Choosing Life: Walking in the Spirit vs. Flesh

Devotional

Day 1: The Daily Choice Between Flesh and Spirit

Living according to the flesh and walking in the Spirit are two contrasting paths that every believer must navigate daily. The flesh, characterized by sinful desires and actions, leads to spiritual death and separation from God. In contrast, walking in the Spirit brings life and peace, aligning our desires with God's will. This choice is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to crucify the flesh and its desires, allowing the Spirit to guide our lives. As we choose the Spirit, we experience a transformation that aligns our actions and desires with God's purpose. [04:59]

Galatians 6:8 (ESV): "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

Reflection: What specific desires or actions do you need to crucify today to walk more fully in the Spirit?

Day 2: Recognizing the Works of the Flesh

The works of the flesh, such as adultery, idolatry, and strife, are manifestations of a life disconnected from God. These actions are repulsive to our new nature in Christ and lead to spiritual death. Recognizing these works in our lives is the first step toward transformation. By identifying and acknowledging these sinful patterns, we can begin to surrender them to God and seek His strength to overcome them. This process requires honesty and humility, as we allow the Spirit to reveal areas of our lives that need change. [09:03]

Ephesians 5:11-12 (ESV): "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret."

Reflection: What is one work of the flesh that you recognize in your life, and how can you begin to expose and overcome it with God's help?

Day 3: Embracing the Fruit of the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, expressed through joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not separate fruits but aspects of the singular fruit of love, which is the essence of a Spirit-led life. As we walk in the Spirit, these qualities naturally develop within us, contrasting with the works of the flesh. Embracing the fruit of the Spirit involves setting our hearts on spiritual things and allowing the Spirit to produce its fruit in us, transforming our character and relationships. [22:11]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Which aspect of the fruit of the Spirit do you feel is lacking in your life, and how can you cultivate it today?

Day 4: The Power of Surrender

True peace comes from surrendering to God and ceasing to strive against Him. This surrender allows us to experience peace with God, ourselves, and others, transforming our lives and relationships. By letting go of our own desires and submitting to God's will, we open ourselves to the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but a powerful act of faith, trusting that God's plans for us are good and perfect. [25:25]

James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself resisting God's will, and what steps can you take to surrender it to Him today?

Day 5: Choosing Life in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit means being filled with the Holy Spirit and setting our hearts on spiritual things. It is a life of fulfillment, marked by the fruit of the Spirit, and stands in stark contrast to the emptiness of living after the flesh. Choosing life in the Spirit involves a conscious decision to prioritize spiritual growth and seek God's presence daily. As we do so, we experience a deeper relationship with God and a more meaningful and purposeful life. [31:55]

Romans 8:5-6 (ESV): "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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

Reflection: How can you intentionally set your mind on the things of the Spirit today, and what changes might this bring to your daily routine?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through Galatians 5, we explore the profound contrast between living according to the flesh and walking in the Spirit. The Apostle Paul provides a vivid depiction of these two paths, urging us to choose the latter. Living after the flesh is characterized by a life dominated by sinful desires and actions, such as adultery, idolatry, and strife. These are manifestations of a life disconnected from God, leading to spiritual death and enmity with Him. In contrast, walking in the Spirit leads to life and peace, as our minds are set on things above, not on earthly desires.

Paul emphasizes that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This crucifixion is not merely a symbolic act but a transformative process where we allow the Spirit to guide our lives. Walking in the Spirit means being filled with the Holy Spirit, setting our hearts on spiritual things, and allowing the Spirit to produce its fruit in us. The fruit of the Spirit is love, which is defined by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not separate fruits but aspects of the singular fruit of love, which is the essence of a Spirit-led life.

The world often entices us to indulge in the desires of the flesh, promising fulfillment but delivering emptiness and guilt. However, the Spirit offers a life of true fulfillment, marked by peace with God, ourselves, and others. This peace is a result of surrendering to God, ceasing to strive against Him, and allowing His Spirit to lead us. As we walk in the Spirit, we experience a transformation that not only changes our actions but also our desires, aligning them with God's will.

Key Takeaways

1. The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit: We are constantly faced with the choice to live according to the flesh or walk in the Spirit. The flesh leads to death and enmity with God, while the Spirit leads to life and peace. This choice is a daily one, requiring us to crucify the flesh and its desires. [04:59]
2. The Works of the Flesh: Paul lists the works of the flesh, such as adultery, idolatry, and strife, as manifestations of a life disconnected from God. These actions are repulsive to our new nature in Christ and lead to spiritual death. [09:03]
3. The Fruit of the Spirit: The fruit of the Spirit is love, defined by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This fruit is the natural result of a life led by the Spirit, contrasting with the works of the flesh. [22:11]
4. The Power of Surrender: True peace comes from surrendering to God and ceasing to strive against Him. This surrender allows us to experience peace with God, ourselves, and others, transforming our lives and relationships. [25:25]
5. The Call to Walk in the Spirit: Walking in the Spirit means being filled with the Holy Spirit and setting our hearts on spiritual things. It is a life of fulfillment, marked by the fruit of the Spirit, and stands in stark contrast to the emptiness of living after the flesh. [31:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:40] - Opening Prayer
[03:01] - Introduction to Galatians 5
[03:37] - Walking in the Spirit vs. Living in the Flesh
[05:19] - Works of the Flesh Explained
[09:22] - The Nature of the Flesh
[10:13] - Crucified with Christ
[12:42] - The Call of the World vs. The Call of Christ
[16:17] - The Consequences of Living in the Flesh
[18:36] - The Answer: Walking in the Spirit
[20:19] - Crucifying the Flesh
[21:25] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[23:20] - Defining Love
[25:25] - Peace with God
[31:55] - Choosing Life in the Spirit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Galatians 5:16-25
Romans 8:5-8
Colossians 3:2

Observation Questions:

According to Galatians 5:16, what is the result of walking in the Spirit? How does this contrast with living after the flesh? [03:37]
What are some of the "works of the flesh" listed by Paul in Galatians 5, and how are they described in the sermon? [05:19]
How does the sermon describe the "fruit of the Spirit," and what is its singular essence according to the pastor? [22:11]
What does the pastor say about the world's call versus the call of Christ, and how does this relate to living in the Spirit? [12:42]

Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the pastor suggest that living after the flesh leads to spiritual death and enmity with God? How does this align with Romans 8:5-8? [04:59]
How does the pastor explain the transformative process of crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this transformation? [09:58]
The sermon mentions that the fruit of the Spirit is love, defined by various qualities. How does this understanding of love challenge common societal views of love? [22:11]
What does the pastor mean by "the power of surrender," and how does this surrender lead to peace with God, ourselves, and others? [25:25]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your daily choices. Are there specific areas where you find yourself living after the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit? How can you address these areas this week? [03:37]
The pastor talks about the world's enticing call to live after the flesh. What are some practical steps you can take to resist this call and focus on the call of Christ? [12:42]
Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (e.g., patience, kindness) that you struggle with. What specific action can you take this week to cultivate this aspect in your life? [22:11]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God. Is there a particular area of your life where you are striving against God? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him? [25:25]
Consider a relationship in your life that lacks peace. How can you apply the principles of walking in the Spirit to bring peace to this relationship? [27:16]
The pastor mentions the importance of setting our hearts on spiritual things. What is one practical way you can shift your focus from earthly desires to spiritual ones this week? [19:23]
Reflect on a time when you felt the emptiness of living after the flesh. How did that experience motivate you to seek fulfillment in the Spirit, and how can you use that motivation to encourage others? [38:50]

Sermon Clips

Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8 that if you are living after the flesh then your mind is on the things of the flesh, and if you're living after the spirit then your mind is on the things of the spirit. But to have the mind of the flesh or the mind that is constantly dwelling on fleshly things is death. [00:04:20]

Paul gives to us what he calls the works of the flesh or the way the flesh life is manifested in you: the things of the flesh, adultery, that is sex with someone other than the person to whom you are married, fornication, Greek word is pornea and it is basically sex outside of marriage, uncleanness, Greek again is a catharsia. [00:05:28]

Paul said in times past we all walked according to the lusts of our flesh and the lust and the desires of our minds we were being ruled by them. But in verse 24 of Galatians chapter 5 he declares that they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with its loves and its desires. [00:09:31]

The world is calling you to live after the flesh. It's opposed to the message of Jesus who said deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. The desires of our flesh are very powerful force in our lives. The call of the world is very enticing and many have succumbed and have given in to live after the flesh. [00:12:32]

The answer is a very positive answer. In verse 16 Paul said walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of your flesh. It is possible for you to walk in the power of the spirit of God after the things of the spirit and if you will do that allow the spirit of God to control your life. [00:18:33]

Paul declares that they that are Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and with its lust, and then he says if we live in the spirit, let's also walk in the spirit. So Paul as he speaks of the Holy Spirit as he relates to us the believer, he tells us in verse 16 that we should be walking in the spirit. [00:20:11]

The fruit of the spirit is love, defined by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This fruit is the natural result of a life led by the spirit, contrasting with the works of the flesh. Walking in the spirit, living in the spirit, it will result in the fruit of the spirit in your life. [00:21:25]

The love that the Bible talks about is a love that is not selfish. It's not getting for itself, it's a love that is giving. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and this love that is spoken of in the New Testament so far exceeds the loves and the passions of man. [00:23:20]

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. You have peace with God because you're no longer at war with God and what a beautiful experience it is when you quit fighting against God. The scripture says woe unto him who strives with his maker. [00:25:25]

If you walk after the flesh and are doing the things of the flesh, the result will be hatred, bitterness, rancor, envy, strife. But if you're living after the spirit and walking after the spirit, then the result will be this wonderful love that is manifested in indescribable joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness. [00:30:04]

We can choose to continue in the flesh, fighting against God and rebelling against God, and we can have then the works of the flesh dominating controlling our lives. Notice the interesting contrast, the contrast between works and fruit. Whenever you think of works you usually think of a factory, production. [00:32:42]

The fruit of the spirit just it's something that's just natural you don't have to work at it you don't work it up it's just natural and it results from relationship. Now God isn't interested in coming to a factory and looking over the production. He desires to come into the garden and enjoy the fruit. [00:33:26]

Ask a question about this sermon

Pastor Chuck Smith This sermon · AI assistant

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?