Flesh vs. Spirit

B:

Welcome guests to the family gathering, introduce yourself. Thank the band. Invite guests to parlor after service. Sorry, but I have several announcements this morning.

Tonight is our bi-monthly business meeting of the church at 5:30 pm here in the Sanctuary. Before that, at 5 pm, the Financial Management ministry will hold a discussion time to review and answer any questions regarding our proposed 2020 budget. You can get a copy of the budget from the Get Connected table in the foyer. The budget will be voted on at a special called business meeting on the morning of December 8, but there won’t be any discussion at that time.

We were

Our church-wide Thanksgiving meal will be held on Sunday, November 24, following our morning services. We need help with setup, serving, and clean up. There is a clipboard for you to sign up to help on the Get Connected table in the foyer.

The church will be providing Thanksgiving meal boxes for families in need. We can do up to 12 boxes, and each box will contain a turkey or a ham (their preference) and all the fix’ns. We have 6 of the boxes spoken for at this point. If you need a box for Thanksgiving, or if you know a family that does, please contact either Pastor Wayne, or the office and let us know as soon as possible.

This morning, we come to a passage that at least in part very familiar to many of us. How many of us can quote the fruit of the Spirit from memory?

Well, we are going to look at the fruit of the Spirit in contrast to Paul’s examples of the works of the flesh, and reflect on which we look more like at the end.

Let’s stand in honor of God’s Word and read our focal passage today:

Galatians 5:19–26 CSB

19 Now the works 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 am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Pray

One of the difficulties of preaching is knowing where to break a passage from week to week. If we had had time last week, it could have been nice to kind of keep verses 13-18 together with this week’s message. It flows really well into what Paul brings out in Galatians in our focal passage today.

By way of a quick reminder: last week, we talked about freedom from the flesh: that since we are called to be free, then we are not to use our freedom as an opportunity to indulge our flesh, but instead to serve one another in love and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are set free from our obligation to the flesh by the work of the Holy Spirit, and we are commanded to walk in the Spirit. The flesh fights to keep us from doing the good that we want to do as we walk in the Spirit.

Beginning in verse 19 now, Paul creates the image of a contrast between the flesh and the Spirit. The passages breaks up cleanly, with verses 19-21 being about the “works” of the flesh, and verses 22-24 being about the “fruit” of the Spirit.

Our points this morning will be in the form of questions:

When we come to these two lists, we cannot simply gloss over them and go on with our lives. Instead, as we consider what each list reveals, we have to step back for a second and see where we fit into the picture that Paul is painting. Again, Paul first addresses what he calls the “works” of the flesh. Remember that last week, we defined the “flesh” as our fallen human nature, the center of human pride and self-willing:

Galatians 5:19–21 CSB

19 Now the works 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 am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

gal 5:

Paul says that the “works” of the flesh are “obvious.” Keep in mind that this list is a list of what our flesh does, even though not all of these things are external. Paul says that they are “obvious:” they can be readily seen as being products of our fallen nature.

Paul says that they are “obvious:” they can be readily seen as being products of our fallen nature.

The list breaks into fairly clear categories as well:

Sexual works: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity;

Religious works: idolatry and sorcery;

Relational works: hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy;

Indulgent works: drunkenness and carousing.

Now, we’re not going to go through these one by one this morning, but I want to give an example or two from each category, so that we can have a better picture of what we’re talking about:

Sexual works: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity

Briefly break down (other biblical examples?)

It’s no surprise that our sexuality would be at the front end of this list, as it’s something that everyone has to deal with. This first item on the list, sexual immorality, is a bit of a catch-all, and would likely include the two items following as well. The Greek word here is porneia, from which we get several terms in our English language. Included in this general term is any sexual act which is immoral: premarital and extra-marital sexual activity, pornography, homosexuality, and lots of other things.

There is this tendency in our society to say that our sexual appetites are “only natural,” and therefore they are to be satisfied. However, just because God made us sexual beings doesn’t mean that He doesn’t get to have a say in the way in which our sexuality is practiced. He is the designer, so He has the right to tell the designed how they are to function best.

One of my favorite verses on this topic is :

Hebrews 13:4 CSB

4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Religious works: idolatry and sorcery

We should all, if we are in Christ, hold marriage: our own and others’, in high esteem, and each of us should work to protect the sanctity of the marriage bed—the sexual relationship between husband and wife. Singles and students: your marriage bed already exists, and how you interact with others sexually now will impact your marital sexual relationship, and theirs. Protect your marriage bed, and honor your future spouse now by your faithfulness to them, maybe before you even know them.

Religious works: idolatry and sorcery

One thing that we must keep in mind is the audience of Paul’s letter: the people of Galatia, most of whom had come out of pagan worship systems when they came to faith in Christ. They were still surrounded by these other religions. Those religions were a trap and a snare to the Galatians: they had to work to earn the pleasure of their gods. Paul had addressed this a little bit back in verse 4:8:

Galatians 4:8 CSB

8 But in the past, since you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

As I have said several times during this series, the flesh likes checklists, because the flesh likes power and control. If we have a checklist for our salvation, then our salvation is up to us. It’s in our control, our power.

We are also surrounded by

Not only that, but the flesh also tends toward idolatry because false “gods” hold promises that appeal to the flesh, because they are gods of our own making, so we can demand of them whatever our flesh wants. However, there is nothing useful about a false god of our own creation. Look at :

Habakkuk 2:18–19 CSB

18 What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.

Relational works: hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy

The fact of this list that is so fascinating is that Paul takes over half of this list of the works of the flesh to focus on things that are relational. Each of these works of the flesh is in some way connected with how we relate to other people. You could argue that the sexuality ones were this way as well, which would take the total to 11 out 15.

Do you think that perhaps how we relate to one another, and how we treat one another is important? This has been an issue all the way back to the very beginning. Adam blamed Eve after the Fall. You have to wonder how that first marital fight went after the conversation with God. “I can’t believe you sold me out to Him, Adam!” Then in the very first generation, it’s interpersonal rivalry that gives birth to the first murder when Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.

Cain & Abel?

How we relate to each other, especially in the church, is vital to our testimony in the world. Look at what Jesus said about how we are to love one another:

John 13:34–35 CSB

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 15:12 CSB

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.

John 15:17 CSB

17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

You can’t escape the fact that the works of the flesh look nothing like this love that Jesus commands from us. Strife, outbursts of anger, dissensions, factions… these are all external.... we mistreat others, or we build camps because we’re under the mistaken impression that we need to “win” something. Hatreds, jealousy, selfish ambitions, and envy are all internal. They are the thoughts and ideas that we entertain that are going to lead us to act. This seems to point us back to verses 13-15 of chapter 5, and they are something to watch out for.

Both the external and the internal have no place in the life of the follower of Jesus.

Indulgent works: drunkenness and carousing

Both of these are about the flesh wanting to be indulged, and the one often will lead to the other. Drunkenness, becoming inebriated by alcohol or any other substance, is unacceptable to God. “Carousing” is basically wild partying. See how the one might lead to the other? Paul even tied this idea together in :

Briefly break down (other biblical examples?)

Ephesians 5:15–18 CSB

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:

I don’t care how you cut it, you can’t argue from anywhere in Scripture that getting drunkenness is acceptable to God. And it generally leads to carousing.

Paul ends this list with “and anything similar,” showing that this list isn’t exhaustive. These are not ALL of the works of the flesh. For example, there is another list of vices in that includes some, but not all of these, and which has on it other vices that are not in this list:

Ends with “and anything similar,” showing that this list isn’t exhaustive. For example, there is another list of vices in that includes some, but not all of these, and which has on it other vices that are not in this list:

Romans 1:29–31 CSB

29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.

So what is the point of Paul making this list? It’s so that he can reiterate a warning that he had apparently already given to the Galatians:

Galatians 5:21 CSB

21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

gal 5:

The key word here is the word practice. Paul isn’t talking about the occasional sin and subsequent repentant spirit that follows it. He’s not even necessarily talking about a persistent sin that you actively struggle against and repent of, maybe over and over, but always engaging in the struggle against.

Result: Paul isn’t talking about the occasional sin and subsequent repentant spirit along with it. If this is what your life LOOKS like (practice: present active participle.. currently taking place and taking place repeatedly), then you aren’t truly a son, and you have no inheritance in the kingdom. Looks back to .

Paul is saying that if this is what your life generally LOOKS like (practice: present active participle of “do”: taking place repeatedly), then you should be concerned that something is horribly wrong. If your life is characterized by these things, then perhaps you aren’t truly a son, and you have no inheritance in the kingdom. This looks back to what we studied in chapter 4, verses 1-7.

This question: “Is my life defined by the works of the flesh?” should be a sobering question to answer then, because if this is what my life is defined by, then I’m likely living a lie. I’m not a follower of Jesus. Sure, I might look like it: I go to church, I give money, I put on the right mask on the right day at the right time for the right people, but the Gospel isn’t being borne out by who I am. I don’t actually look like Jesus at all.

Galatians 5:24 CSB

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If this is you, repent and turn to God! Jesus died not so you could look good, but so that you could be forgiven of your sins and set free from their power. Jesus rose from the dead not so you could play act, a dead corpse walking around pretending to be alive, but so that you can actually be made alive spiritually and have eternal life! And Jesus ascended to the Father and is coming back again to judge the whole world, and your mask will not fool Him.

matthew 7:21-

Matthew 7:21–23 CSB

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

I don’t say this to cause any believer to stumble in their faith. But the simple fact is that this is what Paul wrote. What does your life look like: is the flesh doing it’s work? Or, our second point:

Both of these lists share the same basic formula: there’s the intro, then the list of items, and then the results. Let’s look at the fruit of the Spirit:

Make sure you talk about the formulaic structure of the lists: Intro, items, results.

Galatians 5:22–24 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Make sure you talk about the formulaic structure of the lists: Intro, items, results.

gal 5:

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

The idea of “fruit” is that it is something that grows on a tree or a vine. The fruit doesn’t make the tree: the tree makes the fruit. I have three gigantic plum trees in my back yard. They never bear any fruit except plums. Plums every time (and often, lots of them). There isn’t going to come a day when one of my plum trees changes over and becomes a different kind of tree. Even if I were to strap a thousand peaches to it, it would not become a peach tree. It will always be a plum tree. The tree determines the fruit, and as Jesus said in Luke, the fruit displays the truth about the tree:

gal 5:2

luke 3:44

Luke 6:44 CSB

44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.

The idea of “fruit” is that it is something that grows on a tree or a vine. The fruit doesn’t make the tree: the tree makes the fruit. I have three gigantic plum trees in my back yard. They never bear any fruit except plums. Plums every time (and often, lots of them). There isn’t going to come a day when one of my plum trees changes over and becomes a different kind of tree. Even if I were to strap a thousand peaches to it, it would not become a peach tree. It will always be a plum tree. The tree determines the fruit.

The idea of “fruit” is that it is something that grows on a tree. The fruit doesn’t make the tree: the tree makes the fruit. Paul is not saying here that we have to do these things in order to BE in Christ. He is saying that if we are actually in Christ, then these things will begin to be manifest in our lives.

So Paul is not saying in this passage that we have to do these things in order to BE in Christ. He is saying that if we are actually in Christ, then these things will begin to be made manifest in our lives. The Spirit will bear His fruit through us.

We might think that this means we just passively sit back and let Him do His thing, but this isn’t accurate. We have to remember that the walk of faith has a both/and picture to it: Paul commanded the Galatian believers to walk by the Spirit back in verse 16:

The idea of “fruit” is that it is something that grows on a tree. The fruit doesn’t make the tree: the tree makes the fruit. Paul is not saying here that we have to do these things in order to BE in Christ. He is saying that if we are actually in Christ, then these things will begin to be manifest in our lives.

Galatians 5:16 CSB

16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

He adds to this idea in verse 25:

Galatians 5:25 CSB

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

We then are commanded to “walk by the Spirit,” and instructed to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Our reliance upon and connection to the Holy Spirit is vital for bearing good fruit. These fruits are things that are going to happen if we are growing in the Spirit, but also, these fruits are commanded in other places in Scripture, such as what we just looked at in John for love, and we are commanded to “put on” the fruits of kindness, gentleness, and patience in .

Certainly, these fruits are things that are going to happen if we are growing in the Spirit, but also, these fruits are commanded in other places in Scripture, such as what we just looked at in John for love, and we are commanded to “put on” the fruits of kindness, gentleness, and patience in :

Colossians 3:12 CSB

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

As we

So there is that both/and tension: If we are in Christ, then the fruit of the Spirit will grow in our lives, and at the same time, we are to obediently put on what the Spirit grows.

Again, not an exhaustive list.

Don’t forget the both/and picture: we are commanded to walk in the Spirit (v. 16), instructed (not an imperative) to keep in step with the Spirit. These fruits are additionally commanded in other places in Scripture (give examples).

Again, I do not believe that this is an exhaustive list of fruit that the Spirit bears in the lives of those who are growing in Him. For example, this list doesn’t contain hope, but it is clearly a result of the power of the Spirit in :

Romans 15:13 CSB

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, what are we to make of this list of the fruit of the Spirit? This list is a sampling of some of Christ’s own characteristics—characteristics that grow as we live in Christ, being made more like Him through the work of the Spirit. Last week, we looked at . Today, verses 5-11. notice the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit here:

Romans 8:5–11 CSB

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:5–11 CSB

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

The law would never say these things are wrong.

Romans 8:5–10 CSB

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

Just as if Christ is in us our “body” is dead because of sin, we who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (). And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit, so we are made alive through that same Spirit, and as we share in Christ’s life, by the Spirit’s bearing fruit in our lives we will also begin to look more and more like Jesus in character as a part of the process of sanctification that we are undergoing.

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit, so we are made alive through that same Spirit, and as we share in Christ’s life, by the Spirit’s bearing fruit in our lives we will also begin to look more and more like Jesus in character as a part of the process of sanctification that we are undergoing.

Ephesians 4:20–24 CSB

20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

eph 4:20-2

Christ fulfilled the law completelyThe law would never say these things are wrong.

The law would never say these things are wrong.

This is the process that we are in the midst of by His Spirit! We are becoming more like Jesus. Remember what Paul said to the Galatians who were struggling with their legalism back in :

2 Corinthians 3:18 CSB

18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

If we are in Christ, then we no longer have to fear going against God’s law. Because Christ fulfilled the law completely. The law would never say these things are wrong.

Christ fulfilled the law completelyThe law would never say these things are wrong.

Remember what Paul said to the Galatians who were struggling with their legalism back in :

As we

Remember what Paul said to the Galatians who were struggling with their legalism back in :

Galatians 4:19 CSB

19 My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.

Additional point? The verse 24: the flesh has been crucified! How can the flesh still operate?

This is

Verse 26 brings us back full circle. It’s a transitional verse to where Paul will take us in chapter 6, but it has the same structure as verse 25. Where we are challenged “let us keep in step” with the Spirit, we are also instructed “let us not become conceited.” Our pride is always hiding in the shadows, waiting to puff us up, to make us demand our rights or recognition, to whisper to us that we deserve better or more.

Paul said that his labor was that Christ would be formed completely in the Galatian believers. They had struggled with the idea that they had to earn their salvation, and the law was becoming their cage. There was a fear that they wouldn’t be saved if they didn’t keep the law. If we are in Christ, then we no longer have to fear losing our salvation through failing to keep God’s law. Because Christ fulfilled the law completely, and so the law isn’t the means of our salvation.

On the flipside of that coin, though, is the fact that if we are in Christ, if we have believed the Gospel, then the fruit of the Spirit should be manifest in our lives as we walk in obedience by the Spirit in faith. As we do this, and the Spirit causes us to bear this fruit, we actually fulfill the law… because the law would never say these things are wrong, and in fact as this fruit is grown in our lives, we love the Lord our God with all that we are, and we love our neighbor as ourselves.

But finally, we must guard against the idea that somehow we are making the fruit of the Spirit grow within us:

Galatians 5:26 CSB

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Verse 26 brings us back full circle. It’s a transitional verse to where Paul will take us in chapter 6, but it has the same structure as verse 25. Where we are challenged “let us keep in step” with the Spirit, we are also instructed “let us not become conceited.” Our pride is always hiding in the shadows, waiting to puff us up, to make us demand our rights or recognition, to whisper to us that we deserve better or more. If we are keeping in step with the Spirit, we won’t have time or attention to keep our eyes on ourselves.

Matthew 7:13–23 CSB

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. 15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

What do I want people to DO as a result today? Examine their lives. Which do they look like? If they look like the flesh, do they KNOW they are in Christ? Invite to trust in Jesus. If they are confident in their relationship with God in Christ, but aren’t bearing fruit… why are they confident? But assuming they are in Christ,

So what do we do with this passage of Scripture? Examine our lives. Which list do you see consistently displayed in your life?

This morning, maybe you have heard or understood the hope found in the Gospel for the first time: that without Jesus, we are trapped by our sinful flesh, unable to be in fellowship with God on our own. That’s why Jesus came and died for us—to make the way for us to be right with God again, to have our sins forgiven, and to receive the eternal life that He promises to those who place their faith in Him and Him alone for their salvation. Trust in Christ for your forever this morning, and surrender your life to Him in faith.

How do I invite to trust in Jesus?

You may be here this morning, and you have your whole life thought that you were a follower of Jesus, when your life consistently looks like the flesh. Do you KNOW you are in Christ? Do you KNOW you’re saved? If you don’t know, then you can know today: trust in Christ, and surrender your life to Him.

What do I want people to DO as a result today? Examine their lives. Which list do you see consistently displayed in your life? If they look like the flesh, do they KNOW they are in Christ? Invite to trust in Jesus. If they are confident in their relationship with God in Christ, but aren’t bearing fruit… why are they confident? But assuming they are in Christ, why are they lacking fruit?

If you are confident in your relationship with God in Christ, but you aren’t bearing fruit… why are you confident? But assuming you are in Christ, why are you lacking fruit? What’s in the way, stifling the growth of the fruit of the Spirit? Are you just not walking by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit? Repent today of this, and surrender your will to Christ again.

Trevor and Camille will be here with me, Joe and Kerry will be in the back. After our prayer of invitation, I want to call you to action today if you have some repentance that you need to take care of with God. I invite to come and pray with one of us or at the altar or where you are in repentance of those things that are of the flesh.

Invite to join the church family.

Other prayer needs.

Invite the band.

Pray

Remind about the parlor.

Flesh vs. Spirit

Bookmarks & Needs:

Housekeeping Stuff & Announcements:

Opening

1) Is my life defined by the works of the flesh?

2) Is the Spirit bearing fruit in my life?

2) Is the Spirit bearing fruit in my life?

Closing