Walking in the Spirit-filled Life
Galatians 5:16-25
Pastor Ron Poitras
Part of Taste & See
August 17, 2020

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, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do 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. —Galatians 5:16-25


In the first message of our 4-part series concerning the Holy Spirit, we gained an understanding of the person, purpose, and presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. In the second message in our series Pastor Chris spoke about reliance upon and being taught by the Holy Spirit. This week we will examine what it looks like to walk with and be filled by the Holy Spirit.

Our journey takes us to Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Earlier in his writing to the Galatians, Paul stresses that we are justified by faith, but then he moves the conversation to an ethical one concerning morality. Paul’s writing is to a mostly gentile church that has experienced challenges and temptations that are typical for many, even to our current day. But the church in Galatia is also experiencing an attack from Judaizers within the church who were promoting the Old Testament law, specifically circumcision as a requirement to be a Christ-follower. Paul addresses this form of legalism as he encourages the church to live “free from a yoke of slavery” to the law.

With precision, Paul addresses the fact that the solution to the passions of the flesh are not more laws, but the Holy Spirit who transforms us from the inside out. He is teaching the church in Galatia that there is a new covenant reality that the Spirit will enable the church to walk in his commands and do them.


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A fruitful life cannot be lived without

and the Holy Spirit.

I. The Confidence in the Spirit-Filled Life (v16-18)

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. —Galatians 5:16-18

  • a. The command with a promise “Walk by the Spirit”, “you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
    1. The opposition – the spiritual battle of Spirit and Flesh
  • b. The distraction “to keep you from doing what you want.” (Rom 8:5-8)

    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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. —Romans 8:5-8

  • c. The freedom “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Rom 8:3-4)

    3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:3-4

The Holy Spirit will grant us victory over the desires of the flesh when we

. It is only then that we can find the of a Spirit-filled life.

II. The Corruption of the Flesh-Filled Life (v19-21)

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, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. —Galatians 5:19-21

  • a. A slave to “works”
    1. The plurality of works (many and repetitive nature)
  • b. A witness to all “evident” (Matt 7:16)

    16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? —Matthew 7:16

  • c. An end in defeat “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Rom 8:13)

    13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. —Romans 8:13

The Christ-follower who feels the

and repents to resume their Christian walk is not the one who should fear. Instead, the one who is will find their sin as a .

III. The Character of the Spirit-Filled Life (v22-25)

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. —Galatians 5:22-25

  • a. The fruit of walking in the Spirit (John 14:16)

    16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, —John 14:16

    1. Relational, communal, and complete

      “The

      of the Christian is a to love.” —Martin Luther

    2. Liberty “against such things there is no law” (Rom 8:3)

      3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, —Romans 8:3


  • b. The commitment to walk in the Spirit “those who belong have been crucified” (Gal 2:20)

    20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20
    24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. —Galatians 5:24


The way to walking a Spirit-filled life is by

through the and of our fleshly desires.


Small Group Questions

  1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

  2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? This would be a great opportunity as a group to use the Ask a Pastor feature and that way we can address it either directly or in the messages in the future.

  3. How does Paul’s command to “walk in the Spirit” result in not gratifying the flesh?

  4. What are ways that we focus living our lives, so they look good externally rather than maturing internally?

  5. According to Paul, how does one walk and be filled by the Spirit?