IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:25

We need to live by the Spirit and thus keep in step with the Spirit. Example: in a military march all move in unison and harmony, keeping the same step.

To keep in step with the Spirit is to keep the pace and the steps of the Spirit. Example: in a choir it takes just one person to be off key to ruin the entire piece of music.

Q. Have you been keeping in step with the Spirit?


1. LIVE BY THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16
The desires of the sinful nature are in opposition to the desires of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:13-15

We have a free life. Therefore we should live by the Spirit in order to correctly handle that freedom. Freedom is a great thing, and it brings great joy to attain it, e.g. when nations get independence or when an innocent man who has served time in jail is released.

v. 13 At the point that we do not serve one another, we are not living by the Spirit. When you live by the Spirit, you will love your neighbour as yourself. You will be a servant to your wife/husband/children/parents/roommates/work mates/neighbours, etc.

Q. Have you been living by the Spirit?

Galatians 5:19-21

When you live by the Spirit, the Spirit gives you victory over these sins. When you live by the sinful nature, you cannot be and will not be victorious.

Q. Are these things rampant in your life - married yet attracted to other people, masturbation, loving things and being more devoted to them than to God?

Q. Are there people in the church who you would not want to work with on any given project because of your feelings towards them?

Galatians 5:22-26

The qualities in verses 22, 23 come only when we keep in step with the Spirit.

Q. Do you have these qualities in your life? The great thing is that you can have any and all of these qualities that may currently be lacking in your life.

While the Christian walk is very challenging, God has given us his Sprit to help us to overcome that challenge and lead victorious lives.

Galatians 2:20

Paul said this, and we will say it too, only when we have lived by the Spirit.


2. BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:15-20

v. 18 Be filled with the Spirit. This means that it is our individual responsibility to do so.

Getting drunk on wine only destroys yourself and the relationships around you. It gives you false hopes. You listen to no one but want only to be listened to.

As destructive as it is to be drunk on wine, it is up-building to be filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit builds you up and strengthens your relationships. It gives you true, lasting hope and makes you quick to listen and to take advice. It results, verse 19, in true worship of God and true, deep relationships within the church.

How do we get filled with the Holy Spirit? Through the word of God - John 6:63, and through prayer - Acts 4:31.

You must be careful to live by the Spirit, verse 15. It will not happen with a mere casual attempt. You must use every opportunity, verse 16, to live by the Spirit and not by the sinful nature.

In the book of Acts we see very clearly that those who were filled with the Holy Spirit spoke the word of God with great boldness. Acts 4:5-8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:5-10, Acts 11:22-24.

Q. Do you speak the word of God with great boldness?

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire.
Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.