LIVING
BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER Galatians 5:16-26
Introduction: John D.
Rockefeller, Sr., was strong and husky when he was a youth. He was early
determined to earn money and drove himself to the limit. At age 33, he received
his first million dollars. At age 43, he controlled the biggest company in the
world. At age 53, he was the richest man on earth and the world’s only
billionaire.
Then
he developed a sickness called "alopecia," where the hair of his head
dropped off, his eyelashes and eyebrows disappeared, and he was shrunken like a
mummy. His weekly income was one million dollars, but he digested only milk and
crackers. He was so hated in Pennsylvania that he had to have body guards day
and night. He could not sleep, stopped smiling long since, and enjoyed nothing
in life.
The
doctors predicted he would not live past another year. The newspaper had
gleefully written his obituary in advance—for convenience in sudden use. Those
sleepless nights set him thinking. He realized with a new light that he
"could not take one dime into the next world." Money was not
everything. God was displeased with his sinful life. Then and there, he
surrendered his life to Christ, repenting of his sins and pleading for God to
change his heart.
The
next morning, he awoke a new man. He began to help churches with his amassed
wealth; the poor and needy were not overlooked. He established the Rockefeller
Foundation, whose funding of medical researchers led to the discovery of
penicillin and other wonder drugs. John
D. began to sleep well, eat and enjoy life. You could say he began to live life
to the fullest! The doctors had predicted he would not live over age 54. He
lived to be 98 years old. That is what the scriptures call a transformed life. When
you surrender your life to Jesus Christ you will become a new creation and
experience his grace to live out to the fullest. For the past few weeks we have
been journeying through our core values.
Today
we will look at another value, we are Transformationally-Focused: “Following
the example of Jesus and the New Testament model, we offer ongoing discipleship
at Hope Church. We recognize that transformation is the work of God’s Spirit
from the inside out. The goal of change is to be imitators of Jesus in life and
conduct.”
You
might be wondering when does this transformation occur? Is it a one-time thing
or a tedious process? The answer is Yes and No. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is
here! Yes, there will be a thorough or dramatic change that happens when Christ
comes into our lives
Transformation
also means Metamorphosis; “A change into something new, or the process of
maturing, like an insect or amphibian developing into adult form.” So,
spiritual transformation involves spiritual maturity. The Apostle Peter compares
this new life to “spiritual infancy,” where one needs to grow up in all parts
of life and become a spiritually matured adult. In our passage, the Apostle Paul explains the contrast
between our old sinful nature and a newly spirit-filled nature. And shows us
how to “LIVE BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER.” Galatians 5:16-26. Let’s look at the two
opposing forces and their drastic outcomes in the life of a believer.
I THE CRAVINGS OF
SINFUL NATURE.
Have you ever been in a situation
where you know what is the right thing to do, but instead, you end up doing
something wrong? Whether you recognize it or not, there is a constant war going
on between the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature in the lives of believers. Gal
5: 17-18, “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. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under
obligation to the law.”
When
we follow the desires of our sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual
immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy,
drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” Here is a warning from
someone who knew the struggle with sin.
I
Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners”
to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” What
is the Soul? Dallas Willard explains
human soul this way. The soul is “the combination of our Will, Mind, and Body.”
The human will is the capacity to choose; the mind is both a person’s thoughts
and feelings. The body is our little kingdom. That’s the one place in all the
universe where our tiny will has a chance to be in charge.” All these three
combinedly called “The Human Soul.”
Your
soul is what integrates your will (your intentions), your mind, (your thoughts
and feelings, your values and conscience), and your body (your face, body
language, and actions) into single life.”[1] It is interesting to
observe this integration.
When
our will, mind, and body are well integrated, there is harmony in our lives.
When that integration is not there then we have disharmony. What disrupts this
harmony is Sin. Just think of all that the above-listed cravings of the sinful
nature can do to us? When we let our sinful nature control us, it will destroy
our lives and the lives of our loved ones. At the end, like the Apostle, Paul
noted, we will be disqualified from inheriting the Kingdom of God.”
There
is no such thing as a little sin. John Ortberg notes, “Unlike our legal system,
sins are not weighted by their seriousness. There are no misdemeanors in the
realm of sin. Sin is sin, and it is serious because of what it does to the
soul.”[2] Is it worth following the
cravings of your sinful nature? At what cost do you want to dabble in the
fleeting pleasures of Sin?
Are
we cherishing the pleasures of sin without paying attention to its devastating
consequences? If we do, let us cry out like
the Apostle Paul, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this
life that is dominated by sin and death”? The Holy Spirit says, I will!
II.THE FRUIT OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT
After explaining the dilapidating
effects of the sinful nature and its consequences, Paul introduces a hopeful
contrast saying, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” God’s people
bearing fruit goes back to Isaiah where God promised the fruitful future of the
nation of Israel. Isaiah 27:6.
The
Holy Spirit is sent into the world to produce fruit in all those who become the
followers of Christ. In the Bible, we see the fruit often is used figuratively.
Fruit merely reflects the real character of the tree (Mt 7:17-18). Since people
of the Spirit have a new life, it is natural for them to reflect the character
of the Spirit.
For
all the acts of the sinful nature the antidote can be found in the fruit of the
Holy Spirit. For example, Lust and sexual immorality can be overcome by Love.
Idolatry, which amounts to greed, envy, and Jealousy can be replaced by Generosity
though it is not listed here. Elsewhere
Paul encourages Corinthian believers to excel in this gift of generosity.
“Since you
excel in so many ways in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your
enthusiasm, and your love for us I want you to excel also in this gracious act
of giving” 2 Cor 8:7.
The
remedy for drunkenness, wild parties, and all other entertainments is the Joy
of the Holy Spirit. By Goodness and Kindness, we may overcome discord
and division. Hostility, all
quarreling, and outbursts of anger can be calmed down by Gentleness and
Self Control. Not to forget Patience and Faithfulness are
the two essential virtues for Christian maturity and growth.
Though
this passage does not give us antidotes for all possible sins, by desiring the
fruit of the Holy Spirit we can learn to overcome sin. It may not happen all at
once, but as we yield to the Holy Spirit, he will help us to be transformed into
Christ’s likeness.
III. LIVING BY THE
SPIRIT’S POWER
After laying out the contrast and
the consequences of the sinful nature and spirit led lives, Paul exhorts
believers to live by the Spirit’s Power. Since we belong to Christ Jesus and
are living by the Spirit, we are to follow Spirit’s leading in every part of
our lives. What does a Spirit-filled life look like? A Spirit-filled person is
not narcissistic.
He
esteems others. He is not easily angered. He is not Jealous. He recognizes that
his sinful nature has been nailed to the cross. A Spirit-filled person will
make all efforts to live by the example of Christ. At Hope Church in order to
encourage believers to follow Christ we offer ongoing discipleship. We recognize that transformation is the
work of God’s Spirit from the inside out. The goal of transformation is that we
will be imitators of Christ in life and conduct.
In
closing! “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do
what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you
will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your
sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
children of God.” Romans 8:12-14.
As
we leave today, remember we don’t have to live by our sinful nature any longer.
We got to cut it out! Instead, intentionally choose to surrender our lives to
do what is right and pleasing to the Lord. We want to fill or minds with the
things of God. We will seek to do good to others. We will not hold any grudges,
but be quick to forgive others and live in harmony with others as much as possible.
That is what the transformation focused all about. We are letting the Holy
spirit Control our lives. May God help us to live by the Spirit’s Power. Amen!
