Our Lifelong Battle: Flesh vs Spirit

Our Lifelong Battle: Flesh vs Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25) 

Galatians 5:16

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 

 Galatians 5:17

¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  

Galatians 5:18

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.  

Galatians 5:19

¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,  

Galatians 5:20

²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,  

Galatians 5:21

²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  

Galatians 5:22

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

Galatians 5:23

²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  

Galatians 5:24

²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 Galatians 5:25

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  

Love: agapē (ἀγαπη).  To desire and do what is best for another.  

Joy: From chara (χαρα), positive outlook and attitude toward life, regardless of circumstances.  Deep gladness in something other than yourself.

 Peace.  Inner stability.  Harmony between what God says and how you feel.  Peace here is not the peace with God which we have in justification, but the peace of God in our hearts, and can be defined as tranquility of mind.   

Patience.  From makrothumia which speaks of the steadfastness while being provoked. It includes the idea of forbearance and patient endurance of wrong under ill-treatment, without revenge.  Long fuse.  Waiting without whining.  

Kindness.  From chrestotes (χρεστοτες) the opposite of mean, uncaring.  You’re considerate, nice.  You’ve released bitterness, desire for vengeance.  The strength to treat others well, better than they treat you.  

Goodness: From agathosunē (ἀγαθοσυνη). Morally upright.  Seeks to do good to others regardless of benefit to oneself.  

Faithfulness: From pistis (πιστις).  You are trustworthy and reliable. Can be counted on. Not fickle.  “Staying true and staying put for the long haul.”

 Gentleness: From prautes (πραυτες).  The strength to deal with others in a gracious way, regardless how they’ve treated you. 

Self-Control.  From egkrateia (ἐγκρατεια).  A safe space, a large buffer zone, between temptation and sin.  

Central Truth – The Holy Spirit’s role (in our transformation) is to implant character, not just impart gifts. 

Colossians 1:11

11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; 

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 

1 Corinthians 5:2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 

“We must point out that a person who speaks in tongues and lacks agape love has less valid evidence of the indwelling or the filling of the Spirit in his life than a person who has never spoken in tongues and yet manifests love and other dynamic qualities of God’s Spirit.” 

“Love is the most valid evidence that a man (or woman) is truly filled with the Spirit, and tongues without love are just meaningless words.” – Chuck Smith, “Charsisma vs Charismania”

 John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

Application

1. Pursue both the sensational and the simple.

2. Walk (lit. “keep on walking”) with the Spirit in the everyday, mundane moments of life.

2 Corinthians 13:14

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

3. Ask for the Holy Spirit to work.

Luke 11:13

¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”