Keeping in Step with the Spirit
(Galatia 5:1626—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang)
People first, then Program. When we build a big church, we believe that God want us to fill Church with His disciples and become a church that we be His light and salt for the city and nation (Matthew5:13-16). The rule is exciting programme may attract people to come, but only love will make them stay. People will stay when they experience the love of God being exercised in the church. For this every Sunday, every Christmas we remind our selves: to love God and to love people. This will happen only when the Christ dwell in us and we’re keeping in step with His Spirit. So, First, be known that the Spirit dwells in you. Christmas is Christmas only when Jesus is born in our hearts! The Spirit of Christ dwells in our heart to transform us. Ask God for a new heart and a new spirit that will enable us to discern and to follow Him. (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
Second, Faith, believing. Once we live by the Spirit. We need to know and believe that the spirit has set us free. Sin (or flesh vv 19-21) no longer has power over us (Rom 6:14). We are to be obedient to follow the Spirit’s leading. The church in Galatia was struggling to overcome flesh with the Law. The Law is good and provide people with specific moral guidelines, but the law cannot set us free from our “flesh”. Rather the Law put us in new problem when people are trying to out do each other by keeping the law. Galatian churches had been torn apart by pride which cause by provoking and envy; competitive as they try to outdo each other.
3rd, We need active determination: Keeping in step with the Spirit doesn’t mean to live without planning and to follow one’s feeling. Keeping in step with the spirit is both “passive” (requires our obedience) and active which require our determination. To live (walk) by the Spirit we need to have an active determination to get up from our “nice arm chair” and endurance to walk on steady pace. Walking in the Spirit demands active determination to follow the direction of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit excludes destructive influences of our sinful nature (biting and devouring each other, 15). When the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, at the same time we are still living in our sinful flesh. We need to be aware of the battle inside us — believing the Spirit will empower us to overcome the flesh and on our part to have “the will” and determination to conquer the desire of the flesh. For instance, when envy begin creeping in our hearts, we may struggle between “back-biting” the person or “to sincerely” rejoice with the fortune of others. Let the Spirit will transform us into people who are serving each other in love, instead of envying each other, etc. (v 13, 22-24)
Fourth, the fruits of the Spirit — Paul re-emphasized Jesus’s teaching “every healthy tree bears good fruit.” (Mat 7:17). The visible outcome of walking with the Spirit is the moral character of Christ, the fruits of the Spirit. Thus we will become the quality people with the character of Christ.
(Galatia 5:1626—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang)
People first, then Program. When we build a big church, we believe that God want us to fill Church with His disciples and become a church that we be His light and salt for the city and nation (Matthew5:13-16). The rule is exciting programme may attract people to come, but only love will make them stay. People will stay when they experience the love of God being exercised in the church. For this every Sunday, every Christmas we remind our selves: to love God and to love people. This will happen only when the Christ dwell in us and we’re keeping in step with His Spirit. So, First, be known that the Spirit dwells in you. Christmas is Christmas only when Jesus is born in our hearts! The Spirit of Christ dwells in our heart to transform us. Ask God for a new heart and a new spirit that will enable us to discern and to follow Him. (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
Second, Faith, believing. Once we live by the Spirit. We need to know and believe that the spirit has set us free. Sin (or flesh vv 19-21) no longer has power over us (Rom 6:14). We are to be obedient to follow the Spirit’s leading. The church in Galatia was struggling to overcome flesh with the Law. The Law is good and provide people with specific moral guidelines, but the law cannot set us free from our “flesh”. Rather the Law put us in new problem when people are trying to out do each other by keeping the law. Galatian churches had been torn apart by pride which cause by provoking and envy; competitive as they try to outdo each other.
3rd, We need active determination: Keeping in step with the Spirit doesn’t mean to live without planning and to follow one’s feeling. Keeping in step with the spirit is both “passive” (requires our obedience) and active which require our determination. To live (walk) by the Spirit we need to have an active determination to get up from our “nice arm chair” and endurance to walk on steady pace. Walking in the Spirit demands active determination to follow the direction of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit excludes destructive influences of our sinful nature (biting and devouring each other, 15). When the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, at the same time we are still living in our sinful flesh. We need to be aware of the battle inside us — believing the Spirit will empower us to overcome the flesh and on our part to have “the will” and determination to conquer the desire of the flesh. For instance, when envy begin creeping in our hearts, we may struggle between “back-biting” the person or “to sincerely” rejoice with the fortune of others. Let the Spirit will transform us into people who are serving each other in love, instead of envying each other, etc. (v 13, 22-24)
Fourth, the fruits of the Spirit — Paul re-emphasized Jesus’s teaching “every healthy tree bears good fruit.” (Mat 7:17). The visible outcome of walking with the Spirit is the moral character of Christ, the fruits of the Spirit. Thus we will become the quality people with the character of Christ.
May God rest His favour on us, giving us the privilege to lead people to believe and to grow in Christ through our church!
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