YOUR BROTHER\’S KEEPER
Galatians 5:18-6:10
BE LED BY THE SPIRIT
V:5.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
According to some theologians, there are 613 commands in the law.
Those under the law are obligated to keep all the commands to not be
condemned by the law (James 2:10). All believers in Jesus Christ are not
under the law because all the requirements of the law were fulfilled
with His death on the cross. We are under grace.
The law points to our sins, Grace covers our sins
Therefore, we must decide to be led by the spirit. If we are led by
Holy Spirit we will follow God’s commands out of obedience and not for
fear of condemnation.
THE SINS OF NATURE
19 The acts of the sinful nature 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.
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can resist the sins of the flesh.
To fight the sins of the flesh, we must know what our sins are. Paul said we are sins
are obvious, but to the world, they are normal actions. It is good to review God\’s list
of sins so we will know how we must improve.
Sexual Immorality Adultery, married but sex outside of marriage
Fornication Sex between single and unmarried people
Impurity Unnatural practices, sodomy, bestiality
Debauchery Extreme bodily pleasures, including sex, drugs and
alcohol
Idolatry and witchcraft Worship of idol gods, Use of spells and incantations
to heal or destroy the enemy.
Hatred Opposition to brotherly love and kindness
Discord Open acts of contention
Jealousy Strife to set up one’s self at the expense of another
Fits of rage Disturbing the harmony of the mind
Selfish ambitions Lifting ourselves above others
Dissensions Divisions into separate parties
Fractions Scandals, offenses, and stumbling blocks
Envy Pain felt at the sight of others excellence or happiness
Drunkenness Lost of control of oneself due to abuse of alcohol
Orgies Sexual encounters involving many people
Before Christ, our lives were entangled in these sins. Being created new in
Christ, these things we strive to put aside for the righteousness of God. We
must work continuously to control the temptations of the flesh.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
V:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, 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 sinful nature 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.
Being created new in Christ we are equipped with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Our focus has changed from us to the unity of the body of Christ. It takes time and
maturity to grow in spirit.
God gives us a list of the fruit that characterizes believers in Christ
Love The most important command in the Bible
Love God first, then your neighbor as yourself
Joy Joy is a personal choice. We must focus on the goodness of the
Lord to experience Jesus\’ Joy.
Peace It is not the peace of the world, but the peace of God that surpasses all
understanding.
Patience Learning to wait on the Lord, trusting Him in all our circumstances
Kindness Showing acts of kindness to others in all situations
Goodness Doing the things that are good to others, overlooking
the bad in others
Faithfulness Trusting in the promises of the Lord
Gentleness Developing an attitude of gentleness toward others
with regard to their well being
Self-control Allowing the spirit to guide and direct all your activities
Being led by the spirit, our focus is promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ and
unity in the body. Learning to be submissive to the Spirit is a continuous process.
of practical applications of the elements listed to produce the desired fruit.
The Christian life is a continuous work to rid ourselves of the sins of the flesh and
replace them with the fruit of the spirit.
BE OUR BROTHER\’S KEEPERS
V:6.1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other\’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
There are times when any of us can get caught up in the evil of the world. It may
happen unknowingly or by mistake. It is the job of mature believers to come
alongside a brother and counsel him in the right way. We must be careful that
we don’t discourage but lift them up in the Lord. We may help them bear the burden.
of sin with fellowship and prayer.
While counseling another, let us not see ourselves in a better position but
subject to the same sin. It not our strength that holds us in check, but the
Power of the Lord lives within us. We find our contentment in the Lord and
not in the failure of others.
SHARING WITH YOUR TEACHER
V:6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
Our teachers are subject to the same pitfalls as everyone else. When we have good
news, we should share testimonies with them. We teach with confidence the
in the Lord. But it is good to be encouraged by others in what they have learned
and experienced. As a teacher, it gives me joy when I see others maturing and
handling life’s problems successfully.
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
V:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
When I was growing up, I spent my summers on the farm with my grandparents.
I was there when they used a horse and a plow to prepare the fields for planting.
I remember walking the fleshly plowed rows and dropping corn seeds. I watched
the seeds planted sprout and grow corn stocks with five to ten corn ears each.
Indeed we reaped what was sown. The good news was, my grandparents, reaped
a thousandfold more than was planted. There was corn for flour, meal, and corn
bread in the oven.
Likewise, when we plant spiritual seeds of the Word of God into our families and
those around us, we will reap a harvest of God’s goodness. When we sow seeds
of love and kindness, we will reap love and kindness.
On the other hand, if we sow bad seeds of corruption, we will reap corruption.
We sow our future by what we do. The good we do for Christ stores up
treasures for a generous harvest.
Rev. M. Mitchell
