Many of us have lives that are out of control and don’t even know it. Either the flesh or the Spirit is going to be controlling your life. The “flesh” is that old nature that we have inherited from Adam. In Galatians it mentions adultery, fornication, uncleanness (impure thoughts), lasciviousness (living by the senses), idolatry (Business, TV), witchcraft/sorcery (The use of drugs), hatred (carrying a grudge), division (party-spirit), jealousy, wrath, strife, sedition (Think they are better), heresies, envious, murder, drunkenness, carousing (Party people) and such like (The list is not completed! You fill in the blanks!). All these are lives out of control.

1. The standard for the spirit-controlled life

See Galatians 5:13. The standard is the law. Do I love others as I love myself?

• The law is a licence (The law is our enemy) – The flesh does not want to be fenced in.
• The law is the master. The struggle brings them down. It is known as legalism.
• The law as your friend. That is liberty (vs. 1, 13). No one is liberated until they know control that comes from laws. When controlled by the Spirit we are free.

2. The strength for the spirit-controlled life

See Galatians 5:16-17. We in ourselves do not have the strength. We do not become more like Christ by not doing wrong things but by doing right things. See Galatians 5:18. We must be willingly led by the Holy Spirit. The strength comes from walking in the Spirit. You walk one step at a time:-

• The commencement of the walk – It is an act of your will. You take one step at a time. It is not lived by will power but you must still choose.
• The circumference of the walk (vs. 16). We are to walk IN the spirit. The Spirit is to be the circumference of my walk. The flesh does not want to be fenced in. If we step out of bounds the Holy Spirit blows the whistle.
• The continuance of the walk. We are to keep on walking. Walking is a series of steps. See Colossians 2:6. You started the Christian life by repentance and faith and continue in the same way. It takes two feet to walk – the two feet are repentance and faith. You don’t stand still.

3. The satisfaction for the spirit-controlled life

See Galatians 5:22. This is the only satisfactory life. Fruit is to be consumed to meet your basic hunger. If you hunger after spiritual things God has food to satisfy your every need.

Categories: Galatians