Led By The Spirit

Sermon. Tim Keller.

gal 5:16-25

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 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. 22 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. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

beliefs dont automatically affect our lives

- must be turned inward through christian practices

- must examine ourselves for the fruit of the spirit

-- all true christians produce fruit

-- it may not be big, but it should be growing

what are fruit?

love - caring about others for their sake, not what i get

joy - love of god, not his gifts

peace - trust in god

patience - ability to suffer/be wronged without becoming bitter

faithfulness

kindness

goodness

humility

self-control

gentleness

fruit = singular

- fruit of spirit = supernaturally produced character

-- many facets of same holy spirit but not seprate

our character is revealed by our actions

- if we're not growing in one, then we're not growing at all

- "temperamentally" patient is really just self-centered/sinful patence

- being led by spirit means growing in fruit

how do i cultivate this?

1. crucify sinful nature

- 'sinful nature' - acts of the flesh; system of self-salvation

--not talking about physical body

- if we're led/live by spirit, then we dont satisfy sinful nature and not under the law

--under the law = system of self-salvation

-- do i obey the law out of thankfulness or as an attempt to earn it

--- f.o.s. = flesh operating system

---- creates over desire

---- sucks good into center/heart and makes it an idol, displacing god

---- human approval is good but under the f.o.s., when ppl disapprove, we're devastated not just upset

i am therefore i do or i do therefore i am

2. belong to christ

- f.o.s. even says that i have to crucify the sinful nature to belong to christ

-- says i must obey to be loved/blessed

- gospel says belong and then the flesh will be crucified

-- gospel says ive been saved and loved so i can love others, knowing theyre what i am without christ (not based on what ive done)

how do i know i belong?

- because the price has already paid the price by christ

- gall = bitter fruit

-- christ recieved gall/thorns so i can have sweetness/fruit

-- fruit of hs is foretaste of coming age

-- obeying out of thankfulness because it has already been earned and freely given

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building blocks to discipleship

1. exp the word

2. flesh vs spirit (what's at the center?)

- help them identify it and move themselves back on focusing on christ

3. singular fruit - are you growing?

- ask about and pt out fruit of spirit

4. identify root causes for behavior

-- ask why they do certain behaviors and examine motives

5. freedom in christ - gal 5:1

- what does it mean to be free?

6. christ crucified and changed lives

- im evil but hestill loves me, now he hs is he power of change

how?

- preach the cross

- be vulnerable in 1 on 1

- lead by living it out

- help them understand the interconnectedness and the importance of christ

- ask the right questions

- never let a mtg end without telling ppl how much god loves them