Living in Freedom: Walking by the Spirit
Summary
In our journey with Christ, we are called to a life of freedom, a freedom that is not to be used as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, to serve one another. This freedom is a gift, bought at the price of Christ's precious blood, and it is our responsibility to live in a way that honors this sacrifice. We are to walk by the Spirit, which means our lives are not our own; we are to be led by the Spirit, filled with life by Him, and keep in step with Him. This is a joyful surrender to God's authority, recognizing that His word and His parameters are not restrictive but protective, giving us life.
As we walk with the Spirit, we find that the desires of the flesh lose their grip on us. We become so consumed with the business of God that we no longer have time for fleshly cravings and desires. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, meaning we no longer pay attention to fleshly things. Our God is active, and as we move with Him, we experience the fulfillment of His promises in our lives.
The key to living in freedom is to be aware of our surroundings and not provide opportunities for the flesh to regain its hold on us. We must avoid situations that excite our vices and instead focus on opportunities to serve, witness, worship, minister, pray, and exercise faith. When we gratify the flesh, we grieve the Spirit and miss out on the life and peace that comes from setting our minds on the Spirit.
Paul's letter to the Galatians provides a formula for living in consistent victory: walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. This requires a daily, step-by-step following of the Holy Spirit's guidance. We must choose the Spirit over the flesh, recognizing that the two are in opposition and cannot coexist. By walking in the Spirit, we ensure that our lives reflect the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
In summary, we are to live a life surrendered to the Spirit, joyfully governed by His authority, actively moving with God, and avoiding any opportunity for the flesh to ensnare us again. We are to be vigilant, walking wisely, and paying attention to our surroundings, knowing that evil abounds and seeks to distract us from our walk with Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- True freedom in Christ is not an excuse for indulgence in the flesh but an invitation to serve others in love. When we understand the price paid for our freedom, we joyfully accept the protective boundaries set by God's word and live under His lordship. This perspective transforms our approach to life and aligns our actions with God's will. [23:02]
- Walking by the Spirit is a daily surrender that leads to a life free from the grip of fleshly desires. As we become consumed with God's purposes, our former vices lose their appeal and power over us. This intentional focus on spiritual matters ensures that our time and energy are invested in what truly matters—God's kingdom work. [24:14]
- Awareness of our surroundings is crucial in maintaining our freedom in Christ. By avoiding situations that tempt us, we prevent the flesh from regaining a foothold in our lives. This proactive stance against temptation is a testament to our commitment to walk in the Spirit and not provide any opportunity for the flesh. [07:49]
- The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit requires us to make a conscious choice. By choosing to walk by the Spirit, we actively reject the desires of the flesh. This choice is the key to experiencing the fullness of life and peace that comes from living in accordance with the Spirit's desires. [19:19]
- Our response to temptation should be a resolute declaration that we have no time for anything that distracts us from our walk with the Lord. As we serve alongside our Savior, we must remain focused on being led by, living by, and keeping in step with the Spirit. This commitment ensures that we do not waste our time on things unworthy of our attention but instead invest it in the eternal purposes of God. [26:14]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Galatians 5:13-25
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 5:13, what is the purpose of our freedom in Christ? How should we use it?
2. In Galatians 5:16-17, what does Paul say about the relationship between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit?
3. What are the "works of the flesh" listed in Galatians 5:19-21, and how do they contrast with the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23?
4. How does Paul describe those who belong to Christ in Galatians 5:24? What have they done with their fleshly desires?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "walk by the Spirit" as described in Galatians 5:16? How does this help us avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh? [03:46]
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of "joyful surrender" to God's authority? Why is this important for living a life led by the Spirit? [22:24]
3. The sermon mentions the importance of being aware of our surroundings to avoid temptation. How does this align with Paul's teachings in Galatians 5:13? [07:49]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between serving others and living in freedom? How does this reflect Paul's message in Galatians 5:13? [03:46]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there specific situations or environments that tempt you to gratify the desires of the flesh? How can you avoid these situations? [09:02]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being consumed with God's purposes to avoid fleshly desires. What are some practical ways you can become more involved in God's work this week? [24:14]
3. Think about the concept of "joyful surrender" to God's authority. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to surrender to God's will? How can you work on this? [22:24]
4. The sermon talks about the importance of setting boundaries to protect ourselves from temptation. What boundaries can you set in your life to help you walk by the Spirit? [09:36]
5. How can you actively serve others in love this week, as Paul instructs in Galatians 5:13? Identify one specific act of service you can perform.
6. The sermon mentions the importance of being vigilant and aware of our surroundings. How can you cultivate a habit of spiritual vigilance in your daily life? [07:49]
7. Reflect on the "fruit of the Spirit" listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [04:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Protective Freedom
Freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence but an invitation to serve others with love. Understanding the price paid for our freedom should inspire us to live within the boundaries set by God's word. These boundaries are not meant to restrict us but to protect us, guiding us to live in a way that honors God's sacrifice and aligns with His will. When we accept these protective parameters, we experience true freedom, which allows us to serve others and fulfill God's purposes for our lives. [23:02]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13 ESV)
Reflection: How can you use your freedom in Christ to serve someone in your community this week?
Day 2: Surrendering Daily to the Spirit
Walking by the Spirit is a daily act of surrender that frees us from the grip of fleshly desires. As we focus on God's purposes, our former vices lose their appeal, and we invest our time and energy in kingdom work. This intentional living ensures that we are consumed with what truly matters, allowing the Spirit to produce His fruit in us. By surrendering to the Spirit each day, we choose to live a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to those around us. [24:14]
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24 ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice daily surrender to the Spirit?
Day 3: Guarding Against Temptation
Maintaining our freedom in Christ requires vigilance and awareness of our surroundings. By avoiding situations that tempt us, we prevent the flesh from regaining control. This proactive stance against temptation demonstrates our commitment to walking in the Spirit and not allowing the flesh any opportunity to ensnare us. As we guard our hearts and minds, we stay focused on our spiritual journey and the life of peace that comes from setting our minds on the Spirit. [07:49]
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41 ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to avoid situations that may lead to temptation?
Day 4: Choosing the Spirit Over the Flesh
The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit requires us to make a conscious choice. By choosing to walk by the Spirit, we actively reject the desires of the flesh. This choice is essential for experiencing the fullness of life and peace that comes from living in accordance with the Spirit's desires. As we make this choice daily, we ensure that our lives reflect the fruit of the Spirit and that we are living in victory over the flesh. [19:19]
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 ESV)
Reflection: What does choosing the Spirit over the flesh look like in your daily routine?
Day 5: Investing in Eternal Purposes
Our response to temptation should be a firm commitment to focus on our walk with the Lord. As we serve alongside our Savior, we must remain led by, live by, and keep in step with the Spirit. This commitment ensures that we do not waste our time on things unworthy of our attention but instead invest it in the eternal purposes of God. By doing so, we live a life that is fruitful and pleasing to the Lord. [26:14]
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)
Reflection: How can you better invest your time in activities that align with God's eternal purposes?
Quotes
1) "Our flesh is always seeking opportunity... to gratify its own desires. As we do our best to walk in Freedom from these things, we've got to pay attention to our surroundings so that we don't provide such opportunity for those things to grab us once again." [07:49] (Download | )
2) "Making opportunity for our flesh leads to missing opportunity in the Spirit. We begin to miss out on... opportunities to serve, witness, worship, to minister, to pray, to exercise Faith because when we're gratifying the flesh, we're grieving the Spirit." [14:53] (Download | )
3) "Paul unlocks the key to living in consistent and sustainable Victory... walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh... It's a day by day, step by step following the guidance of the Holy Spirit." [17:20] (Download | )
4) "If these things cannot coexist... then the choice is one has to overrule or override the other. So now the choice for us becomes narrowed down to two things: either flesh is going to be greater than Spirit or spirit is going to be greater than flesh." [19:19] (Download | )
5) "Spirit must be greater than flesh... the only way to keep ourselves from doing what we shouldn't is by walking by the Spirit. This is so vital that God guided Paul in writing this out in a way that emphasizes it from four angles." [21:18] (Download | )
6) "To walk by the Spirit is to surrender... I'm going to walk by the Spirit whatever it is that He desires is what I'm going to choose to walk in. There's still a choice involved in the matter, so I'm going to walk by the Spirit." [21:49] (Download | )
7) "I welcome His authority over my life... I understand how you have bought me with a price, that being the price of your precious blood, so lead me. I'm more than happy to live underneath your lordship." [23:02] (Download | )
8) "Our God's a God on the move... when we're walking by Him, we're being led by Him, we're living by Him, we are keeping in step with Him, we don't have time for fleshly things." [24:14] (Download | )
9) "When that Temptation comes... you let whatever it is know I ain't got time. I ain't got time for that thing no more... I'm serving With My Savior and we got places to go." [26:14] (Download | )
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