Spirit of Liberty

 2 Corinth 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

We were once in bondage to sin and the law. Servants to sin that controlled our lives. But Christ has set us free from sin. Sin is no longer Lord over us. The Holy Spirit who leads us to experience a full surrender to His will and control is now our Lord. We now have the freedom to approach the throne of God. We have been delivered from the bondage of sin and now can live a life of liberty to show God’s love to the world. Sin keeps us from doing what is right, it is a road block from obeying God when He speaks to our heart. The world’s concept of being free is to do whatever you desire without any thought of how it may affect others or how it may lead to harmful consequences. Liberty in Christ is not a license to disregard the commandments of God and behave in a manner that will reflect a negative influence on the Christian life. Paul warns the Galatians: You have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. The Holy Spirit is our truth detector. He will lead us into all truth, and the truth will set us free and keep us free. True liberty comes when we are set free to live how God wants us to live without any inhibition or fear of what the world might think.

The Lust of The Flesh

 Gal 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

As a student of the word, I endeavor to find the meaning and application of scripture. Much has been written about the life of a Christian and what that looks like in this present world. We live in a different time and culture when we compare our present world to the days of the early church, but humanity has not changed. The lust of the flesh (to satisfy our human desires) is still present in each one of us. The fulfillment of this lust may manifest itself differently in each person. Self and gratifying its wants is at the core of fulfilling the lust of the flesh. The question boils down to this entity called “self”. As long as we live, we will never escape the humanity of our fallen nature. But we have been given the means to take ourselves off the throne of our hearts and put the Holy Spirit in its place. The work of entire sanctification, where our hearts are made holy by the power of the Holy Spirit, not our humanity, but our heart.  He provides the power in which we can allow the Holy Spirit to live and leads us into a walk that fulfills God’s plan for our life. The fulfillment of God’s plan is to love as Christ loved. This is made possible when we allow and choose the Holy Spirit to take control of daily actions and reactions. I believe it is possible to live a sinless life where the lust of the flesh is not fulfilled. As long as we walk in the Spirit, scripture says selfish lust will NOT be fulfilled. We still live in a vessel of clay, subject to shortcomings and imperfection. Mistakes will happen, and we still face temptations, but if we choose to let God have His way in our lives each day, His Spirit will give us the power to be what He desires us to be.

Walk in the Spirit

 Gal 5:24,25
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

It is the lust of the flesh, the carnal sinful nature of man that wars against us walking in the Spirit. Having accepted the gift of God, salvation through Christ, our lives have been transformed. Our sins have been washed away in the blood of Jesus. Those things that we have done in the past have all been put to death. We no longer live to gratify the lust of sinful flesh. The experience of holiness, or sanctification provides us with the filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we walk in the light of God, we come to a place in our lives that we have not only put to death the lust of our flesh, but we surrender the totality of our being. Everything we have, everything we are given to God. We learn to live and walk in the Spirit, giving us the power to triumph over sin and the temptations that Satan brings before us. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? Walking in the Spirit is to yield ourselves to what God wants and desires of us, to live blameless and without filling the lust of the flesh. If we fail to walk in the Spirit, He is faithful to call us back to Him. Paul was clear that if we continue to live a life fulfilling the lust of the flesh, that we cannot inherit the kingdom (heaven). Living, and walking in the Spirit will keep us faithful to the way God wants us to live.

Overcoming the Flesh

 Gal.5:19-21, 24
 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
Overcoming the flesh (that which causes us to sin) is done when we have put to death those things that cause us to fall away from God. The flesh is put to death when we allow the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and dethrone self and self-living. We are now led by the Spirit of God to do what is right. His fruit is now manifested in our lives, not by following a set of rules, but by submitting to his will , and allowing the Spirit to direct our path. This is holiness at work in the life of the believer.

The Law Cannot Save

 Galatians. 5:6
  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

The Law handed down to us by God was used to bring us to God. It revealed to us that we are sinners. The Law falls short of providing a way of escape from the punishment that sin brings. It is a taskmaster that keeps us in bondage. We can never measure up to the Law in our sinful state. Trusting in the law to justify our sins or to be acceptable before God is an effort to earn our way to heaven by works. It is faith alone in Christ who loved us and took upon Himself the sin of the world to save us. We were helpless and incapable of saving ourselves from eternal damnation. But God who so loved the world, provided a way of escape. It was by this love that we were made free. We are no longer under the bondage of the law, but have been made a love slave to Christ. We follow and do the law not because we have it, but because we want to. So, even though the law cannot save us, we with pleasure desire to follow the commandment of Christ.

Love Others

 Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

If you love God, you will want to keep His commandments. If you love others, you are going to treat them with respect and kindness, forsaking your own wants and preferring one another. On this, hangs all of God’s law. How is this possible? We are born in sin, and the carnal nature rules our flesh. Sin has dominion and the focus is taking care of number one, “me”. All is made possible through Christ. We who have given their lives to Him have been grafted onto the Vine. Through Christ, we can do all things. There is nothing impossible to Him who believes and looks to Him for love and grace. True and selfless love comes from God. There are those who may give for humanitarian reasons, but a Christian gives to show the love of Christ. This is what it means to live in Christ, and Christ in me.

Weary in Well Doing

 Galatians 6: 9 , 10a
 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not… As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…

It is not uncommon to become weary of performing a task and not seeing any results. Weariness leads to discouragement and eventually giving up the task. Whether it be in praying, witnessing, or investing time in ministry, when our efforts do not bear fruit, we reflect on the profitability of time spent. And maybe we need to rethink and examine and try something different, but Paul says our efforts are not in vain, even when we don’t see results. In due season, eternity will reveal that we were faithful to the kingdom work and there will be a day of reaping. It is our responsibility to sow the seed of well doing and good works, remain faithful to the task that God has given you, and leave the results to God.

Weary in Well Doing

 Galatians 6: 9 , 10a
 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not… As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…

It is not uncommon to become weary of performing a task and not seeing any results. Weariness leads to discouragement and eventually giving up the task. Whether it be in praying, witnessing, or investing time in ministry, when our efforts do not bear fruit, we reflect on the profitability of time spent. And maybe we need to rethink and examine and try something different, but Paul says our efforts are not in vain, even when we don’t see results. In due season, eternity will reveal that we were faithful to the kingdom work and there will be a day of reaping. It is our responsibility to sow the seed of well doing and good works, remain faithful to the task that God has given you, and leave the results to God.

As Sons of God

April 20th, 2008
Galatians 4:1-16
Paul is totally amazed that the Galatians could be so easily removed from the message that he first preached. Paul begins his apologetic letter by setting forth truth in a way that is logical. He speaks to the intellect and the free spirit of the Galatians. Answer the simple question, “Do you want to be free to serve God as a son, or do you want remind in bondage to the law as a servant?” Any logical thinking person would not have think twice.

Child in Tutorage
• Analogy used by Paul
• Until the fullness of time, or come of age
Constraints of the Law
• The Jews were heirs, but under constraints
• The law taught that they were sinners in need of a Savior
Coming of the Son
• The appointed time- Conditions ripe
• Born to fulfill the law by coming under the law
Captive Set Free
• Set free and redeem man from the penalty of the law
• We our now true sons of God, not by the law, but by Christ
Crying, Abba, Father
• Personal relationship-
• With respect, we call Him “Daddy”
• We now live free to do His will- We desire nothing more
Changed to a Son
• From a servant to heir
• The Spirit of Christ now rule the heart
Conditions of Bondage
• Returning back to bondage
• Weak and beggarly elements
• Legalism- law without love
Christ Received
• Paul’s fear of vain labors
• Paul’s sacrifice to share Christ
• Convince of Paul’s authenticity
Conviction of Heart
• Turn against those who tell you the truth
• A friend speaks the truth in love
• What is our reaction when God reveals truth?

The Gospel Truth

April 6th, 2008
Galatians 1: 1-12
In a world where there are many religions and persuasions, people are faced with decisions that will affect them for eternity. The teaching that there are many ways to God is unequivocally false base on God’s Word. There are many who follow false teachers who seem to be sincere and caring, but the Word is clear on truth, Christ came to die and deliver man from sin. Any teaching that strays from this focus is missing the mark. He is the way, the truth, and life. No man comes to Father, except through Christ. Bid no other, God’s Blessings. Christians are to be intolerant of false teaching. God’s Word allows for no other alternative.

Appointed by God
• The replacement of Judas
• Do you have to be ordained by the church to preach?
• The Calling of God is personal
• Establishing his authority
Association with the Brethren
• Not alone in the battle for truth
• Recognized Galatians as brethren
Absolute Gospel
• Christ died for our sins- He is the way- Took our place
• Truth to deliver from evil- overcome Satan
• Live a life of Holiness in this present world
• Sovereignty of God- He is in control
Another Gospel
• Infiltration of false teacher
• Perverting the gospel of Christ
Angelic Persuasion
• Angel of light- new revelation contrary to truth
• Not to be persuaded by sincerity or charismatic persona
Accursed to God’s Judgment
• Damned to an ill fate- prophetic consequence
Agreeable to Men or God
• Desire to please others
• Priority to please God no matter the fallout
Acclamation of the Revelation
• The certainty of knowing
• Not taught of men
• Receive by Christ Himself