GOING ALONG ... OR ... GROWING
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: Going Along … Or … Growing?
Main Scripture: Galatians 5:16-18, 25
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
As we’re “going along” how to we handle the battles within that can keep us from growing? God never intended that we live in constant battle state but that we learn to be victorious and grow from fighting them. (Does God care about all our battles?)
Notes:
Intro: Satisfied with where we are
Too many of us are satisfied with just being saved and ready to go to heaven.
- Satisfied with being ordinary when God wants and equips us to be extraordinary Christians.
- The only satisfaction we should have is a dissatisfied satisfaction. Always ready for the more.
- God’s goal is growth not status quo
What Hinders Growth
#1 Losing our First Love
#2 Being Spiritually Lazy
#3 Embattled within – not knowing how to handle the battle within.
Galatians 5:16,17 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. “
- You will have desires of the flesh battle the ways of the Holy Spirit
- The one you feed is the one that will win – the flesh or the Spirit
Galatians 5:18, 25 “… But If you are Led by the Spirit…”
If we read and learn and listen to the Holy Spirit and obey his leading then we are being led by Him.
25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Vs. 16 – “Walk by the Spirit” - “Live by the Spirit”
Vs. 18 – “And You’ll be “Led”
Vs. 25 – “Keep in Step “
The fruit of the Spirit will give us the attributes we need for keeping in step with the Spirit as we cooperate with the fruit being produced in us through our choices.
CHRISTIANITY IS WORK!!
Romans 6:5-7, 11-23
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
- United with Christ in his death; so we’re dead to sin
- United with Christ by the same resurrection power that broke the power of sin in our lives and gives us power to live like Christ.
- Because we’re united with Christ and dead to sin, we aren’t slaves to sin.
- We’re free from the reign of sin
Vs. 11-13. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin,which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
-RECKON yourselves DEAD – unresponsive to sin. Perceive, realize, count yourself dead to sin. When it comes knocking you do not have to respond.
- OFFER yourselves to God as instruments of righteousness!
- You are under Grace – the Holy Spirit’s enabling power to say “not to ungodliness and yes to God.
- You are FREE from sins reign; free to respond to God.
TAKEAWAYS:
#1. Never be satisfied with “going on”; go for growth.
#2. Learn how to Walk in the Spirit so you can handle the battle within with God’s power.
#3. Recognize that you are FREE from the power of the fleshly desire to sin within you. You have the power to choose to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God. Use the Holy Spirit’s power at the moment of temptation.
#4. Feed the Spirit by being in the Word, worship, prayer and fellowship with one another so you develop spiritual muscles to fight the battle within.
#5. I At any given moment, ask yourself, “To whom or what am offering myself? To sin or to God? To the fleshly desires or to righteousness of Christ in me? Go with God and righteous every time.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
