Galatians 5: 13-26
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh,
If we do that, then we are forfeiting our freedom for slavery again.
but through love serve one another.
This is our purpose, that Jesus leaves us here for, instead of taking us directly to Heaven when He saves us.
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19: 18).
God is Love, and He based all of His Law on love. When we love one another, we won't want to harm or offend each other at all. We will treat other people the same way we would like them to treat us. That will obey and fulfill all the laws and rules and precepts.
Then Jesus told His disciples that He was giving them "a new commandment," that goes further than the original commandment, "that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13: 34).
And He repeats this, saying, "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 15: 12).
Jesus was willing to go the extra mile, to sacrifice Himself for our benefit; He gave up His glory in Heaven to become one of us, so that He would qualify to die a human death for each of us. This was the Plan from before He created the Universe.
And we are to "have the mind of Christ" to love one another sacrificially, just as He has already loved us. We are to be like Him.
But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
We certainly don't want to be destroyed by one another, as what would happen when we don't love one another. Let's not attack each other, but sacrificially serve one another instead.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
When we are sensitive to the Spirit's leading, then He gives us the power and ability to not give in to any of our fleshly desires, preferring His gifts and enablements instead.
For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Our bodies are damaged and defective, and often we experience desires to indulge it, because this is where we live.
But God's Spirit in us gives us new desires and abilities, and we need to learn to enjoy His good things, instead of the fleshly things we have previously enjoyed.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The Law laid out specific rules and parameters that we were bound to adhere to, but the Law that God wrote into our hearts by His Spirit are not hard boundaries, but soft, fluid paths to show us love and compassion and mercy to share with one another.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
Now we're going to see some of the things that God hates for us to indulge in, because they are so damaging to us and our sensibilities; and opposite to the way He designed us.
which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
These all pertain to our bodily functions as to how we treat our own and others' bodies.
idolatry, sorcery,
These relate to what we prioritize in our thinking (idolatry), and where we desire to obtain the power to do what we want to do (sorcery), from demons instead of God.
These next deal with our relationships with one another:
enmities (being an enemy), strife (competition), jealousy (unwilling to give up what you possess), outbursts of anger (lack of self-control), disputes (arguments), dissensions (strong quarrels), factions (opposing political parties),
envying (wanting to possess what someone else owns for yourself),
And our behavior:
drunkenness (too much to drink, not moderate), carousing (rowdy partying), and things like these,
Everything that is related to all of these areas of thinking and behavior are all what our sinful flesh desires.
of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
People who live lifestyles like these are not learning how to behave in God's Kingdom, and will not fit in there at all.
But the fruit of the Spirit
This is the other side of the coin, the opposite of all the fleshly stuff we've been discussing.
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control;
These nine virtues cover everything that we need to inculcate into our thinking processes and lifestyles. God's ways are so simple, yet not easy. We cannot possibly live this way without His Spirit living in us to give us the power and ability.
against such things there is no law.
There has never been nor will there ever be any kind of law anywhere that would rule against being happy or peaceful or patient or any of the other qualities listed here. Everyone everywhere is looking for these. Only God can teach them to us, by His Spirit living in us.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
We who have realized that we are the criminals who deserve execution by crucifixion, and have let Jesus take our death for us, have by that act crucified our bodily desires and compulsions, and have received His Spirit who is teaching us God's ways of thinking and acting.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Now that our spirits are alive, having God's Spirit coming in giving them life, now we can also live our lives with a Godly lifestyle, as His Spirit leads us to do. A complete 180 turn-around.
So let's continue on the road He put our feet on when He turned us around, and not even want to go back to those worldly, fleshly ways.
Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
So let's not think we're someone special, because we're just as special as every other of God's children. We didn't create any of the good ways He has taught us, or designed any of the good things He empowers us to do, so we have nothing to boast about in ourselves; or to challenge someone else to be like us when we're all gifted differently. And when we envy someone else's gift, then we're not appreciating them or developing our own gifts that we are responsible for before God.
O my Father, thank You so much for rescuing us from all those manifestations of the flesh, that work to destroy us. You are not willing for any to perish, but for all of us to come to the knowledge of repentance, realizing how much You Love us all!
Father, show Your children that You have given them the power and ability to turn from all the manifestations of their flesh, and to turn around to build Your fruit of Your Spirit in them. In all of us, Father.
Teach us to be Your Light in the darkness of our World, and to not hide our light, but allow it to display Your ways, how much better they are than the World's ways. Your ways bring us good health--physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually; and prosperity in every way--relationally, socially, financially, spiritually.
O Father, You are our Source of Life, of joy, of everything good, and beneficial, and enjoyable. You designed the Universe to be the environment for this Earth, so we could build our World upon it. And when we cooperate with the way You designed it to operate, then we prosper in the World. But when we turn from Your ways, deciding that we know better than You, then we lose the good times and come into times of trouble and strife. (See the continuous cycles in the Book of Judges!)
My dear Father, You have Loved me more than I can ever possibly comprehend in my little mind! I don't understand how You do all that You do, but I thank You and praise You for Your greatness, and goodness, and compassion, and grace to me.
Send me out, Father; send out all Your children into Your fields, that are fertile for the sowing of Seed, and the fields ripe for harvest. Fill Your great house with all Your big family, every place at Your grand Banquet Table occupied, to feast with You everlastingly.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, King of Creation, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever, Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus
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