Series: God In Us
September 27, 2020 | Dr. Wes George
Passage: Ephesians 5:18-21
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh
More specifically, when we walk in the Spirit that means that we are filled by the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit fills followers of Jesus. Ephesians 5:18-21
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to bGod, even the Father; 21a and be subject to one another in the bfear of Christ.
Examples of filling of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Acts 6:5 and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit
Acts 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
Acts 11:24 for he (Barnabas) was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is commanded.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is continuous.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is being controlled by the Spirit.
The filling of the Holy Spirit causes:
Speaking to one another in spiritual songs
Singing and making melody to the Lord
Giving thanks
Submitting to one another
The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the followers of Jesus. Galatians 5:16-25
This is a common illustration in the Bible. Jesus spoke of the fact that you will know a tree by its fruit when He was warning about false prophets in the sermon on the mount.
We walk by the Spirit as opposed to the flesh. 16-17
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 . . .so that you may not do the things that you please.
We are led by the Spirit as opposed to the Law. 18-24
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The deeds of the flesh lead to hell. 19-21
First, the deeds of the flesh are evident and second they are evil.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident...
21 ...of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The fruit of the Spirit reflects those who belong to Christ. 22-24
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.
Love (agape) is the most important grace according to Jesus (Matt. 22) and according to Paul (1 Cor. 13). All the other graces flow out of love.
Joy (chara) has God as its source. Rejoice in the Lord. In your presence is fullness of joy. Joy comes from the same root as grace (charis).
Peace (eirene) is more than removal of bad circumstances. The Hebrew shalom is a deeper concept of a condition of wholeness and well-being that includes a right relationship with God with other people. Peace with God (Romans 5:1), peace of God (Phil. 4:6-7), and peacemaker (Matt. 5:9) are the results of the Spirit in the life of the believer.
Patience (makrothymia) means longsuffering, endurance. Certainly God is longsuffering with sinful mankind and struggling believers. For us, since God has been so longsuffering with us, how should we be with other people?
Kindness (chrestotes) is also a characteristic of God. We are to be kind to one another and be clothed with kindness.
Goodness (agathosyne) means benevolence and generosity toward someone else like going a second mile.
Faithfulness (pistis) can mean faith or faithfulness. Faithfulness is being dependable, trustworthy, reliable. Faithfulness is more important that success, especially since success is not in this list of graces.
Gentleness (prates) means being submissive and teachable and humble. Power harnessed in loving service and respectful actions. Strength under control.
Self-control (enkrateia) means to have mastery over one’s emotions, passions, and desires.
You and I are incapable of producing the fruit of the Spirit in our life. So we must be filled by the Spirit so He can produce the fruit of the Spirit resulting in us walking in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit.
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