| Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Holy Spirit |
Rusty's Notes
Galatians 5:16-26 - 16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Submission is crucial here: You either live selfishly or you live your life by another.
- The flesh and the Spirit have different appetites: The flesh is all about “me” selfishness.
o What is in it for me?
o How do I win?
o What is the best option for me?
o I can do this by myself… I don’t need anyone’s help/handouts.
- Typically, this choice will end up leading you to the same place over and over again.
o Selfishness leads to loneliness, which leads to bitterness… which leads to more loneliness because no one wants to be around you.
o Say that to a person who is walking selfishly and see what you get!
- The Spirit is about setting yourself aside and not only living for others lives but choosing to let God live your life for you.
o You will end up doing crazy things you have never done in the past.
o You literally will say things like:
o “What would the Spirit say in response to this situation?”
o “Spirit… keep my mouth shut and my fingers off the keyboard… you respond for me.”
o This is the real battle.
- This is our whole life –
o A machine in a factory works, and turns out a product, but it could never manufacture fruit.
o Fruit must grow out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit [1]
o Sermon on the Mount – Flesh
o Last discourse to Disciples – Spirit
o Every epic movie – Selfish vs Others
o Star Wars – Darth Vader wanted the power alone. Luke wanted the goodness for mankind.
o Lord of the Rings
o Terminator
o Schindler’s List
- We see this battle everywhere we go
Galatians 2:19-23
19 Now the works (results) of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice (it is their nature) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. (Obedience… choice) 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.[2]
The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence
Galatians 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- Love
o (agapē) is listed first because it is the foundation of the other graces.
- Joy
o a deep and abiding inner rejoicing which was promised to those who abide in Christ
o It does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of all things
- Peace
o It is an inner repose and quietness, even in the face of adverse circumstances; it defies human understanding
o The first three virtues are habits of mind which find their source in God.
o The second group reaches out to others, fortified by love, joy, and peace.
- Patience
o It entertains no thoughts of retaliation even when wrongfully treated.
- Kindness
o The benevolence in action such as God demonstrated toward men.
- Goodness
o An uprightness of soul.
o As an action, reaching out to others to do good even when it is not deserved.
o The final three graces guide the general conduct of a believer who is led by the Spirit.
- Faithfulness
o The quality which renders a person trustworthy or reliable
- Gentleness
o Marks a person who is submissive to God’s Word and who is considerate of others when discipline is needed
- Self-control
o Denotes self-mastery and no doubt primarily relates to curbing the fleshly impulses just described.
o Such a quality is impossible to attain apart from the power of God’s Spirit
- This is not what you have… You have the Spirit… the Spirit produces this fruit in you and through you
- Whoever possesses these qualities, the Law becomes irrelevant.
- Obviously no one would make laws against people who practice such things.[3]
The Spirit enables us to wait
Galatians 5:5 - 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.[4]
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.[5]
- Romans 5:9 - 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.[6]
- Galatians 5:5 – “Hope of righteousness” is talking about the redemption of our earthly bodies.
The Spirit gives us joy
1 Thessalonians 1:6 - 6 and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.[7]
- It is important that young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature believers.
- Just as a newborn baby needs a family, so a newborn Christian needs discipleship.[8]
- Hebrews 13:17 - 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.[9]
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 719). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 5:16–26). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck ds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 609). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 5:5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (2 Co 5:21). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 5:9). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Th 1:6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 161). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Heb 13:17–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
- Submission is crucial here: You either live selfishly or you live your life by another.
- The flesh and the Spirit have different appetites: The flesh is all about “me” selfishness.
o What is in it for me?
o How do I win?
o What is the best option for me?
o I can do this by myself… I don’t need anyone’s help/handouts.
- Typically, this choice will end up leading you to the same place over and over again.
o Selfishness leads to loneliness, which leads to bitterness… which leads to more loneliness because no one wants to be around you.
o Say that to a person who is walking selfishly and see what you get!
- The Spirit is about setting yourself aside and not only living for others lives but choosing to let God live your life for you.
o You will end up doing crazy things you have never done in the past.
o You literally will say things like:
o “What would the Spirit say in response to this situation?”
o “Spirit… keep my mouth shut and my fingers off the keyboard… you respond for me.”
o This is the real battle.
- This is our whole life –
o A machine in a factory works, and turns out a product, but it could never manufacture fruit.
o Fruit must grow out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit [1]
o Sermon on the Mount – Flesh
o Last discourse to Disciples – Spirit
o Every epic movie – Selfish vs Others
o Star Wars – Darth Vader wanted the power alone. Luke wanted the goodness for mankind.
o Lord of the Rings
o Terminator
o Schindler’s List
- We see this battle everywhere we go
Galatians 2:19-23
19 Now the works (results) of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice (it is their nature) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. (Obedience… choice) 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.[2]
The Spirit produces in us the fruit or evidence of His work and presence
Galatians 5:22-23 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- Love
o (agapē) is listed first because it is the foundation of the other graces.
- Joy
o a deep and abiding inner rejoicing which was promised to those who abide in Christ
o It does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of all things
- Peace
o It is an inner repose and quietness, even in the face of adverse circumstances; it defies human understanding
o The first three virtues are habits of mind which find their source in God.
o The second group reaches out to others, fortified by love, joy, and peace.
- Patience
o It entertains no thoughts of retaliation even when wrongfully treated.
- Kindness
o The benevolence in action such as God demonstrated toward men.
- Goodness
o An uprightness of soul.
o As an action, reaching out to others to do good even when it is not deserved.
o The final three graces guide the general conduct of a believer who is led by the Spirit.
- Faithfulness
o The quality which renders a person trustworthy or reliable
- Gentleness
o Marks a person who is submissive to God’s Word and who is considerate of others when discipline is needed
- Self-control
o Denotes self-mastery and no doubt primarily relates to curbing the fleshly impulses just described.
o Such a quality is impossible to attain apart from the power of God’s Spirit
- This is not what you have… You have the Spirit… the Spirit produces this fruit in you and through you
- Whoever possesses these qualities, the Law becomes irrelevant.
- Obviously no one would make laws against people who practice such things.[3]
The Spirit enables us to wait
Galatians 5:5 - 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.[4]
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.[5]
- Romans 5:9 - 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.[6]
- Galatians 5:5 – “Hope of righteousness” is talking about the redemption of our earthly bodies.
The Spirit gives us joy
1 Thessalonians 1:6 - 6 and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.[7]
- It is important that young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature believers.
- Just as a newborn baby needs a family, so a newborn Christian needs discipleship.[8]
- Hebrews 13:17 - 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.[9]
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 719). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 5:16–26). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck ds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 609). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 5:5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (2 Co 5:21). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 5:9). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Th 1:6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 161). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Heb 13:17–18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
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