HOW TO LIVE LIKE A CHRISTIAN
Galatians 5:18-6:10
LED BY THE SPIRIT
V:18. \” But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.\”
A. This should be the goal of every Christian; be led by the
Spirit.
1. It is the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to be our teacher,
comforter and guide.
2. We all(believers) have the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit.
3. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all
things.
4. So the question is, are we willing to listen to the Holy
Spirit?
B. The Question is, how do we hear from the Holy Spirit?
1. You hear from the Holy Spirit by studying the Word.
a. John 14:26 \” But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father
will send in my name, will teach you all things and
will remind you
of everything I have said to you. \”
b. John 16:13 : \”The Holy Spirit will not speak on His
own, but will speak only what He hears.\”
2. I believe that if it is a question of what is right or
what is wrong, the Holy Spirit will prick our minds and
hearts in the direction of righteousness.
3. Before you take any action, take time to meditate and the
Holy Spirit will let you know what is right.
4. The key is to never act without the guidance of the Holy
Spirit.
5. Another key is to never think you know what is best
without the Holy Spirit guidance.
OUR PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT
V:19-21. \” Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.\”
A. Verses 19 -21 list seventeen specific sins or categories of
sins which corrupts us.
1. We were born in the flesh and therefore subject to the
sins of the flesh.
2. Before Christ we were powerless against our fleshly
desires.
3. If we are real with ourselves, we would admit we have been
involved in some of these sins.
B. We can\’t hide from our sins, so we should admit to the Lord
and go to next step of repentance.
1. We participated in these sins before Christ and in some
degree may still be involved.
2. Old attitudes are hard to change.
3. Change is a growing process that takes place over time.
THE EVIDENCE OF OUR CHANGE
V:22-23. \” 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.\”
A. Verses 22 and 23 list nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
1. As we grow, the old fleshly habits gradually change to new
habits, which manifest themselves in fruits of the Spirit.
2. All of us are in different stages of spiritual growth.
B. Following the flesh, leads to death.
1. Following the Spirit leads to eternal life.
2. The Good News is Christ death on the cross has freed us
from the penalties of our fleshly sins.
3. Christ is tolerant enough to allow us to grow into
spiritual maturity.
4. Christ is not surprised that all of the fruits of the
Spirit are not yet manifested in us.
A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
V: 24. \” Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.\”
A. Any man in Christ is a new creation.
1. By position established with Christ, the flesh no longer
has power over us.
2. We have to learn to exercise God\’s power over our flesh.
B. Our fleshy passions and desires will subside over time as we
grow in the life of Christ.
1. I think we must be truthful with ourselves that we are not
all that Christ desires for us.
2. We are still on the road of spiritual growth with
ourselves and those around us.
3. Getting better never ends.
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
V:25-26. \” If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Bear One Another\’s Burdens\”
A. The Christian lifestyle is a new way of living.
1. We are to live by the spirit.
2. We must yield ourselves to the influence of the Spirit.
3. It is natural for us to be under the influence of the
world.
4. Since the world opposes the Spirit, all we have to do
is be abnormal.
a The world says hate, the Spirit says love.
b. The world says get even, the Spirit says forgive.
c. The world says show your pride, the spirit says be
humble.
B. This Christian life is not all about us.
1. The Christian life is about serving one another.
2. Jesus said, I did not come to be serve, but to serve.
3. Being a Christian, sometime means the sacrifice of our
desires for the desires of another. That is change.
4. Our opinion does not have to be pushed all the time. Let
the the other person have the spot light.
5. We don\’t have to be right all the time. Let the other
person be right especially when it really does not affect
anything.
TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS
V:6.1-2. \” Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too
will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another\’s burdens, and thereby
fulfill the law of Christ\”
A. The world says if anyone is caught doing something wrong,
point it out so every one can see it.
1. The new Christian attitude says treat everyone as you
would like to be treated.
2. Don\’t be to quick to judge when you don\’t know the full
story.
3. Even if the fault is true, counsel the brother in private
in the right way.
B. We should never be harsh when approaching someone.
1. Treat everyone with the spirit of gentleness.
2. Even if you are treated harshly, bless the other person
with a spirit of gentleness.
3. Love covers a multitude of sins.
DON\’T THINK TO HIGHLY OF YOURSELF
V:3-4.\” For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.\”
A. Don\’t think to highly of yourself.
1. To think highly of yourself is to think your are better
than someone else.
2. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you are worth and
standing by what you believe.
a. We have to be careful in so doing, not to devalue
another person.
b. To God, we are all equal, but have different skill
sets.
B. When we boast, we should boast in the Lord.
1. Give the Lord credit for your accomplishments.
2. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
3. A good person is satisfied with his own work and
and what he has accomplished with his labor.
WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT
V:5. \” For each one will bear his own load.\”
A. You will reap what you sow.
1. What you measure out will be measured back to you.
2. Every man will have his proper reward.
3. A virtuous man will find contentment in his works.
3. A vicious man will find misery.
4. One who is generous, will have others generous to him.
5. One who causes trouble will constantly be in trouble.
B. God will judge those who judge others.
1. We are commanded not to judge so we want be judged.
2. The key is to do unto others what you want done to you.
3. Whatever you do for Christ, will have a reward.
BLESS YOUR PASTOR WITH YOUR INCREASE
V:6. \” The one who is taught the word is to share all good
things with the one who teaches him.\”
A. Those who teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ
should be supported by those who benefit from the Word.
1 Cor 9:7-15
1. A laborer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim 5:18
2. The congregation of any Church should take care of the
shepherd of the Church.
B. God looks out for His preachers and teachers who dedicate
themselves to Him.
1. God blesses the members of the Church who bless their
pastor.
2. God has given us great spiritual resources through His
shepherds.
3. We should see it as our duty to share our material
success with the pastor.
YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW
V:7-8. \” Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a
man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his
own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,
but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap
eternal life.\”
A. God does not like lazy and evil folk.
1. God does not like the selfish or the proud.
2. The success or failures of our lives depend on our own
efforts.
B. Those who work hard will eventually reap the benefit of their labor.
1. Those who serve the Lord will reap spiritual benefits.
2. Those who cause trouble in the lives of others, trouble
their own lives.
3. This is the simple principle of what goes around comes
around.
4. If you Sow good seeds, you will reap a good harvest.
5. If you Sow bad seeds, you will reap weeds and thorns.
GOD PROMISES A REWARD FOR GOOD DEEDS
V: 9. \” Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we
will reap if we do not grow weary.\”
A. This is how faith operates and how faith grows.
1. God is good to us all the time.
2. God has been good to us, so likewise we ought to be good
to others.
3. It is easy to do nothing, or do bad, but it takes a
change in the heart to do good to those you come in
contact.
4. It takes a change in our lifestyle to see our mission in
life as doing good things for others.
5. We don\’t just serve God by coming to Church. That is what
we ought to do.
5. We serve God when we sacrifice ourselves for the good of
the Gospel.
6. We serve God when we sacrifice ourselves helping others
in need.
B. Our faith grows as we serve because we see the power of God
working.
1. There is a promise of a reward given in this verse.
2. We will reap if we continue to serve.
3. The word \”weary\” is a Greek word which means to relax or
set yourself free,free from the burden of doing good.
4. We have to endure a time of doing good for others before
we see the good God has for us.
5. Do not get discourage because you don\’t see a change in
your life as you serve the Lord.
a. God made this promise of reaping.
b. Just hang on, and God will make good on His promise.
6. Sometimes the reaping is when you see the joy that you
bring others by serving them.
7. Sometimes it is your serving that brings you joy and
peace.
DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN
V:10. \” So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to
all people, and especially to those who are of the household of
the faith.\”
A. Time is not on our side.
1. None of us know how long we have to live.
2. You don\’t have to be sick to die. Healthy people die.
3. You don\’t have to be old to die. The young die also.
B. The Apostle Paul urges us to do good all the time to all
people.
1. All people includes those you like and those you can\’t
stand to be around.
2. All people includes friends and enemies.
C. Apostle Paul makes a special request that we do good to our
brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. How is it that we can get along with folk outside the
Church but go the other way when we see certain people in
the Church?
2. We don\’t have to like what someone does, to treat them
with kindness and gentleness.
3. We really don\’t know what some one is dealing with when we
see them.
a. Their reaction to you may be a response to something
that is troubling them.
b. Your tender, loving response might be the
encouragement they need.
4. When you have a lifestyle of doing good, rewards will come
to you.
SAY GOOD MORNING WITH A SMILE AND GOODBY WITH LOVE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston, Texas 77040
For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
