Learning to Walk

Each of our children learned to walk in different ways. Our oldest son, crawled, rolled, pulled his way to where he wanted to go. When we were to far away, he would try to walk only to fall and try again. Our daughter, however, is just the opposite. She never left the security of holding on to something until she was sure she could walk with out falling. She seemed to start walking without falling because she waited until sure of herself and her abilities.

Paul is telling the Galatians how they must walk. Not in their own abilities but in the power of the Holy Spirit. When you walk by the Spirit, the flesh loses power over you. This is were the battles in our life comes. The struggle between the flesh and Spirit. The flesh and the law are connected in that neither one will completely change our life. Only the Spirit can bring about a complete and full change. Paul also tells us that we can tell if we are walking by the flesh or Spirit by the way we act (our deeds).

Gal 5:16-5:26 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. NASU
Now you might be saying, "Well, I don’t do all those things in the flesh." Does that make me bad. But neither do I do all the deeds of the Spirit. Now what do I do? Remember God is conforming us into His image. This means there should be changes taking place in our lives. We should have less of the "deeds of flesh" and more of the "deeds of the Spirit."

Whose controlling you today?

Explore for yourself.
1 What is the true purpose of our freedom in Christ?
2 What is the true statement of the fulfilling of the law? (Lev 19:18, Matt 19:19 John 13:34)
3. What happens when we become consumed with anger for others?
4. How are we to walk? Why is this important?
5. How can you know if you are walking in the Spirit or flesh?
6. What is the difference between "deeds of the flesh" and "fruit of the Spirit"?
7. What happens to the flesh for those who belong to Christ?
8. What challenge does he give us?