Kevin Bennie
Jan 3, 2024 4:56 PM
👇💥 FULL DEVO BELOW💥👇 "25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25 (NIV) As always when we are reading scripture and we are asking, "what does this mean?" We have to first step back and look at the surrounding passages and ask how these connect and relate to the passage in question. What bearing do these verses have on each other? Greater Context: "16 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." (NLT) Two things become very clear through looking at the section: 1. The Sinful Nature is nothing like the Spirit and the Spirit is nothing like the Sinful nature! It's one of the other, they do not look like one another. They are "constantly fighting" according to Paul. 2. We can determine what we are following by the fruit, or what is produced, by our life. If something looks like the Sinful nature on the outside of our life (v.19-21) then we are following the sinful nature internally. Something is wrong. However, if the fruit of our life looks like the Spirit (v. 22-23) A couple things I want to point out here, things that we often overlook: 1. In the list of Sinful Nature results there are things that often get overlooked: hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger, dissension, division....can anyone say ELECTION YEAR! If your online presence looks like this, it ain't good! 2. There is no law against the things of the Spirit. You want freedom?! check these things out! No law! REFLECT 1. Where do you see your great successes in being led by the Spirit? 2. Where are your greatest pitfalls in letting the sinful nature control you? 3. Where do you see these at work in your online/social media engagement ? PRAY 1. Ask God to reveal your heart and life to you. Ask him to open your eyes to the truth of who you are, in all honesty and grace and humility. 2. Invite God to give you direction: is there a fruit of the Spirit that God may want you to grow in, to practice?