STUDY OF GALATIANS (Part-6)

Study of Galatians (Part-6)

Question:
The Holy Spirit changes the lifestyles of
those who allow the Spirit to lead them.
Agree or disagree? Why?

Question:
How are the lifestyles of people changed by the Holy Spirit?

Question:
Do you know anyone who has made a dramatic change
as a result of the Holy Spirit’s activity in their life?

Question:
Do you know anyone who you could tell
was a Christian, just by looking at them?
    Question:
    What was different about them?

Question:
Have you had a dramatic change in your own
life as a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence?
    Question:
    Why did you change?
    How were you changed?
    What things are you no longer doing?
    What new things are you doing to improve your
    relationship with the Lord, and your work for Him?

Question:
Do you feel that when you were saved, others could
tell by looking at you, that you were now a Christian?
    Question:
    Do you feel the same way today?
        Question:
        If not, what has changed?

Question:
What seems to pull us away from having the
appearance and countenance of being a Christian?

Question:
How do we regain the attitude and countenance we once had?

Question:
Do we have a tendency to take control of our own
life/decisions, without seeking divine guidance?

GALATIANS 5:
VERSE 16.
Paul says that if we walk in the Spirit,
we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Question:
How do we ‘walk in the Spirit’?

Question:
What ‘lusts of the flesh’ are we not fulfilling?

VERSE 17.
Paul felt the Spirit and human nature are constantly at war with
each other, and the confusion it causes, results in our not doing
some of the things we would like to do for the Lord.
    Note:
    It is similar to straddling a fence, isn’t it?

Before becoming a Christian:
    – Our life is in opposition to God.

After becoming a Christian:
    – Our life begins moving more toward God,
      because we have a desire to fellowship with Him.

But, there is a problem:
    – Our old nature still exists.
    – Memories of pleasures from previous sins are still there.

Question:
Have you ever noticed how you can vividly recall past
sins (almost to the point of re-living them in your mind)?
    Question:
    Why do you think we have a desire to do some of the
    same things we did prior to receiving God’s salvation?
        – To win the approval of friends (wanting to be liked)?
        – Peer pressure?
        – A lack of desire to be different?

    Question:
    How can we balance the scale to one side
    (which is pleasing God over pleasing others, and ourselves)?

VERSE 18.
Paul explains once again, that the
Jewish law is NOT the way to salvation.

To “walk in the Spirit” is an expression of faith which
relieves people from the burden of the law and all of its restrictions.

VERSE 19.
No person likes to be reminded of his or her failures,
however, Paul felt it was important to list them.
    – Probably because someone might think
      of themselves as a pretty good person, and
      doesn’t have a need for the Lord in their life.

Note:
We may not be guilty of all in this list, but we
are all guilty, or have been guilty, of some of them.
– Sexual immorality.
   (sex outside the bond of marriage,
   including fornication and adultery).

– Impurity.
       – Filthiness.
       – Ceremonially unsanctified.
       – Obscene in thoughts, words, and actions.

– Debauchery (sinful, lustful, corrupt, dishonest).

Question:
What underlying theme do you notice in the first four in this list?
    – Sex.

Question:
Why do you think he listed these first?
    – Sex is probably one of the strongest desires of mankind
      (second only to hunger).
      Note:
      Satan will always attack us at our weakest point.

VERSE 20.
– Idolatry.
       – The worship of idols, or false gods.
       – Excessive and devoted admiration
          toward anything other than God.
       Question:
       What are some idols we worship today?
           – Money?
           – Fame?
           – Job?
           – Being liked and admired?
           – Ourselves?

– Witchcraft.
       – Necromancy.
             – Predicting future events by
               conjuring up the spirits of the dead.
                   – Black magic.
                   – Enchantment (fascinated over ungodly things).
            – Sorcery
               (seeking power from the assistance or control of evil spirits).

– Hatred.
       – Detesting someone.
       – Having a strong dislike of certain people.
       – A lack of understanding of others.

– Discord.
       – Having strong differences of opinion which creates controversies.
       – A habit of creating a state of disagreement, or arguments.

– Jealousy.
       – Striving to equal or surpass everyone else.
       – Becoming a rival with others.
       – Imitating someone they feel is superior.
       – A feeling that they have the only correct answers.
          (their opinion is the only one that really matters).

– Fits of rage.
       – Having a violent and uncontrollable anger.
       – Intense rage; a raging fury.
       – Indignation (treating others with contempt).

– Selfish ambition:
       – A desire to please ‘self’ in any way possible
          (even to the point of using others).
       – Can easily create turmoil with their words, or actions.

– Dissensions.
       – Ability to cause arguments and disagreements
          especially in groups, organizations, politics, etc.

– Factions.
       – Often contentious toward others and their opinions.
       – Self-seeking.
       – Attraction to cliques and to the exclusion of
          others who are not part of their ‘inner circle’
          (is often rude and inconsiderate of outsiders).

VERSE 21.
– Envy.
       – Having a grudge of another person’s good fortune.
       – Jealousy; ability to kill the spirit of others.

– Drunkenness.
       – To be overcome by strong alcoholic drinks.
       – Feels that consuming alcohol is a normal part of living.

– Orgies.
       – To carouse (drinking alcoholic beverages; hold drinking parties, etc.).
       – Participating in noisy celebrations.
       – Entertainment that includes music, alcohol,
          and sensual activities, including intercourse.

– The like (a general lifestyle of sin).

Paul says that people who practice such
things will not receive the kingdom of God.

He did not mean that people who are
guilty of one of these sins could not be saved.

He felt that a person who is living a life that is
characterized by such activity, would not, and
has not been saved.

Question:
Do you think he felt that Christians would never commit these sins?
    – Not as a way of life.

VERSE 22.
Paul now lists some of the characteristics of people
who are “walking in the Spirit” (by no means is this a complete list).

– Love.
       – Having a strong affection for others.
       – Likes all people (not just those in their inner circles).
       – Glad to see goodwill for all people.
       –  Charity (willing to sacrifice for the good of others).
       – Having a devoted attachment (commitment)
          to one of the opposite sex (spouse).

– Joy.
       – Having a spirit of gladness.
       – Enjoys rejoicing over blessings (to others and to self).
       – Exult (to be highly jubilant); an infectious joy.

– Peace.
       – Having a characteristic of calmness.
       – Not a quarrelsome person.
       – Ability to diffuse tense situations.
       – Repose (mild mannered).
              – Able to rest, sleep, and depend on the Lord

– Forbearance (longsuffering).
       – Patiently enduring things that are unpleasant.
       – To have patience and tolerate the differences in others.

– Kindness.
       – Mild and refined in mannerisms.
       – A quiet and sensitive disposition.
       – Moderation (doesn’t have to be the center of attention).
       – Good characteristics which causes others to respect them.
       – Kind, caring, and understanding.
       – Amiable (worthy of love and affection).

– Goodness.
       – Commendable (admirable).
       – A desire to do what is right and proper.
       – Honest and just in their thinking and habits.
       – Kind and caring.

– Faithfulness.
       – A sincere belief in God, and a desire to please Him.
       – Has a trust and reliance on the Lord.
       – Has a system of religious doctrines (principles) they believe in.
       – Loyalty (to God and others).
       – Looks for the good in others.

VERSE 23.
– Gentleness (meekness).
       – Humble (not proud or arrogant).
       – Submissive.
              – Surrendered to God’s Will.
              – Obedient to the Lord.

– Self-control (temperance).
       – Self-disciplined (especially regarding natural appetites).
       – An ability to live a life within the boundaries created by God.
          (has a dependence on, and a trust in the Lord
          to assist in controlling fleshly and natural desires)

Paul says there has never been, and never
will be, laws passed against these things.

VERSE 24.
Christians have made the decision to die to self.

They have received a new nature.

They have surrendered to Christ and rely
on Him to help them resist temptations.
Question:
Should we ask God to help us resist
temptations, or to fight our battles for us?

VERSE 25.
Christians have received a spiritual life,
so we should allow the spirit to be in control of our lives.

To accept a new life from the Spirit and then
trying to remove the new life from His control, is wrong
    Question:
    Do we continually try to control certain areas of our lives?
    Do we justify, or make excuses for the things we know are wrong?

VERSE 26.
Our new life should be reflected in our relationships with one another.
    We should not attempt to glorify ourselves,
    nor should we irritate others.

   We should not think more highly of ourselves than we think
    of others (do not have a condescending attitude of others).
        Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
        Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
        not looking to your own interests but each of you to
        the interests of the others. In your relationships with
        one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
        (Philippians 2:3-5)

    We should be able to enjoy the success of others.
        – Just to see an outpouring of God’s blessings
           on someone else should be exciting to us.
           Question:
           If you received a fortune, how would you act toward others?
               Question:
               If they received a fortune,
               how would you like them to act toward you?

Five things we should learn from this lesson:
1. God’s spirit should be in control our lives.
    Note:
        It can be a difficult challenge for some
        to yield themselves to His control, but
        when we are saved, we are blessed with
        the ability to adapt to His will.

2. When God saves us, we do not lose all of our sinful desires.

3. Our actions show our true nature;
    we witness by the way we live;
    actions speak louder than words.

4. Faith in Christ requires us to die to ourselves.

5. We need to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit in our daily life.
    (it requires a conscious effort on out part;
     it will not happen if we do nothing).

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