What Is Freedom?
What is freedom? Galatians 5 has the answer to what true Christian freedom is.
If you are wondering why you struggle with God and your selfish desires, all you need to know is that you cannot do it alone. You cannot overcome fleshly spirits with your strength.
HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN LIVE BY FAITH?
His faith is expressed in the love of God (Galatians 5:6) - not out of his confidence in his knowledge or ability. As the believer seeks God's love, poured into hearts by the Holy Spirit, he learns to serve one another in love (vs 13-15). He becomes a servant, like Jesus, and lives to serve others rather than himself. He does not go against his new family (house of God). His faith is expressed by works of love for others.
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE
The believer recognises the internal fight of his selfish nature against the character of Christ in him. He can understand, as Paul says, that the flesh lusts against the Spirit of God working in you.
HOW TO OVERCOME THE WAYS OF THE FLESH?
Be guided by the Spirit of God. Being guided by the Spirit of God is not simply knowing what is right and wrong. It is about following Jesus, in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Faith in Jesus without the works of Jesus is dead. The works of Jesus in our lives manifest when we spend quality time renewing our minds through meditation on His word and prayer.
When you love someone, you do all you can for them with your ability. You are guided by your selfish love only for them. When you love God, the Spirit of God guides you, and as you obey, He strengthens you to love others whether they love you or not.
WHAT ARE THE WORKS OF THE FLESH?
(Galatians 5:19-21)
Now the works of the flesh are Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like.
WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT?
(Galatians 5:22-26) It is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Everyone faces the same problems, but only the believer knows how it's overcome - through the Spirit of God working in him.
Give room for the Holy Spirit, dear beloved of God. Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.
