Walk In the Spirit (2)

Sermons based on the Letter to the Galatians (V)

Galatians 5:16-26

 

I like to repeat what I said in the Armenian sermon. Being saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ does not mean we are free to sin.  No, in fact we are not free to sin anymore. How?

A good verse to remember:  “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (24).

Paul teaches us that we are not just free from sin, we have VICTORY over sin.  OK, that is great, but we are still in these sinful bodies and we do sin. As I said before, there is inner war within us.

How can we not nurture our sinful nature?

“Live in the Spirit”, “Walk in the Spirit”.

 

This is very serious. Paul warns them and us today:

“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this (in the acts of sinful nature) will not inherit the kingdom of God.”(21)

-Let me clarify an important theological point:

 

No one enters the Kingdom of God without faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is by the grace of Jesus and not works.

 

Yet, salvation should bring forth fruits. Meanwhile no one is perfect. We will sin. So what is happening? Can we enter the Kingdom of God?

The words Paul chooses are very important. “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul is saying that people who make a deliberate choice to live in those sins, without repentance, without asking God to transform them daily, are doomed not be in the Kingdom of God.

Living in the Spirit, Walking in the Spirit molds our character to be Christlike. No one is perfect, only God. Yet, our salvation has fruits, and we are not free to sin anymore.

 

So what does it mean to Walk in the Spirit ?

The Greek word means, “to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier, go in order.”

To live and walk in the Spirit has results. What are those?

Tutti Fruitti, I love the Tutti Frutti dish, specially in the summer. Imagine a dish of fruits, strawberries, kiwis, pineapples, bananas, you name it…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

 

I like to choose some of these fruits and elaborate. Love and Peace, I spoke about them lately. They are very important, but for this time, I am skipping.

Let me start with Joy.

Besides Love, which is extremely important, Joy has a special aroma that gives flavor to life.   .

Please let us not confuse Joy with Happiness. In the bible, we read 330 times about Joy, and only 26 times about happiness. Happiness depends on what happens to you, circumstances are extremely important to bring happiness. Yet, joy is internal. Only God can give us Joy.

Let me tell you a shocking reality. Not every person who is happy has real joy. Look around you, even in your own life. Happiness is temporary.

-I am enjoying to see the super Olympic athlete Michael Phelps. He is an amazing swimmer. Now that he is looking forward to having 8 gold medals, we all are happy with him. But you know what, it is very temporary, it will soon be old news.

 

So what is Joy according to Jesus?  

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:7-11)

Jesus said these words and soon went to the cross. He could experience divine joy even while he was in pain.

 

The secret of this joy is being attached to the branch, to the vine, to Jesus. The secret of the joy is experiencing Jesus is our daily life.

-My family knows that I am not a vacation person. For some tourism and  seeing new places is fun. I respect whoever likes that, but my joy is to see human transformation. I love people.  I love to observe how God is bringing joy to the hearts of people. That is my vacation.

-When our youth came from Armenia and gave their testimonies I saw in them a joy that has nothing to do with wealth and circumstances. It is something to do with God and His Spirit working in us.

How are you today? Do you have the JOY that comes from Jesus?

The secret is in walking with the Spirit, abiding in Him. Spending time with Jesus, reading and meditating on the Word of God.

 

Another Fruit that I like to talk about this morning is Patience.

I’ve got some definitions for Patience:

1.     “Patience is self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate against a wrong.”

2.     “Patience is the ability to accept delay or disappointment graciously.”

3.     “Patience is the powerful attribute that enables a man or woman to remain steadfast under strain-and continue pressing on.”

4.     “Patience is calm endurance based on the certain knowledge that God is in CONTROL.” 1

This is my favorite. Life is tough, and there will be tough days. When we have Godly Patience, we have that inner peace and joy, and knows that whatever happens, God is in control.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).

An artist found her friend weeping because a valuable handkerchief, which had high sentimental value, had an ink spot that unfortunately could not be washed away. The artist, who was also a painter, took the handkerchief to his studio, painted around that spot and sent it to his friend. When she opened the envelope and found the painted handkerchief, she was surprised; it was more beautiful and more valuable than before.

 

God does the same thing with us. Patience is a virtue. Trusting God, trusting that He knows, and He is control is the key for patience. God can take the “INK” spots and can draw new paintings in our lives. Some of these “lines” are painful. We should learn to trust God.

The problem is we are impatient; we want quick results. It is in our culture, we are always in a rush.

Please take a moment to relax and ask yourself if you are allowing to God in be in control of your circumstances.

Two week ago, I told the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac. “Patience is calm endurance”, knowing that God is in control. I need to remind myself with this sentence.

Prov. 14:29 “A patient man has great understanding,
       but a quick-tempered man displays folly.”

How can we develop this fruit?

It is a result of allowing Jesus to control your life. It is abiding in Him. It is about the vine and the branches. Are you on the vine?

It is wearing eyeglasses where we see things through Jesus. Then everything becomes meaningful. Sometimes we do not have answers for our questions. If we have the fruit of Patience, it gives us “calm endurance” knowing that God is in CONTROL.

 

Let us summarize:

 

Salvation brings life changing experiences.  Salvation is not a static idea.  Salvation is an active reality that brings forth change.

I spoke only about two fruits: joy and patience.

Next week we will continue with more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Sermon by Rev. Melvin Newland, Patience-Fruit of the Spirit