Springs Article 2023-06 (2)

Galatians 5:16-26

Why are the works of the flesh dangerous?

  • Galatians 5:21 says that believers who practice the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God
  • If works of the flesh dominate you, they will kill you spiritually
  • To be carnally minded is spiritual death, Romans 8:6

What is wrong with sexual immorality?

  • Your body belongs to God, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
  • Your body belongs to your spouse
  • Sexual immorality defiles your body and opens it up to evil
  • It is a sin of unfaithfulness to God and to your spouse
  • It is act of stealing – taking what is not rightfully yours

What is uncleanness?

  • Sexual perversion (morally filthy, unnatural, dirty, ungodly)
  • This includes homosexual relations (Leviticus 20:13) and pornography (Matthew 5:28-30)
  • Pornography includes nudity and indecent exposure of your body (Matthew 18:6-9)

What is drunkenness?

  • To be drunk is to be under the influence of alcohol/hard drugs
  • How much influence is no influence?
  • The only sure guarantee is abstinence!

Why is the fruit of the Spirit important?

  • Galatians 5:24 shows that the fruit of the Spirit helps you to crucify the works of the flesh 
  • The fruit of the Spirit starts with love, develops to faithfulness and fully matures in self-control
  • The fruit of the Spirit come from renewing your mind with the Word and cooperating with the Holy Spirit

What is meekness?

  • Meekness is calmness under pressure
  • Meekness is achieved through faith and patience, Matthew 5:5, Hebrews 6:12

What is faithfulness?

  • Faithfulness is faith in action!
  • Faithfulness is keeping faith – staying true to the course until the end 
  • Faithfulness is loyalty and commitment to the object of your faith
  • Faithfulness is obedience to the commandments of the Lord
  • Faithfulness is refusing to compromise the truth of God’s Word
  • If you want to make Heaven, you have to be faithful to the end
  • If you are faithful to the end, you can’t miss Heaven!
  • If you are unfaithful, you are at great risk of missing Heaven
  • Living a life of taking God for granted is the highway to Hell, Hebrews 12:28-29

What is self-control?

  • Discipline, denial, restraint, abstinence and moderation
  • Refusing to give in to your fleshly desires and emotions when they contradict righteousness and godliness (holiness)
  • Those who want to do as they like will land on the highway to Hell

To find out more, listen to the audio sermon