I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 19th July 2009

Let’s read Galatians 5:16-26

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Look at verse 16

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

• I Say, then
• Walk in the Spirit
• And you shall not
• Fulfil the lusts of the flesh

Wonderful!

We have a means by which we shall not bring to fulfilment the lusts of the Flesh.

Look at verse 17

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish

• The flesh lusts against the Spirit
• The Spirit lusts against the Flesh
• These, the flesh and the Spirit are contrary to one another
• This is the reason that you do not do the things that you wish to do

I say to you choose to walk in the Spirit and you shall not bring to fulfilment the lusts of the flesh!

Wonderful!

Amazing!

So simple!

Let’s look a little closer.

The flesh and the Spirit are contrary/ obstinate / opposing/ to one another.

You do not do the things you wish to do because of this obstinate nature of the flesh and the Spirit.

The flesh and the Spirit are repugnant to one another!

Disgusting
Revolting
Nauseating
Repulsive
Hideous
Abominable
Distasteful

Look at verse 21 the last bit of the verse

Envy, murders drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• Let there be no misunderstanding
• I tell you, as I have said to you before
• They who do such things
• Shall not inherit the kingdom of God

Are you expecting to enter into the inheritance which Jesus death paid for?

Let me tell you

You who do such things listed here in verses 19-21 will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

It does not matter who you are. It will not happen.

Look at verse 21 again.

Envy, murders drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

You think I am being too hard?

Let’s look at what Jesus has to say about one of these things.

Matthew 5: 27 and 28

You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus makes it very hard!

Galatians 5:18

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

• If you are led by the Spirit
• You are not under the law.

Verse 16

16 I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

• I say, then,
• Walk in the Spirit
• And you shall not fulfil
• The lusts of the flesh

If I choose to walk in the Spirit what shall be the result?

Look at verse 22 and 23

The fruit of the Spirit is

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

I say, then, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh!

Amazing!

How simple

Look at verse 23

Against such there is no law.

Walking in the Spirit keeps you free from being under the law.

Look at verse 24

Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
You among us who are Christ’s, you who belong to Jesus, who believe that Jesus is the Anointed one of God, the very Son of God; you have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Hallelujah!

Amazing!

Praise his holy name

For his goodness to us the sons of men!

The answer to the flesh, Crucifixion!

Verse 16

I say, then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

There is more

Let’s look at verse 25

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

• If we live in the Spirit
• Let us also walk in the Spirit

Turn to Romans 8:1-11

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Let’s turn to Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

• Those of you who live according to the flesh set your minds on the things of the flesh
• Those of you who live according to the Spirit set your minds on the things of the Spirit.

Where is your mind setting itself?

Is your mind setting itself on the things of the flesh, or the things of the Spirit?

Let’s look at Romans 12:1 and 2

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

• I beseech you there for brethren, by the mercies of God, that you be transformed by the renewing of your mind

I say, then, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Change your mind with regard to walking in the Spirit!

Go back to Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

• Are you in Christ, do you believe that Jesus is the anointed one
• The Son of God?
• Then there is no condemnation upon you.

Continue to walk in the Spirit

Look at verse 8

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

• You want to please God
• Stop walking in the flesh
• Change your mind
• Walk in the Spirit

Look at verse 9

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

If the Spirit of God dwells in you
Here is raised a doubt as to whether the Spirit of God dwells in these Romans!

And in the same verse he says how you can know?

If any one does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

If you belong to Jesus Christ, you have the Spirit with in you.

And if you have the Spirit dwelling in you, you are not in the flesh

Look at verse 14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Sons of God need to change their mind, and be different from the world, by being:

Led by the Spirit

Live in the Spirit

Walk in the spirit

Let me read to you what God is about to do here in the Glen Aros Family.

Haggai 1:12-15

Hag 1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared before the LORD.
13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the message of LORD to the people, saying, I am with you, says the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
15 in the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king

Look at verse 13
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, ‘I am with you, says the Lord’.

And verse 14

So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the sprit of Joshua the son of Jehzadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of he people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.

In the New Testament the onus is upon you to stir up your spirit with in you, so that you may be led by him, live in him, and walk in him.

Its time to be stirred up in your Spirit for the building of the house of God, prepare your heart, and experience the fruit of walking in the Spirit

God bless you as you meditate upon these verses.