spirit is changing you.

You never hear an apple tree grunting to produce apples. It isn't straining. It isn't yelling. It simply stays rooted, receives sunlight and water, and because it is alive, fruit appears. Healthy trees don't force fruit—they naturally produce it.

But walking by the Spirit also isn't passive.

Some people hear "depend on the Spirit" and think "I don't do anything."

Paul actually says Walk. Keep in step. Crucify. Be led. Those are active verbs.

The Christian life isn't "Let go and let God." It's "Depend completely while actively obeying." Jesus said in John 15, “Abide in me... apart from me you can do nothing." Christians don't produce fruit by trying harder. We produce fruit by abiding in Jesus and walking by His Spirit.

So this week, instead of trying to "be better," I'd encourage you to ask one simple question every day: "Holy Spirit, how do You want me to walk today?"

When you're frustrated with your spouse... Walk by the Spirit.

When your children test your patience... Walk by the Spirit.

When temptation comes... Walk by the Spirit.

When anxiety starts taking over... Walk by the Spirit.

When someone hurts you... Walk by the Spirit.

Moment by moment. Conversation by conversation. Decision by decision. Walking by the Spirit isn't one big decision you make once. It's thousands of small decisions to surrender to Jesus every single day.

That's what Paul means by "keeping in step with the Spirit."

Maybe today, as we've walked through these two lists, you've recognized which one describes your life. Not perfectly... But honestly.

If your life is characterized by continually living for the flesh without repentance, Paul gives a loving warning. That road doesn't lead to life.

But here's the good news of the gospel. Jesus died for people controlled by the flesh.

He died for the sexually broken.

He died for the angry.

The jealous.

The proud.

The addict.

The self-righteous.

The gospel isn't that you clean yourself up and then come to Jesus.

The gospel is that you come to Jesus exactly as you are, and He changes you from the inside out.

He forgives your sin. He gives you His Spirit. And then He begins producing new fruit in your life.

So today there are really two invitations.

If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, today is the day to stop trusting yourself and trust Jesus. Repent, believe the gospel, meet Jesus in baptism for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We'd love to talk with you about what it means to follow Jesus.

But if you're already a believer, don't leave here trying harder. Leave here depending more deeply.

Tomorrow morning, before you check your phone... Before you head to work... Before the day begins... Pray, "Holy Spirit, today I can't live the Christian life without You. Lead me. Change me. Help me keep in step with You."

Paul ends with this: "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Here's a good heart check. As you've listened to this message today, have you spent more time thinking about someone else who needed to hear it than asking the Holy Spirit what He wants to change in you?

It's easy to hear a sermon and think, "I wish my spouse were here." Or, "I hope so-and-so is listening."

But the fruit of the Spirit always begins with God changing our hearts before we worry about someone else's. Before we point a finger outward, we should ask, "Holy Spirit, where am I walking in the flesh? Where do You want to produce more fruit in me?"

So don't leave here asking, "Who needed this sermon?" Leave asking, "Holy Spirit, what fruit do You want to grow in me this week?"

Because the Christian life doesn't begin by grace and continue by grit.

It begins by grace... It continues by grace... And one day it will end in glory—all because of Jesus.