Learning to Walk (HS part 12) 7/27/2025

Galatians 5: 22 - 26 nkjv22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 ❓What major changes has God made in your life?  What ways have your attitudes, thoughts and behaviors changed when you interact or deal with others?

💥 No one likes change!  Well, some things we desperately want to change and need to change, but to totally change is both scary and difficult to do.

• Changing who we are is unnerving. When we stop seeing ourselves as who we were ( low self esteem, shame, guilt) we lose the old man, our old self, and it becomes unnerving.
• We still fear losing our place, feeling like we don’t matter. 

💥 After we have been born again in Christ, one of our problems is that we want to keep most things like they are.➤   We start learning about the new life, but never really change our walk.➤   We are so used to walking in one manner and not the other, the old manner and not the new.   💥 It’s just who I am   💥 The Lord made me this way > I can’t change. ⭐   It is our flesh, the world, our thinking and past experiences that have trained us to be who we are---- But who does the Spirit want us to be?

➤   We don’t want to change!  We might know we need to change, but when it comes to taking action, we simply realize we don’t want to change!  

• Was it somebody else's wish for you? Are you simply trying to please others? - Parent - friend - spouse - children?
• It is hard enough to go against our flesh, but if we don’t want to - it will be very hard to make and KEEP the changes. ( losing weight) Many gain it back with more.
• If we do not walk in the Spirit, then we will have no inner drive to keep us spiritually motivated.
  • We will end up feeling like we can’t and giving up all the time.

➤   We fear the unknown > We fear what the results might be.  Unrealistic thoughts--Of doing nothing but going to church and praying!  (NO FUN!?!?!!?)  I just want to have fun first.➤   We fear the new > We tend to stick with the tried and true. What we are used to, what is comfortable.  The old ways seem best!  Because it's what we know and how we have learned to survive or how to deal with it, even if it’s bad.  ➤   We fear failure!  When it comes to changing what we can see, taste, touch, smell and hear, most people are very pessimistic. We fear failure. Our anxiety is that any change will result in failure or disaster.   What habits or new things do you put off changing?➤   TOO HARD!     Leading up to this talks about the spiritual battle that happens on order to change from walking in our flesh to walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:17)  17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  

• Some prisoners go back to jail, not because it’s better, but (to them) it’s easier.
• Some conclude, it’s just not worth the effort!!!

➤  We doubt the power of God.  (Why it takes faith!  It’s normal and natural for our flesh to doubt.)

• We doubt the knowledge ( It doesn’t make sense, hard to understand. And sometimes it really simply doesn’t make sense)  

⭐  Paul acknowledges this struggle to those struggling to walk in the Spirit.  1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.   

What does this teach?

I.   Don’t hide the light! v25) 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ⭐  It hints that we can have the Spirit but not walk in it.   v1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 

• Jesus Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. / Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. / In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

➤   God’s light shines through the places we allow Him to give us His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

• It’s putting our hand to the plow and not looking back.  Not focusing on doing the big!!!
  • But especially through the small things! For the least!

II.   Don’t just live in the Spirit but walk. v25) ,,,,let us also walk in the Spirit. ⭐ Let it change our life, our walk.  If people don’t see  you have changed (fruit change) after you are saved or different. then something is wrong.

• Following Christ will change where we go and who we help! Reach out to with kindness.
  • You don’t have to volunteer to go to the homeless
  • You will serve others.  ( the least of these my brethren)

vGalatians 5: 24-26)24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.➤  If we are in Christ--- let Him show us what passions and desires of our flesh that need to be crucified.➤ v26)  Change the heart, especially as believers, in how we work and serve others. (Gauge)

III.  Serve others!  v26)  26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  Galatians 5:13-15) 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!➤    Loving one another is how we affirm our relationship with Christ!  John 13: 34-35) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

• New commandment was to include Gentiles!!  This is how it would distinguish the disciples of Christ from the rest of the world.

I John 4:7-8) Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. / Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.I John 4:20-21) If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. / And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.I John 2:9) If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness.I John 3:18) Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.I Corinthians 13:13) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.You can speak in tongues, understand all mysteries and have the faith to remove mountains but if you have not love it profits you nothing.!  Walk in the Spirit and you shall LOVE!