Walking in the Spirit.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to the village my name’s Steve. I’m one of the pastors here [0:03] How many of you feel like you lost an hour of sleep last night? I know I do having a little trouble [0:10] Functioning as a human this morning

[0:14] James our our worship pastor [0:17] You know I like making fun of them. It’s just it’s like one of those guilty pleasures everybody’s got somebody [0:21] I’ve got like ten somebody’s I don’t know what that says about me, but I guess I’m just main person [0:27] He has an alarm clock that was revolutionary, and it’s so technological it

[0:34] It jumps ahead for you [0:36] You know during daylight savings time then falls backwards for you at some kind of computer inside of it [0:40] He didn’t know that so he went ahead and did it manually and [0:46] Then when it did it for him. He got up at 430 this morning [0:51] We’re just glad he made it on time didn’t come too early [0:56] He’s he’s more tired than we are so we should all pity James this morning, but no I’m so glad you’re here

[1:03] As tired as you are and as tired as I am because of that one hour sleep [1:07] Especially if you’ve got kids a one hour sleep is killer especially got young kids [1:12] One young kid like I do but it’s killer, but I’m so I’m really glad that you’re here this morning [1:17] That last song we sang it really just God in Christ alone [1:22] That is where our acceptance with God comes from we have zero power to save ourselves [1:29] We have zero power to be righteous in front of God and that song really declares that and and it gets me kind of

[1:37] Excited to preach, but then it also makes me kind of forget what I was gonna preach [1:40] So bear with me for these first few moments as we go into Galatians chapter 5 [1:45] But if you have your Bible go ahead and open it to Galatians chapter 5 this morning [1:49] I just want to talk about a couple of things before I start though the first thing [1:53] I want to talk about that we’re really excited about and we finally [1:56] Got this approved this week is that on the Thursday night before Easter

[2:02] We’re having what’s called a tenebrae service [2:05] It’s a tradition that goes way back in church history that in modern day [2:11] We have sort of stopped celebrating and that is to gather as the body of Christ on the Thursday before [2:19] Easter Sunday before we celebrate the resurrection and to celebrate [2:24] Basically what is not seen sometimes as something that we should celebrate and that’s the sad and [2:31] Painful death of our Savior Jesus Christ, but it’s something that Jesus himself told us that in our

[2:39] resurrected state in this new life we can now look at death and [2:43] Have victory [2:45] Through that death so as a follower of Jesus Christ death is different because as we just saying [2:52] Death has no victory over us [2:55] So on the Thursday night before Easter on April 1st at 7 o’clock [3:01] We’re gonna gather at colony coffee, which is right up on Charter colony Parkway

[3:05] And if you’re like me you’re really excited because number one [3:08] They’re gonna be selling coffee to us and we’re gonna be able to to support local businesses and to also just drink coffee [3:14] Which is always fun for me [3:16] But we’re also going to be singing songs [3:19] We’re gonna be reading scripture and we’re gonna celebrate the cross of Jesus Christ [3:24] Together as a church on that night up at colony coffee, and we’re really excited about this James has planned really

[3:33] Reflective hour and that’s all we’re gonna ask you for is one hour on that Thursday night a really reflective hour [3:38] Just celebrating what Jesus did for us in his sacrifice [3:42] So we invite you guys out if you have friends that are [3:46] Busy on Sundays and they’re like fuck. I can’t make a church on Sunday morning [3:50] Especially today when they lost an hour of sleep invite them out to that on a Thursday night [3:54] It’s gonna be it’s gonna be a good time

[3:56] Then of course following that on Easter Sunday [3:59] We’re starting a new series called core and we’re very excited about this. We’re gonna be talking about [4:07] redemption specifically that morning redemption through the resurrection [4:11] If if you have friends who are looking for a church to go to on that Sunday bring them out to the village [4:17] We’re gonna have a great time [4:18] And we’re really gonna be begin a series that Sunday about our core values as a church

[4:26] What do we the village value and you hear us talking about redemption mission community and culture often? [4:34] But maybe you don’t quite understand what we’re talking about [4:37] We’re gonna start talking about it that Sunday and for the next several weeks [4:40] We’re gonna unfold for you guys our vision as a church and really what God what we see as God’s vision for his church [4:48] Is how does the gospel take root in our lives and then go out into the lives of others? [4:54] And we’re gonna spend weeks talking about how you can be a part of that

[4:57] But let’s get down to it Galatians chapter 5 if you were with us last week [5:02] We spent last Sunday talking about [5:05] What it looks like to walk in sin and [5:09] Why we struggle with sin so much and this Sunday? [5:13] We’re gonna talk about the flip side of that and that’s walking in the spirit. How does that look? [5:18] What does that look like last week?

[5:19] We went into great detail talking about how and I kind of just just gave you [5:24] My view and my thoughts on the fact that everyone it that lives is seeking freedom in some way [5:32] They were all seeking freedom in our lives [5:35] But the big key and the big fact is that when we seek freedom apart from God [5:40] We’re walking in the flesh as Paul puts it and what that creates is a life where we seek freedom in the wrong things [5:47] And then that imprisons us and causes us to seek freedom in

[5:52] Something else and then we need see we need that we need freedom from that thing because it creates a prison in our lives [5:57] So we seek freedom in something else and what we do when we seek freedom apart from God is we [6:02] Pervert good things that God created and we turn them into bad things that God never meant them to be that way [6:09] and that was why Paul brought up things like sexual immorality and [6:15] idolatry and impurity and [6:18] Drunkenness is because things that God created to be one thing when we seek freedom in those things

[6:26] We turn them into sinful things and we talked about how this is not a list of do’s and don’ts

[6:34] But rather what Paul is doing is he’s showing us what the gospel looks like when it actually takes root in our lives [6:41] But so often we spend a great deal of time looking at the what it looks like to walk in the flesh and then what it [6:47] Looks like to walk in the spirit and what we see in Galatians chapter 5 [6:51] We just kind of single it off by itself and we say these are the things that we’re not supposed to be like and these are the things that we are supposed to be like and so if you want to know how you are measuring up where God is concerned you look at these two lists and this is how you’re measuring up. [7:10] The only problem with that is when you look at the sentences around these two lists and especially when you take the entire book of Galatians into consideration [7:20] That doesn’t make a lot of sense

[7:22] Because the whole book of Galatians is Paul’s treatise or Paul’s presentation of what the gospel of Jesus Christ actually is [7:32] And what he presents to us is that the gospel is not our moral strivings to earn God’s acceptance in our lives [7:43] The gospel is not a life of religious pursuit trying to measure up to God’s standards [7:51] Because that is the gospel that some people had brought into the church at Galatia [7:56] And if you go back to Galatians chapter 1 you read that Paul says if anyone comes to you and preaches a gospel unlike the one that I have given you [8:05] If anyone comes in and adds anything to the gospel I have given you or takes away from the gospel that I have given you

[8:11] Let him be accursed [8:14] And what that means in the Greek literally means they stand condemned before God [8:20] Then if you fast forward to Galatians chapter 5 [8:23] Paul then basically restates what he said in chapter 1 [8:27] He just says it a little different [8:28] He says if anyone tries to lead you away from the gospel that I have given you and gives you another gospel

[8:34] He should emasculate himself [8:37] Paul uses very strong words for the gospel [8:41] Because the gospel is the key to life [8:44] It is what saves us from the wrath of God [8:49] So what is the gospel? [8:52] If we take just a brief survey through the book of Galatians

[8:55] Paul really hammers it home over and over again [8:58] If you go back to chapter 2 and verse 20 [9:02] Paul says I am crucified with Christ [9:07] Yet I live [9:09] Not I but Christ lives in me [9:12] And the life I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me

[9:19] And we all rejoice in that verse [9:21] But then you look in verse 21 [9:23] He says for if redemption could come through the works of the law [9:28] Our moral standards that we try to keep in order to earn God’s acceptance [9:33] He says then Jesus died for no reason and the crucifixion was pointless [9:40] So in this verse Paul gives us two different sides

[9:43] He says what the gospel is and what the gospel isn’t [9:46] He says the gospel is the work of God in my life [9:49] It is the death of Jesus Christ giving me life [9:53] Killing my sin [9:54] Giving me acceptance with God [9:56] Giving me a new life from God

[9:58] But the gospel isn’t me struggling [10:04] White knuckled to try to earn God’s acceptance [10:07] Because if I can gain God’s acceptance apart from God’s work [10:11] God’s work through Jesus was pointless and it was cruel at best [10:15] To kill his son and pour his wrath on him [10:19] Then in chapter 3 verse 10 Paul says something very interesting

[10:23] He says for anyone that is under the law [10:27] Anyone who would put himself under the burden of the law [10:31] To try to gain God’s acceptance [10:33] He says he is cursed already [10:37] Then a little further in chapter 3 he expounds on that [10:43] And this is why we have to compare scripture with scripture

[10:45] He says Christ died in order to redeem us from that curse that the law gave us [10:52] Then in chapter 4 he says so eloquently [10:55] He says through the death burial resurrection of Jesus Christ [11:00] God takes us and he adopts us and makes us his children [11:04] And actually makes us heirs to his kingdom [11:08] So what is the gospel?

[11:11] The gospel is God doing for me what I cannot do for myself [11:16] What I strive throughout my life to try to do for myself and fail [11:22] Because I can’t do it [11:25] The gospel is the work of Jesus Christ in my life [11:28] And if you are in Galatians chapter 5 I want you to read verse 18

[11:34] In verse 18 Paul says [11:37] If you are led by the spirit [11:42] Then you are not under the law

[11:50] This falls right before Paul is going to give us the list of what sin looks like in our lives [11:57] And what the work of God looks like in our lives [12:01] But so often we read the lists without this verse [12:05] So often we just kind of glance through this verse [12:08] And don’t really get what he is trying to say to us [12:11] Then we just go onto the list

[12:12] And if we aren’t sinning then you know God is working in our lives [12:19] But I want you to kind of understand the richness of this verse in verse 18 [12:24] And that you cannot grasp the work of the flesh and the work of the spirit in our lives [12:29] Without comprehending exactly what Paul is talking about in this verse right here [12:35] Paul is telling us that if we are led by the spirit we are not under the law in any way shape or form [12:41] And throughout church history whether or not the Christian is under the weight of the law

[12:47] Which if you are new to this and you haven’t really spent much time in church [12:52] When I say the law what I am talking about you can just sum it all up in the 10 commandments [12:58] There are actually 639 laws in the Old Testament [13:03] And God sums them up basically in the 10 commandments [13:07] And I think we are all in this society at least a little bit familiar with those [13:10] 10 commandments thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not murder

[13:17] All of these commands that God gives us that many in us we look at this and we say this is the moral fiber in our society [13:25] If you live under that law then you are a good moral righteous person [13:31] And in this society we have dubbed it the Judeo-Christian ethic [13:37] And quite frankly if you can live and follow the Old Testament law perfectly you will be a moral upstanding and righteous person [13:47] But here is the key you can’t do it [13:53] Try all you will you cannot do it we can’t get past command one

[14:00] And then we are like thou shalt have no other gods before me

[14:04] At one point or another we have all valued something more than we have valued God [14:09] Look in your checkbook

[14:17] You want to know what you value? Look there [14:20] And I am not like oh you are terrible people look at how you are spending your money give it all to the village [14:24] I mean that would be great but don’t misunderstand me because I see what I spend my money on too [14:31] Fingerpoint right back here too my checkbook shows what I value [14:35] And there is a lot of grocery bill in there [14:39] I don’t know what is going on

[14:42] And somehow hostess hostess hostess hostess keeps showing up [14:47] Twinkies a little bit I don’t understand what is going on there [14:51] But there is a value system that I am saying about sugar [14:55] There is a weird relationship there I don’t know [14:58] Anyway but you cannot follow this law no matter how hard you try [15:06] So what is the purpose of the law?

[15:09] And we have talked about this but let’s review a little bit [15:11] The law exposes what only God can redeem [15:15] You see when we read verses like Galatians 518 [15:20] Sometimes it scares us [15:22] Sometimes it frightens us [15:24] Because we don’t want to believe it actually means what it says

[15:28] Because we want to try to pretty it up [15:31] Make it a little bit allegorical [15:33] If we are led by the spirit then we are not under the law [15:36] And we say well it doesn’t literally mean we are not under the law [15:40] I am sorry I take Paul at what he says that is literally what it means [15:45] And you don’t know why it scares us?

[15:47] Because then we look outside and we look at the lives people live [15:50] And we say wait a second if we are not under the law [15:54] Chaos will ensue [15:56] People will hear that and think they can just do whatever they want [16:00] They can be as immoral as they want [16:02] They can live lives of treacherous sin

[16:07] Here is why we are living lives of denial

[16:12] The law doesn’t stop chaos [16:17] The law just reveals that it is already here

[16:24] The law shows us where we are sinful [16:27] The law doesn’t make us not sinful [16:30] It just reveals it to us [16:32] The law stands as a glowing signal and sign [16:37] Chaos is here [16:39] It was here before the law came

[16:42] There was a huge gap between Adam and Eve sinning [16:45] And when God gave the law to Moses [16:48] And the scriptures say in the book of Hebrews [16:51] Death reigned the entire time the law wasn’t there [16:56] Because the law didn’t stop sin [17:01] The law just showed what was already true about human beings

[17:06] The law doesn’t stop it [17:09] It doesn’t hinder it [17:11] It is just the big blinking light that says [17:14] Guess what guys? [17:15] Chaos is ensuing all around us [17:18] And it is starting right here

[17:23] The law reveals what only God can redeem [17:28] When we look at moral commands [17:31] We often try to cover our sin up [17:34] And we often try to say [17:36] But you know what? [17:38] I haven’t murdered anyone

[17:41] I may have lied one time [17:43] But I haven’t murdered [17:44] And you see what our freedom seeking sensibilities do to us? [17:49] It makes us try to compare and contrast what the law says [17:53] And some laws are a little more important than other laws [17:56] But the truth of the law is

[17:58] It basically tells us in the book of James [18:00] That if we break just one of them [18:03] We are impure [18:05] If we break just one law that God has given us [18:10] We are done [18:11] We cannot stand up before God

[18:13] And be counted righteous [18:15] If we are ever guilty of just one law [18:19] And some of us might look at that and say [18:21] Those are some pretty high standards [18:23] But it is God [18:26] God created us

[18:28] We can’t look at God and say [18:31] Your standards are too strong for me [18:32] Because the book of Romans chapter 9 says [18:34] You are the clay [18:36] How can you look at the potter who is forming you [18:39] And complain about the way he is doing it?

[18:44] We need to realize who we are in comparison to who God is [18:47] He writes the law [18:49] He gives the law [18:50] He commands the law [18:52] We break the law [18:55] And as long as someone else is breaking the law

[18:58] We are fine [18:59] But as soon as we break the law [19:01] It is like, your standards are just too high God

[19:06] Never do we want to really be honest [19:09] And just admit, you know what? [19:13] I am immoral [19:15] I can’t do this [19:16] I can’t redeem myself [19:21] When you ever get to that point

[19:23] And whenever you are honest with yourself

[19:28] That is when you can start to understand [19:32] Redemption from God [19:34] But as long as you live a life of denial [19:37] And think that you are moral [19:39] And think that your righteousness is sufficient [19:41] And live this religious life of bettering yourself

[19:44] And getting self help [19:46] And just picking yourself up by your bootstraps [19:48] White knuckling your morality

[19:52] You will never experience redemption [19:55] The reason that Galatians 3.10 says [19:58] If you put yourself under the law [19:59] You have to live by the curse of the law [20:02] Because when you put yourself up under that law [20:05] And say, you know what? I can keep the law

[20:08] Those are the standards you are going to be judged by

[20:12] You have got to be pretty sure you have never broken any of those laws [20:16] But here is the big key [20:17] You are never going to obey them [20:19] You can’t do it [20:21] It is impossible [20:22] Take what you have learned of the gospel through Galatians

[20:25] Those texts I went through earlier [20:26] And you will see that you have been taken out from under condemnation [20:32] Only if you are found in Jesus Christ [20:35] Remember, the law stands as a huge glaring signal [20:39] That we are sinful [20:41] You have done wrong

[20:42] You are a sinner [20:43] And I don’t think that is something that we as human beings don’t understand [20:47] We don’t have to look very far in our lives to see [20:50] Where we don’t even measure up to ourselves [20:54] Have you ever been on a diet?

[21:00] Josh, you are too skinny [21:02] You don’t get it, bro [21:03] You don’t have these struggles

[21:07] Have you ever been on a diet? [21:09] I think that is most of us [21:10] Especially if you are, you know, big boned [21:13] Husky [21:15] Those are the pretty words we like to call it [21:18] I like to say, you know

[21:19] But here is a better question [21:21] How many of you have broken that diet? [21:23] Alright, you set the standard [21:27] You broke your own standard [21:29] If you can’t even live up to your standards [21:32] How are you going to live up to God’s standards?

[21:37] This is all I am trying to look at you and say [21:38] You can’t do it [21:40] You are hopeless [21:42] The list of walking in the flesh that we went through last week [21:45] Are true of every single one of us [21:49] Because all of us at one point

[21:51] Have looked for freedom apart from God [21:56] And all that did was dig the hole even deeper [22:00] And that thing we sought apart from God to give us freedom [22:04] We need freedom from that thing [22:08] But you have to understand the gospel of Jesus is the thing [22:13] That frees us from that condemnation that the law gives us

[22:18] Because the law is a spotlight on all of our lives [22:23] It just reveals to us who we really are [22:27] And when you understand that you [22:30] Insert your name right here [22:33] Have sinned

[22:36] Once you get that [22:38] The law has fulfilled its purpose in your life [22:43] You understand that you have sinned against God [22:47] So what does that say about us? [22:51] Are we hopeless? [22:52] No

[22:54] No [22:55] The law was part of God’s plan [22:59] Under the law God condemned us [23:02] And held us accountable for our sin [23:04] But then he didn’t make us pay the payment [23:06] That’s the gospel

[23:07] Remember those texts we went through? [23:09] That’s the gospel [23:10] It frees us from that condemnation [23:13] Instead of pouring his hot angry wrath on us [23:17] He poured it onto his son Jesus on the cross [23:20] And Jesus died for our sins to save us from ourselves

[23:26] And I don’t think in this culture [23:28] I’m telling you something you don’t already know [23:30] Or something that you haven’t already heard [23:33] But what I want to get to right now [23:37] Is what does that actually do to our lives? [23:42] What does that cause to happen?

[23:44] When the gospel takes root in your life [23:47] And you finally admit I have sinned [23:50] God I desperately need you to save me [23:53] And he does it through Jesus [23:56] And we believe that [23:57] We trust that

[23:58] We say God you have saved me from my sins through Jesus [24:01] I believe

[24:06] What’s next? [24:07]

[24:10] Do we just simply have this cognitive thought [24:12] And understanding of our redemption [24:14] And then we go through life waiting for it to actually happen [24:19] In death?

[24:22] That’s only part of it [24:24] God doesn’t just save us from what’s going to happen in the afterlife [24:29] He also saves us from living a pointless life here and now [24:34] The gospel gives us meaning [24:38] Remember we’re going to talk about the works of the flesh [24:41] And the works of the spirit

[24:44] So I want to get to that [24:45] Look in Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 [24:47] Skip a couple of verses after verse 18 that we talked about last week [24:51] Look to verse 22

[24:54] But the fruit of the spirit is love [24:57] Joy [24:58] Peace [24:59] Patience [25:00] Kindness [25:01] Goodness

[25:03] Faithfulness [25:03] Gentleness [25:04] Self control [25:06] Against such things there is no law [25:10] You see in the gospel [25:13] Paul starts talking about

[25:14] We are if we are led by the spirit we’re not under the law [25:18] And then he says the fruits of the spirit are [25:21] Okay remember last week just rewind just a minute [25:24] We talked about the key [25:26] That at the moment of salvation [25:29] God gives us his holy spirit

[25:31] He works his life into our life [25:34] And he transforms us [25:36] He redeems us completely [25:38] He changes our lives [25:40] He causes that revolutionary movement that the book of Galatians has been talking about all along [25:46] But here’s the key for the fruits of the spirit

[25:51] The spirit of God works the life of God into our lives and out of our lives [26:00] This is how real life change is accomplished [26:04] God does not simply give us the Willy Wonka golden ticket to heaven [26:09] And then leave us alone to live the rest of our lives apart from him [26:13] That’s not the gospel [26:16] The gospel is God redeeming us completely

[26:20] From the life of vain self-centered freedom seeking on our own [26:26] And he gives us his life entirely

[26:31] This is where those fruits of the spirit are going to find their place into our lives [26:39] The gospel is something that comes into our life from God [26:43] It’s the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ [26:46] And then when it comes into our lives [26:48] It takes root in our lives [26:50] And it begins this life of transformation

[26:53] That changes everything [26:56] Our value system begins to change [26:59] And quite often we get confused at this point [27:02] Because we don’t understand how this is taking place [27:06] It’s taking place because God is working his spirit into our lives [27:12] And then the gospel takes root

[27:15] Then our lives are changed forever [27:18] Understand that often we look at this list and we say [27:26] Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control [27:35] None of these are unattractive to me [27:38] None of them [27:40] They all look great

[27:43] If I could live a life where these things were really true of my life [27:47] I think I would have a pretty good life [27:51] Here’s the problem though [27:53] It’s a big problem I have [27:57] I’m married

[28:00] And quite frequently

[28:04] Those things aren’t happening at the Gentry house

[28:11] I mean if you’re married I think you can run that mentality with me [28:16] Heck, not even if you’re married [28:17] Have you been to college? [28:20] Did you have a roommate?

[28:23] Let me tell you about my first roommate [28:25] My first roommate [28:27] And this wasn’t in the 80s [28:29] I’m not that old [28:29] This was in the year 2000 [28:32] My roommate could have won a Prince lookalike contest

[28:38] You guys know Prince right? [28:40] Purple rain [28:41] I’m talking about that guy [28:44] My roommate could have won a lookalike contest [28:47] And here’s the big key [28:49] There were so many hair products that went into causing that creation in his life

[28:56] Oh my goodness, my room smelled so bad [29:00] Here’s another key [29:02] And I asked him, I’m not exaggerating [29:05] This is true [29:06] He didn’t do laundry until after midterms [29:12] And he didn’t own that many outfits

[29:17] It was rough [29:19] His sheets never left his bed the whole semester

[29:28] You’re tracking with me some of you that understand smell

[29:33] This is very odd

[29:39] Needless to say [29:40] There was some contention between him and I [29:44] Because I could never invite anyone into the room [29:48] Also, he didn’t own a hamper [29:50] That was the floor [29:51] That’s what we called the floor

[29:55] Literally, we could have put a dividing line down the room [29:58] To show who lived on one side and who lived on our side [30:01] But we didn’t need to [30:02] The filth showed the dividing line [30:06] There was contention in that room [30:11] One room

[30:12] There was contention in it [30:13] But fast forward [30:14] Many of us when we get married [30:16] We think that marriage, once the wedding bell is gone [30:18] We go on the honeymoon and we come home [30:20] It’s just going to be this blissful state forever

[30:23] And then one day [30:25] Your wife is vacuuming [30:27] And you don’t immediately get the other vacuum that you don’t own [30:30] And join in with her [30:32] And when she’s done vacuuming [30:34] She looks at you and is like

[30:36] I just can’t believe you didn’t help me [30:38] We only own one [30:41] I don’t know what to do [30:45] TV was just more attractive [30:47] I’m sorry

[30:51] And then a pastor will get up on a Sunday and say [30:54] Do you want to know what a beautiful marriage looks like?

[30:58] But the fruit of the spirit [31:01] Is love [31:02] Joy [31:03] You know, it’s like [31:06] Since we as human beings [31:08] We are so good at defining things for ourselves

[31:10] We’re really good [31:11] It’s like, oh yes, love exists in my life [31:14] All over the place [31:15] As much as I want to give to other people [31:17] Then we get to word two, joy [31:19] Oh, wait a second

[31:21] Hmm [31:22] Didn’t exist yesterday

[31:26] We had that one argument [31:29] I forgot to record that one TV show [31:31] My wife questioned all of the love I have ever had for her over it [31:36] Actually in my life [31:37] That would be totally reversed [31:40] Why didn’t you tape the Kardashians for me, honey?

[31:43] I love that show [31:45] You know, most women watch that show [31:47] It’s weird, it’s a guilty pleasure I have

[31:50] Anyway, some of you will get that later [31:53] It was really good [31:55] Hopefully, listen to the recording on the website [31:57] And you’ll love it later [31:58] I promise it was good [31:59] But here’s the big key

[32:01] Alright, if we’re really honest with ourselves [32:04] Just like we need to be about the Old Testament law [32:07] Alright, if we’re really honest with the lives we actually live [32:11] Seven days a week and not just one hour on Sunday morning

[32:17] We might struggle to say [32:19] My life is filled with these things [32:22] Because here’s the key [32:23] Once we are redeemed by the Gospel [32:27] Quite often we stop depending on the Gospel for anything else in our lives [32:33] We stop depending on our acceptance by God

[32:37] Through His Son Jesus Christ [32:39] Which is absolute [32:40] He completely accepts us through His Son [32:42] But we stop depending on that for other things in our lives [32:47] Because we think that we can manufacture these things on our own [32:54] Once we’re saved

[32:55] And we think that God just simply gives us enough of Himself to where we can take it from here [33:02] We grab the baton [33:03] And we try so hard to create these things in our lives [33:06] But the Gospel stands as a giant monument to say [33:10] No, you cannot [33:13] Here’s the big key from verse 18

[33:16] If you are led by the Spirit

[33:23] But quite often we don’t live lives where we are led by the Spirit [33:29] So these fruits [33:31] Never take root because we spend so much time trying to produce them on our own [33:37] But here’s the big key [33:39] You can’t produce it on your own [33:41] They are the fruits of the Spirit

[33:45] Not the fruits of me [33:48] The fruits of me [33:52] Is what the flesh produces

[33:55] Why do I struggle to see the fruits of the Spirit in my life? [33:58] I struggle to see the fruits of the Spirit in my life [34:00] Because I’m trying to make them come out of my life [34:04] When my life stands as a testament to idolatry [34:10] Impurity [34:11] Contention

[34:12] Disunity [34:14] That’s my life [34:18] God says [34:19] Not your life [34:22] My life [34:23] And God sends us His Spirit

[34:27] And works Himself into our lives through His Spirit [34:31] And the fruits are not mine, they’re God’s [34:36] If I ever see true love in my life [34:39] If I ever see true joy in my life [34:42] If I ever see peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control [34:48] If I ever see any of those things actually occurring in my life

[34:52] It’s because I am allowing God to live His life through mine [34:58] And then the Gospel has then taken root in my life [35:01] God has worked His Spirit into my life [35:04] And guess what God has a funny way of doing once He works His Spirit into your life? [35:08] He starts working His Spirit out of your life [35:11] And into the lives of others

[35:15] If I ever do an unselfish thing in my marriage [35:20] I can’t claim credit for it [35:24] All glory to God [35:26] Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

[35:30] That’s the truth [35:32] So how does that work? [35:35] Look at the end of verse 23 [35:38] He gives us the fruits of the Spirit [35:39] And it’s a very interesting phrase that we often don’t understand so we don’t spend a lot of time on [35:46] Against such things there is no law

[35:51] Why isn’t there a law? [35:54] Doesn’t the law stand as a testament to our unrighteousness? [35:59] So we are all condemned by the law [36:01] And then we can’t produce these good things because we are condemned by the law [36:05] But then Jesus frees us from the law [36:10] And if these things are the fruits of the Spirit

[36:12] Against such things there is no law [36:15] Here’s why [36:16] There are no laws against any of these things [36:18] Because the source of these things is God [36:23] Read through that list one more time on your own [36:26] And what you are going to start to see is

[36:28] That these things are attributes of God [36:32] These things are things that are only true of God [36:36] This list of love, joy and peace [36:40] Those are things that are character qualities of God and God alone [36:47] So if you ever begin to see them in your life

[36:53] It’s because God is doing it through you [36:56] God is pouring himself into you [36:58] And you have seen the gospel begin to take root [37:02] And you look at God and you see the love of God through Jesus Christ [37:06] You see the peace we have with God through Jesus Christ [37:09] You see this amazing life that Jesus lived

[37:12] That wasn’t an example for us to follow [37:15] But a life that God wants to give us [37:19] We see these amazing qualities in God [37:22] And we fall passionately in love with God [37:25] And God reunites himself with us through the gospel [37:30] And we fall in love with who he is

[37:33] And guess what inevitably begins to happen [37:36] That relationship that we have with God [37:40] Begins to affect all relationships in our lives [37:42] And that’s because we begin to look at the relationship with others [37:46] Like we look at the relationship with God [37:49] And God works himself into our lives

[37:52] And we begin to actually learn what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus [37:58] Following Jesus is a passionate life lived with God [38:05] That pours over into the lives of others [38:11] Because what is redemption?

[38:14] Because the spirit working in our lives goes right down to what redemption actually is [38:19] Redemption rebuilds what sin destroyed [38:22] Last week we talked about how in the Garden of Eden a little bit [38:27] How Adam and Eve rebelled against God [38:29] And sought freedom from God, apart from God [38:34] But in order to understand how that’s more than just a don’t eat the tree moment

[38:40] You have to understand who God is [38:42] God is relationship [38:46] What do you mean? [38:48] God does not exist outside of relationship [38:53] God is the definition of community [38:57] How so?

[38:59] Remember, we believe in a triune God [39:03] God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit [39:07] Yet we say it’s the three in one [39:11] Three persons, one God [39:13] Three natures, one God [39:17] What is that? And it’s such a mystery that we can’t wrap our minds around

[39:21] But here’s how you can begin to understand it [39:24] And the reason we don’t comprehend it is because [39:26] We are so sinful and so individualistic [39:29] And relationships are something that sometimes cause more pain [39:32] Than they cause good in our lives [39:34] And we relate relationships often with pain because of sin

[39:40] God exists in perfect unity with himself [39:44] In perfect relationship with himself [39:47] That’s why when he created Adam [39:50] And Eve wasn’t there, he looked at Adam [39:53] And it wasn’t because Adam was a man [39:55] Alright ladies?

[39:57] A lot of ladies want to tell us that if he had created Eve first [40:00] Adam would have been pointless [40:01] And he was just disappointed in men [40:03] So he’s like, I need a woman to fix this [40:05] Alright, I don’t know where you’re going with that [40:08] That’s not what happened

[40:09] God sees Adam and he says [40:12] It’s the first thing in all of creation [40:14] Because remember he had been creating and saying it is good [40:15] It is good, it is good, it is good [40:17] He creates Adam and he says [40:18] It is not good for man to be alone

[40:23] Alright, remember in the book of Genesis [40:25] God creates man and woman [40:29] And he says we put our image in them [40:35] Here’s why Adam wasn’t good [40:37] Because individually

[40:41] The image of God wasn’t perfected

[40:45] It was only when he had Adam and Eve [40:49] And then instituted marriage [40:51] And said these two shall become one [40:54] It’s only then that he said [40:57] It’s good [40:59] Now it resembles me

[41:01] Because God exists in perfect relationships [41:05] Then when Adam and Eve decided [41:07] We want to divorce ourselves away from God

[41:12] They sinned against God, they rebelled [41:14] They said we do not want unity with God anymore [41:17] So they ripped themselves apart from God [41:19] They were rebelling against Him [41:21] So that they could become their own Gods

[41:25] In that perfect relationship [41:27] With God who is the perfect definition of community [41:30] Who was torn apart [41:32] Then God comes down and judges [41:36] He says Adam why did you sin against me?

[41:42] Instantaneously [41:42] Adam continues the trend [41:45] And tries to divorce himself away from Eve [41:48] Because he says well God [41:51] She’s the reason

[41:56] Sin pulls relationship apart [42:00] Remember last week? [42:02] That’s why the very beginning of last week’s text says

[42:07] The law is summed up [42:10] And love your neighbor as yourself [42:12] Because the gospel is not self centered

[42:18] Quite often we look at the gospel [42:21] And only see the benefits that we get [42:23] Only seek the benefits for me [42:25] I’m saved, I’m redeemed, I’m loved [42:30] The gospel is of God redeeming us [42:34] Back into that redemptive life

[42:38] Of relationship with Him [42:41] And Him reconciling us to Himself [42:44] Recreating what we have demolished through our lives of sin [42:50] Then the natural outpouring of a life lived in relationship with God [42:55] Is a reuniting of our relationship with each other [43:01] The gospel is not just God wanting to single you out

[43:05] But rather it’s God drastically pulling you back into relationship with Himself [43:11] Then we begin to understand once again what it looks like to perfectly be an image bearer of God [43:18] And then we naturally want other people involved [43:24] The relationships in our lives begin to heal because it’s not about me [43:31] It’s about God [43:33] And when I am in awe of who God is and all that God has done

[43:37] And all that God continues to do through the gospel [43:40] God looks at my life and says take my gospel to others [43:44] Take it to others [43:45] Take it into the lives of others [43:47] Go to others [43:48] Go tell others of the redemption that I have

[43:50] It’s a theme over and over and over again in the New Testament [43:54] Not just so that we can constantly be these individuals set apart from other people [43:58] That is why we struggle to see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives [44:03] And we try to turn the work of the Holy Spirit into things that it is not [44:07] Because God clearly says the work of the Holy Spirit will be seen in your life [44:14] When you are in relationship with others

[44:17] And it is about the gospel and not about you

[44:22] Because it’s not about me [44:26] It’s about God [44:29] And the kingdom that He is building [44:34] Through the gospel God is rebuilding relationships on two levels [44:39] He first rebuilds our relationship with Him [44:42] Because it’s only in Him that redemption can be found

[44:45] Only in what He does through Jesus Christ [44:47] But then second, it’s about God rebuilding our relationship with others [44:54] You see you can’t have a God honoring marriage that God doesn’t create [44:57] You can’t have a God honoring friendship that God doesn’t create [45:04] Because when we separate ourselves from God everything gets screwed up [45:08] Everything is broken

[45:10] Nothing works out [45:12] My pride is more important than my humility [45:16] My feelings are more important than others [45:20] So sin starts destroying everything that God created [45:25] But through the gospel God redeems it [45:29] Rebuilds it

[45:30] And then God’s kingdom is built through community

[45:38] Redeemed by the Spirit [45:40] You see last week we saw life in the flesh doesn’t desire the kingdom of God [45:49] See because back a couple of verses ago it says that these things, this bad list I gave [45:55] If this is true of you then you have no part of the kingdom of God [45:59] But remember it’s not God necessarily just kicking us out [46:03] It’s us willfully saying I want no part of it

[46:07] It’s all about me, not God’s kingdom [46:10] See God’s kingdom is built through redemption and then that redemption builds community [46:16] And then that community becomes the church [46:20] You see because when redemption takes root in my life it necessarily will take root in the relationships in my life [46:26] And then Jesus himself said where two or three are gathered in my name I’ll be there too [46:31] The church stands as a sign of the kingdom of God

[46:38] The church is God’s kingdom revealed to this earth [46:43] The way that Jesus was God himself revealed to this earth [46:49] You see the church of Jesus is a gathering of people who really believe the gospel [46:53] And desire it to flow out of their lives through the work of the spirit [46:58] God unites us under the banner of the gospel to work these things out of our lives and into the lives of others [47:08] And what he builds is a gospel community

[47:14] You see we don’t look the same [47:20] We’re not the same age [47:22] We don’t dress the same [47:25] See but in the gospel none of that matters [47:30] Some of you are older than me, some of you are younger than me [47:34] The gospel, none of that matters

[47:38] Because we’re not going to base it off of these human, vain, self-centered desires [47:46] We’re going to base it off of the uniting factor that is Jesus Christ

[47:53] See in a gospel community it stops being about me [47:58] And starts being all about God and his kingdom [48:02] You see often we struggle to see well is it the Holy Spirit working in my life? [48:06] How do I really know? [48:09] I’ll tell you [48:09] You know because you are stopping and ending the love affair that you have with yourself

[48:16] And you’re starting to desire God above all else in your life [48:20] And you look at the gospel and you see the beauty of redemption [48:23] And you see the beauty of all that God wants to do in your life [48:27] And when we rally under that battle cry [48:30] The world will notice that there is a difference in us [48:33] And that we are not self-seeking

[48:35] We are not these prideful people who are just looking to glorify ourselves [48:41] Rather we are looking to further the gospel of Jesus [48:45] And that is something that just disqualifies hate [48:49] It disqualifies sexual immorality [48:51] It disqualifies idolatry [48:53] It bans disunity

[48:55] And it unites us under the banner of Jesus [48:58] Because we’ve been honest about who we are [49:02] We are sinful [49:03] But then we are also honest with the fact that we can be redeemed from that through Jesus Christ [49:11] And once we have that there is hope [49:15] And when we have that hope

[49:18] We have that forgiveness

[49:22] And other people begin to be affected because when we are united with God [49:28] His goodness works into our lives [49:31] Then it works into other people’s lives [49:33] That’s when families are reunited [49:36] That’s when friends forgive each other [49:40] That is when instead of seeking our own fulfillment we seek other people’s fulfillment

[49:45] That is when instead of trying so hard to prove my point in a pointless argument [49:52] Instead I stop and listen to the other person’s point

[49:58] That’s when it stops being about me [50:01] And it starts being about the kingdom of God [50:04] Which is only fulfilled when I truly love other people [50:09] This is when even when we get just a little offended by someone [50:15] Maybe by their tastes

[50:18] We overlook it [50:21] For the greater good [50:23] Which you can define by the way [50:26] The greater good is always the gospel [50:29] It’s always the work of God through Jesus Christ [50:34] And the lives of men

[50:36] This is how God’s kingdom is being built [50:39] This is how he is bringing his church together [50:42] Because it’s not about us [50:44] It’s about the other guy [50:47] We are to be the sign of the kingdom of God to the world all around us [50:54] That is when the gospel is taking root in our lives

[50:57] That is why we do this [51:01] That is why Monday through Friday you can live for the gospel [51:06] That is why you can put someone before yourself [51:08] It’s not that you’re good, it’s that God’s good [51:11] And he’s working his good into you, turning you good

[51:16] You can’t take credit for that [51:20] Only God can [51:22] See God loves us [51:24] That’s real joy to know [51:28] It’s joyful to know that God loves me [51:32] And in his love he works his life into and out of my life

[51:38] And see when that community begins to be redeemed by the spirit [51:44] Then we can start to understand why death has no victory [51:49] Because death is the kingdom of God realized for the believer of Jesus Christ [51:55] Because that is when we are taken into his presence [51:58] That is when we realize all that he’s done for us [52:02] And we can bow before the king

[52:06] Life is not to be lived in fear [52:11] Life is not to be lived with guilt [52:14] Life is not to be lived with the baggage of hate for other people [52:19] Life is not to be lived with constant contention [52:23] Because you see the way he ends this text [52:27] Is so glorious and so beautiful for us if we would just live it

[52:32] In verse 25 he says [52:34] If we live by the spirit [52:37] Let us also walk by the spirit [52:41] Let us not become conceited [52:45] Provoking one another [52:47] Or envying one another

[52:52] You see Paul harps so harshly on to our relationships with other people [52:58] Because it’s in light of our relationship with other people [53:02] That we really find out who we are [53:07] My greatest flaws are revealed when I get into a relationship with someone else [53:13] Because they see the ugly that I can’t hide [53:17] But the gospel says if you rewind to verse 24

[53:21] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires [53:32] If you want the fruits of the spirit in your life

[53:38] It can only happen through Jesus [53:40] Because that’s the only way the works of the flesh are going to be put to death in your life [53:46] You can begin that journey today [53:49] If you will simply trust in God through the works of Jesus Christ [53:56] Stop trusting in yourself [53:58] Stop trying to manufacture these things yourself

[54:01] You can’t do it [54:03] Only God can redeem [54:06] But here’s the big key [54:07] He’s already done it through Jesus [54:10] We simply need to be honest about who we are [54:14] And then be honest about who He is

[54:17] And what He has done through Jesus [54:21] Let’s reflect

[54:24] On this great salvation that we have [54:28] Now is our time when we respond [54:30] And we say God I want this to be true of my life [54:34] I want the gospel to take root in my life [54:37] And we proclaim His death for us until He comes [54:42] Guys let us build the kingdom of God through the church of Jesus

[54:48] But let us not try to do it apart from the hand of God [54:53] And the strength of God [54:55] And when you take communion today if you’re a believer if you’re not [54:59] You need to believe first before you can do this [55:02] Because you can’t build the kingdom by yourself without it [55:06] Reflect on communion, His broken body

[55:09] His blood shed

[55:13] And when we do it [55:15] We do it in realization of our sin [55:17] But more than that [55:19] We do it in realization of His forgiveness [55:22] Of our sin and the new life that we have in Jesus Christ [55:29] Father

[55:33] We praise You [55:36] We thank You [55:39] Lord You want to do in us what we can’t do for ourselves [55:44] Lord may the gospel take root in all of our lives today [55:48] May we leave this place and take redemption into the world

[55:54] Because You love us [55:56] And You desire to work through us [56:01] Lord may You be glorified in our worship right now [56:05] Amen