Introduction:

It is important we understand ourselves. We are a complex creation of God. God has made as we are with the many diversities that we have bottled up in our bodies. It is very important that we understand the “make up of mankind”. 

We are flesh and fleshy…but yet spiritual.
There is a fleshly part, a spiritual part and an eternal part.
1.Thessalonians 5.23
   + The 3 part man.
   + Spirit, body and soul.

The spiritual side can be cultivated or ignored.
The fleshly side can be cultivated or ignored.

We have a power in this matter.
We have a choice and a will in these areas and up to us how these areas will develop in our lives.

Lesson:

MESSAGE: 
WALK IN THE SPIRIT – CULTIVATION OF THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF MAN.

1.FULLFILL NOT THE LUST OF THE FLESH. 
Galatians 5.16-17

Conflict between these: flesh & spirit.
+ Lusteth against.
+ Contrary one to the other.
+ Cannot do things we would.

2.SPIRITUAL = NOT UNDER THE LAW.
Galatians 5.18
“Redeem those under the law, adoption of sons.” Galatians 4.4-5

3.THE INFLUENCE OF BEING FLESHY IN OUR LIVES.
Galatians 5.19-21

Influences of all sorts in the world = good or bad!
Christians are susceptible to all kinds of influence. We are affected and influenced.
Fleshy influence results in = works of the flesh.
= sexuality
+ adultery
sexual intercourse of 2 persons where one or both are married to a 3rd party, unfaithful, unchastity
+ fornication
sexual immorality, illicit sexual intercourse of unmarried persons 
+ uncleanness
impurity, physical or morally not pure or clean
+ lasciviousness
filthy, wantonness, strong desire for lustful things that are unclean, not pure, lusting, licentousness,
having denoting wanton desires, lustful, tending to produce sensual desires

= spirituality
+idolatry
image worship, worship of idols, idolatrous admiration
+ witchcraft 
medication, magic, sorcery, practice of powers of wizards and sorcery 

= emotions & interpersonal relations, getting along with others, 
influence 
+ hatred
bitter dislike, aversion, enmity, hostility-reason for opposition
+ variance
dissension, discord, debate, strife, contention, quarrel 
+ emulations
strife to equal or superior, heat/unfavourable, jealousy, envy, indignant
+ wrath 
determined and lasting anger, extreme rage, fierceness, indignation
+ strife
angry contention, fighting, contest for superiority, intrigue, faction, 
+ seditions 
disunion, dissension, division, stirring up, tending towards treason, action towards tranquillity of state
+ heresies
party, choice made result in disunion, sect, heresy=doctrinal view or belief at variance with the 
recognizable truth, any course of conduct or instruction tending to produce dissension or schism in 
the church 
+ envying
ill will, jealousy, spite, to feel a grudge, selfish and unfriendly grudging
+ murders
to slay, slaughter, to kill with premeditated malice, to put to death
+ drunkenness
intoxication, saturated, inebriated, tipsy
+ revellings
rioting, carousal, letting loose, to engage iin boisterous festivities, merry making, indulge freely, 
carouse=to drink deeply and boisterously, frolic
+ and such like



4.THE INFLUENCE OF BEING SPIRITUAL IN OUR LIVES
Galatians 5.22-23

Spiritual influences result in: fruits of the spirit.
Does not happen on its own!
One must be receptive to this influences!

= good qualities to improve ourselves
= good for interpersonal relations
+ love
affection, benevolence, charity, dear
+ joy
calm delight, gladness, fulness
+ peace
prosperity, quietness, rest, 
+ longsuffering
forbearance, fortitude, patience, 
+ gentleness 
usefulness, good, kindness, excellence in character and demeanor 
+ goodness
virtue, beneficence
+ faith
persuasion, moral conviction, assurance, belief, fidelity, constancy
+ meekness
humility, submissive, gentle and longsuffering disposition, lowly, complaint
+ temperance
self control, continence, habitual moderation, able to abstain
+ against such there is not law


5.BEING IN CHRIST DEMANDS THINGS OF US.
Galatians 5.24
“crucified the flesh with it affections and lusts”

Galatians 2.20
I am crucified with Christ.
Life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith. (the spiritual)
Christ liveth in me! (the result)

Galatians 4.6-7
-sons of God
The sons spirit into our hearts.
Cry: Abba Father
Son = heir.


Galatians 3.26-29 No longer our individual identity!
No longer Jew or Gentile.
No longer male or female.
Not longer bond or free.

Matthew 16.24-27 Deny self. (Self = flesh)
Romans 8.1 Walk after the spirit.
Romans 8.9 Have the spirit of Christ.
Romans 8.14 Led by the Spirit = they are the sons of God.
Jews thought they were the sons of God because 
they kept the law of Moses!



Conclusion:
God wanted the Christians in Galatia to understand themselves. Know their body, their desires and understand the relationship between the flesh and the spirit.

With proper understanding and knowledge this would help them in living the life they should as children of God and as Christians.

The flesh and the spirit are in opposition to each other. Therefore less emphasis on fleshly things is essential to the people of God, this is very difficult in our societies today as there is an over emphasis on the flesh! We are exposed to this in all media, such as TV, news, magazines, movies, theatre, etc.

Vorige