Tom Leonard - September 2, 2012
Fruit or Flesh ?
Fruit or Flesh? Galatians 5:16-26 If Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us, why do Christians struggle and live in sin and defeat? Main Point: If you live each day in the leading of the Spirit then you will not live out of your flesh (sinful nature), you will bear the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit will be… verses 22-23 *Notice last is self control Flesh (v.19 'sinful nature') = my nature apart from the crucifying power of the Spirit. 'Sin sampler' – verses 19-21 comes out of the flesh. (see also Mark 7:14-23) James 1:13-15 – My evil desires give birth to sin = death – separation from the life God wants for me. Most sins become strongholds (it’s a spiritual issue) *Lord, I'm all in! Romans 12:1-2 How do I grow in the Fruit of the Spirit? 1.Recognize the areas that I am failing in and ask the Spirit to change me. (He is God’s change agent in me!) *I must cooperate – every day die to self and be in His Word! 2.Declare that you are living by the Spirit and growing in ____? 3.Expect tests and fight! *I Timothy 6:12 He wants to show us and lead us into the deep things of God but we have to move past the elementary things. I Corinthians 2:9-12
Scripture References: Galatians 5:16-28, Mark 7:14-23, James 1:13-15, 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, Romans 12:16-2
