19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
-Galatians 5:19-25 (King James Version)
Yesterday, we studied about being ready to bring honor to God. Today, I want us to focus on some very familiar passages, passages that I've taught and written about many times. These verses in Galatians 5 gives to us a checklist for us to see how our life now measures up to where it should be.
Verses 19-21 says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." This list represents the works of the flesh-the way we live our lives under the control of sin. Are these characteristics found in your day to day life? Paul says, at the end of verse 21, "of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." These characteristics are the exact opposite of how we should be living, which Paul reveals in verses 22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." This list provides the characteristics that should replace those listed before. The works of the flesh lead us to separation from God, leads to death and Hell. The fruit of the Spirit leads to God, and leads to life.
But, to have the fruit of the Spirit, you must have the Spirit in you. Paul says in verse 24, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord have crucified our old life in the flesh, and are now being led by the Spirit. Verse 25 says, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Since the Spirit lives in those who belong to Jesus, we must walk in the way He directs. That is how we bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The question for today is this, which list reveals the characteristics found in your life? Are you still submitting to the works of the flesh? Or, are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit, which is the result of walking in the Spirit? Think About It.
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