4/11/26 6 Pts. From Galatians V

5:¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Walking by the Spirit oft-misunderstood in how it is & what it is. Paul is very direct here & intentionally designates that it is Exactly opposite of what your flesh will crave. This is something that can be a little bit more difficult to deal with then understanding what our body is desiring. Does that mean if you’re craving ice cream that it is contrary to the spirit? No not exactly and the reason why pertains to the list starting in verse 19 we will get to here shortly. Here the spirit is capitalized which means it’s not your spirit it is Holy Spirit. 1/3 member of the Trinity of God represented in you which means that it is only four the children of God to experience this.

The fallen man does not understand this because the fallen man does not have the struggle of the flesh versus the spirit of God. Paul makes the statement that there will be a conflict from within that we will each deal with between the spirit and the flesh. This conflict doesn’t mean something’s wrong as we should all struggle with this and at times it’s quite the mystery. But here Paul creates something that should stir our curiosity a bit in this conflict being a fork on the road. It leads us to ask ourselves what are we led by?

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

All of these are directed from within at the summoning of dopamine and serotonin. 2 feel good chemicals that God has placed within you that the enemy likes to orchestrate within you raising the levels to draw you in so that you feel a rush. The rush well leads you because it is the goal your body is looking to achieve.

Let’s call the body what it is in this context it is going to be labeled as the flesh that will come up later but nonetheless look at this list there’s a lot of generalities here but there are some of these that are very specific and very direct as to what they are. Some of them feed natural impulses within us such as sexual immorality but it is not God’s design. Others such as idolatry witchcraft selfish ambition dissensions and factions Are a direct activity in a quest for control authority and power outside of Jehovah God.

Impurity and debauchery very general terms but like idolatry and witchcraft or representing things that are detestable to God almighty. And Paul warns us keenly stating those who live like this as in this is a lived quest. A way of life that operates outside of God’s system and protocols or even acknowledging Jehovah God in the 1st place yet acknowledging lesser gods & there is a cost, the cost is you forfeit inheritance.

Let’s DIG DEEP because this passage does not apply to everyone. This passage specifically tells us that this inheritance will be revoked. The inheritance comes from the Father to the children of God. This passage says that those who chase lesser gods, those who chase lesser spiritual forces, those who chase authority outside of Jesus do not get the inheritance, right? No because if you do this and are not a child of God you cannot expect any inheritance at all. This verse pertains to those who are in the family & seek these things, you have nothing to look forward to. This means the so-called white witches you are disqualified. This means children of God who are seeking mediums, seeking the occult to gain “secret knowledge” you are disqualified. You have no inheritance to look forward to. It is time to get your score for this test.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Here is the proof as to how you are led. Honestly many of us do not have many of these, or any at all. We get too caught up in the lil monster who is a proprietor of doom & dismay. The benefit of this are plenty but it is only available to the children of God. The Spirit being within means that the covering of the blood of the Lamb of God is upon you. This means the law cannot be used against you.

Remember last wk when we addressed the elemental spiritual forces that perpetuate the draw from the flesh to draw us away from the leading of the Spirit.

The flesh, the crave is what you should be forewarned of. The rush of gaining the knowledge power of chemical sensation has a price. The flesh is another way to designate the sin nature within us. The bottom line is-

• Don’t be led by feelings & emotions, be led by the Spirit