April 20, 2022
The Difference in My Driving Is Directly Related to Who Is in the Car.
Galatians 5
John Elmore
Central Truth
After Jesus saves us, the Holy Spirit daily keeps us from sin and bears fruit in our lives. But to experience this reality, the question is not if He is willing; the question is whether we are walking with Him, bringing Him into every part of every day.
Key Verse | Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5
Christ Has Set Us Free
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified 1 5:4 Or counted righteous by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, 2 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13 still preach 3 5:11 Greek proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Keep in Step with the Spirit
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, 4 5:21 Some manuscripts add murder drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do 5 5:21 Or make a practice of doing 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, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And 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.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Galatians 5
True confession: I drive differently with Laura in the car . . . not because of speed limits, stop signs, or driving laws, but because of my wife. I am more apt to make a complete stop, not follow closely behind someone on 75, drive slower . . . you get the idea.
And those driving changes with Laura occur for two reasons:
1. I know she hates my bad driving. It drives her crazy and makes her feel like I don't care. So just having her simply in the car improves my driving.
2. When I'm driving badly, she'll say, and I quote, "I feel like I'm going to have a HEART ATTACK." (That's usually when I say, "Raise your hand if you've ever caused a wreck." And only one of us raises our hand. ;-) But it's when I fall into these age-old patterns that she speaks up, and I dial it back.
Like Laura impacts my driving, this is the Holy Spirit's role for our living. He hates sin and by His presence convicts us against the flesh and produces holiness in us, not the Law. He is the Sanctifier (Galatians 5:16). He is the One we get to daily, hourly, invite on this ride of life. And then His job, as our Helper, is to keep us both from sin and for good. He kills the fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), and He produces the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
We talk often about the "fruit of the Spirit," but don't say much about the fatalities of the Spirit. John Owen, the Puritan theologian, called this the "negative work of the Holy Spirit": His job of killing sin (Romans 8:13) (His positive work leads us to bear fruit). So the Spirit, therefore, as we invite Him into our daily walk, will both produce good and kill the bad, *IF* we yield to His leading. He will convict us of the fleshly desires and lead us toward the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Like my driving: the rules don't have power to change us, but a relationship with God will. He promises that!
Discussion Questions
1. CELEBRATE: What fruit of the Spirit do you see in your life that you can rejoice over? Stop and praise God for the fruit He is bearing in your life as He shapes you into the image of Christ. What fruit of the Spirit do you see in your believing friends or community group? Take a minute to text, call, or write a note to the people saying what fruit of the Spirit you see in them.
2. CONSIDER: When and where are you most likely to forget to bring or invite the Holy Spirit into your day or life? Work, marriage, parenting, social life, hobbies, eating (or lack thereof), entertainment, roommates, schoolwork, dating/singleness, etc.? Why do you think this is? What could you do or what would it look like to bring the Spirit more into that area of life?
3. CONFESS: What fruit of the flesh are you giving off the most right now? James 5:16 says confess and pray for one another SO THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. To find healing in this area of the flesh, would you call, text, or meet with someone from your community group or another believer to confess your sin and ask for prayer?