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IMPROVING YOUR WALK IN THE SPIRIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many see Memorial Day as simply a three-day weekend. It means much more than time off. The sacrifices of soldiers past and present must never be forgotten.  We are alive today because people have died for this country to defend the right to preach God’s word freely.

 

It is more important to remember God for what He did to set us free from spiritual tyranny. In Gal 5 Paul talks about the inner civil war that every person experiences. The inner civil war inside is a mixed bag of wants that are in conflict with one another. The desire to do right is often shadowed by the desire to do wrong. It is a never-ending inner civil war.

 

The pastor gave three principals of how to win that war. Practical advice was given on how to live according to the purposes of God. You don't have to be a slave to old desires. 

 

 

 

 

IMPROVING YOUR WALK IN THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 - 18

 

The inner civil war is a mixed bag of wants that are in constant conflict with one another.

 

You do not have to be a slave to old desires.

 

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16 NLT

 

I. Filter Your Influences.

 

Make listening to the voice of God and godly people a habit in your life.

 

Let their words of the self-righteous, legalistic hypocrites fall in deaf ears.

 

II. Look For Opportunities To Serve Others.

 

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:13 - 14 NLT

 

True spirituality is directly connected to how we treat others.

 

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NLT

 

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:10

 

III. Think On Your Feet.

 

We sometimes blunder while walking because we are not thinking.

 

Walking in the Spirit is something we learn to do and it happens deliberately.

 

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

 

Think, make good decisions, and think about the negative consequences of sinful behavior.

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-24

 

Think about the positive results of following the direction of the Holy Spirit.

 

Conclusion:

 

Walking in the Spirit is a process, and once you master the technique, you'll experience the victory.