Deepen

As Paul continues to talk about what it means to be free in Christ, he makes the distinction between walking by the flesh and walking by the Spirit. Fleshly desires bring forth sin and death and if the Galatians don’t take this warning seriously their sin will overtake them. Cultivating a life led by the Spirit produces the fruit that only He can produce.

• How do you cultivate a life led by the Holy Spirit?
• How are you killing the sin in your life that wants to kill you?

Galatians 5:16-26

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Prayer

Lord, speak to me and let me have ears to hear and a heart that obeys. Reveal to me how I walk by my flesh and give me the ability to repent. Produce in me the fruit of your Spirit. Amen.