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6/8/2025

Freedom Series - Week 7
Pastor Dwayne Smith

Living in the Spirit

• Paul’s GOAL in Galatians – FREEDOM!
• Galatians 5:16-26 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. ¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

Freedom comes by living in the Spirit

• Paul is clear in exposing this battle – Galatians 5:17, “sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other”
• “The antidote to the flesh is living in the Spirit, not obeying the law of Moses. God’s people, he argues, are marked by the Spirit of God rather than the law. This is how they are defined and this is how they live: in the Spirit.” —McKnight, Scot. Galatians (The NIV Application Commentary Book 9) (p. 362).
• John 16: 7, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you.”
• We can cannot fulfill the mission of Christ without the Holy Spirit!

What living without the Spirit looks like

• Galatians 5:19-21, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
• Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”
• Paul’s warning: Galatians 5:21, “anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God”
• Living: to exercise, practice, to be busy with, carry on…this is how a person conducts and manages their life.
• “Repentance—in Greek, metanoia, a change of mind. Repentance is a ruthless dismantling of old ways of seeing and thinking, and then a diligent and vigilant building of new ones.” —Buchanan, Mark. The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath (p. 5).

What is the Fruit/Evidence of living in the Spirit?

• The Fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

The Fruits of the Spirit:

• Love (Greek: ἀγάπη, agápē)
  
  • Definition: Unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love that seeks the best for others.
  • Explanation: Love means caring for others deeply and putting their needs before your own.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Joy (Greek: χαρά, chará)
  
  • Definition: Inner gladness and delight regardless of circumstances.
  • Explanation: Joy is a lasting sense of happiness that comes from trusting God.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Peace (Greek: εἰρήνη, eirēnē)
  
  • Definition: Harmony, tranquility, and contentment rooted in God’s presence.
  • Explanation: Peace is a calm confidence in God’s control even amid chaos.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Patience (Greek: μακροθυμία, makrothymía)
  
  • Definition: Long-suffering endurance, especially toward difficult people or situations.
  • Explanation: Patience means being slow to anger and willing to wait without frustration.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Kindness (Greek: χρηστότης, chrēstótēs)
  
  • Definition: Tender concern and compassion toward others.
  • Explanation: Kindness means showing care and consideration to everyone, even those who might not deserve it.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Goodness (Greek: ἀγαθωσύνη, agathōsýnē)
  
  • Definition: Uprightness of heart and life; moral integrity.
  • Explanation: Goodness means living in a way that reflects God’s character and helping others.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Faithfulness (Greek: πίστις, pístis)
  
  • Definition: Steadfastness, reliability, and loyalty.
  • Explanation: Faithfulness means being trustworthy and consistent in your relationship with God and others.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Gentleness (Greek: πραΰτης, praýtēs)
  
  • Definition: Humble, mild, and considerate; strength under control.
  • Explanation: Gentleness means responding to others with humility and respect, not harshness.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

• Self-Control (Greek: ἐγκράτεια, enkráteia)
  
  • Definition: Mastery over desires and impulses.
  • Explanation: Self-control means resisting temptations and making choices that honor God.
  • How am I doing? How would those close to me say I am doing?
    

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Benediction

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

24 The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 The LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go and Live for Jesus!