“Supernatural Living”
Galatians 5:16-26 Sermon Series: “Supernatural”
Introduction: Billy Graham has written, “Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness. Consciously or unconsciously, his inner being longs for both. There are times when man actually cries for them, even though in his restlessness, confusion, loneliness, fear, and pressures he may not know what he is crying for.
God heard that first cry for help, that cry for forgiveness, and answered it at Calvary. God sent His only Son into the world to die for our sins, so that we might be forgiven. This is a gift for us – God’s gift of salvation. This gift is a permanent legacy for everyone who truly admits he has “fallen short” and sinned. It is for everyone who reaches out and accepts God’s gift by receiving Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Paul calls it God’s “indescribable” gift (2 Cor. 9:15).
But God also heard our second cry, that cry for goodness, and answered it at Pentecost. God does not want us to come to Christ by faith, and then lead a life of defeat, discouragement, and dissension. Rather, He wants to “fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; in order that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you” (2 Thess. 1:11, 12). To the great gift of forgiveness God adds also the great gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the source of power who meets our need to escape form the miserable weakness that grips us. He gives us the power to be truly good.
If we are to live a life of sanity in our modern world, if we wish to be men and women who can live victoriously, we need this two-sided gift God has offered us: first, the work of the Son of God for us; second, the work of the Spirit of God in us. In this way God has answered mankind’s two great cries: the cry for forgiveness and the cry for goodness.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, a power is available to you that can change your life, even in such intimate areas as your marriage, your family relationships, and every other relationship.” Main Idea: The way to live out the Christian life of trusting Jesus is through walking in the Spirit.
1. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
A. To rely on and be under the control of the Holy Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18). Jerry Bridges writes, “To live by the Spirit is to live both in obedience to and dependence on the Holy Spirit. There is a balance then between our wills [expressed by obedience] and our faith [expressed by our dependence].”
B. This is the normal Christian life commanded by God for all believers.
C. It is to be a consistent, ongoing action.
2. What are the results of walking in the Spirit?
A. Supernatural Power (v. 16-17)-He gives us the power
to have victory over our sinful nature.
B. Supernatural Freedom (v. 18)-We can be free from
legalism (2 Corinthians 3:17).
C. Supernatural Character (v. 22-23)-The Holy Spirit
develops the character of Christ (the fruit of the Spirit) within us.
3. How do we actually go about walking in the Spirit?
A. Personally trusting Jesus so that we receive the Holy Spirit. (The book of Galatians is very clear that salvation is by
grace through faith.).
B. Crucifying the flesh (Rom. 6).
C. Living under the control of the Spirit. How? It is not
a formula because we are relating to a Person, but here are some steps to take in order to be filled:
-Examine our lives, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all sin, and confess all known sin (1 John 1:9).
-Repent of sin and make things right with others if needed (2 Corinthians 7:10, Matthew 5:23-24).
-Surrender our wills completely to God (Romans 6:11, Luke 9:23).
-Ask to be controlled by the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). -Depend on the Spirit moment by moment
Works of the Flesh
Categories (Timothy George)
1. Sins of Immorality
A. Adultery-a married person having sex outside of the
bonds of marriage
B. Fornication-general word for ungodly sexual
intercourse; sexual immorality C. Uncleanness-Impurity
D. Lewdness-Debauchery; Barclay defines it as “a love of sin so reckless and so audacious that a man has ceased to care what God or man thinks of his actions.”
2. Sins of Idolatry
A. Idolatry-Worshipping a false god in place of God or putting something ahead of God
B. Sorcery-Witchcraft, dabbling in the occult, also has some reference to illicit drug use
3. Sins of Animosity (all refer to the breakdown of interpersonal relationships)
A. Hatred-Enmity; opposite of love
B. Contentions-Strife and discord
C. Jealousies-Wanting what other people have; the root
is not being content with what God has given us
D. Outbursts of wrath-A temper tantrum
E. Selfish ambitions-Politicking for yourself
F. Dissensions-The causing of division; cliquishness G. Heresies-The production of factions, often through
false teaching; feuding
I. Envy-Jealousy
J. Murders-Ultimate, outward expression of these
inward sins
4. Sins of Intemperance
A. Drunkenness-Excessive alcohol intake
B. Revelries-Wild partying 5. Any other sin
The Fruit of the Spirit
1. Love-God’s sacrificial love manifested to others by action; “the source and fountain from which all of the other graces flow”
2. Joy-Hope in God’s ultimate victory
3. Peace-Wholeness and well-being; confidence in difficult circumstances
4. Longsuffering-Patience; putting up with difficult people and circumstances
5. Kindness-Treating other people the right way
6. Goodness-Benevolence and generosity toward others
7. Faithfulness-Trustworthiness and reliability in our dealings with others
8. Gentleness-Meekness, which is strength under control; it stands for what is right but not necessarily our own way
9. Self-control-“Mastery over one’s desires and passions”
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