Okay we left off with Paul writing to the Galatians (at verse 14):  14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  And we talked about this passage and its importance in Paul shifting here from doctrine to practice.  Remember, most of the epistle thus far has been Paul talking about salvation coming by faith - and not by the Mosaic Law.  But here he has adeptly shifted to speaking of the other side of the coin of salvation and the other Christian commandment – love – loving neighbor as we love ourselves.  I once had a man tell me that we are “supposed to love ourselves” and he used this commandment as his proof text.  I don’t think that is the meaning.  Instead, as Jesus pointed out, we naturally love ourselves – the goal is to learn and choose to love others AS we love ourselves, meaning we treat them preferentially (like we naturally treat ourselves) and put them at the top of our priorities (LIKE we do with ourselves).  The Law of God in Christ is fulfilled in such. At this point Paul enters into some discussion with the Galatians about the Spirit and the flesh, which are the essential elements or characters when it comes to loving others and loving self for when we love others ahead of self it is of the Spirit, and if we love self over others that is of the Flesh.  So, Paul says (at verse 15):  15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  Let’s cover these passages first. Back to verse 15.  Before reading it, we recall that Paul has said (in our verses last week) that there were some in their group (whom he didn’t name) that he would like to see cut off.  And we talked about not really knowing what he meant, whether it was excommunication or by death (I suggest it means excommunication).  But that was just Paul’s wish and apparently was not to be – why, we don’t know.  So, it seems like there was infighting amidst the people in Galatia and it appears in the context of all we have read that perhaps there was a war between those who endorsed the Law and those who did not.  The worst things to occur in the Bride, it seems, was for there to be “friction,” as that would “divide and destroy” the unity of the Church-bride faster than anything else.  And Jesus was not coming back for brides but one bride, one church.  And so Paul says 
 | 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  The words for bite and devour, of course are not literal – unless you are a biblical literalist (gosh, when can I stop saying that) but it is a reference to the animal kingdom where beasts do, in fact, bite and not only that, bite to the devour to the death.  The meaning seems to be, “listen carefully – if you engage in biting and devouring each other you run the risk of consuming each other – destroying any and all unity. “  Of course, this is what happens in the animal world – they not only bite and attack each other ferociously, they try to consume their enemy through eating.  So, "if you contend with each other," (in all probability in clashes between the Jews and the Gentile converts which was where the rub would have been in the context of this epistle) . . .  Be careful that you do not wind up consuming each other – why – because the surest way to destroy a group is to encourage division through angry contention.  Now, let’s address something here – because in a group there will always be differences of opinion.  Even arguments.  I want to step away from the standard definition of argument in our world and speak to argument in terms of the Greeks.  In that sense, every Christian should desire and seek argumentation.   Because it is through argumentation that we arrive at the truth.  But this type of argument is not the kind that includes anger, contention, or personal insults through shouting.  When we say, “they got into an argument,” it carries with it a negative connotation, right?   But if we say that we want our attorney “to argue” our case, that is a good thing, because we want our attorney to present all the information necessary to arrive at a reasonable or best conclusion – at the truth.  This is what we want in a group of believers – again, because it is a healthy, reasonable way to get to the truth of a subject.  So, we present a premise or series of premises that are given to support or endorse our conclusion.    For instance:  The Bible is the Word of God. 1st Premise The Word of God is infallible. 2nd Premise Conclusion: Therefore the Bible is the infallible Word of God.  And someone else in the group steps in and says:  The Bible contains the Word of God. The Word of God is infallible. And therefore, concludes that, “the parts of the Bible that contain the word of God are infallible.”  And in the two presentations each side argues their given position as a means to come to the truth.  If it is by the Spirit, whose fruit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kind and temperance, then both sides are able -  ARE ABLE – to speak, present, and even differ WITHOUT CONSUMING EACH OTHER.  What happens when this is not possible or is NOT happening and there is division?  Two words:  Ready?  THE FLESH  The self – emotions, feelings, anger, hate, offense, ego, judgment, man against man, and the Spirit and its fruit is lost.  LISTEN - anytime – anytime – anytime there is a hostile argument between people, THE FLESH is at work from one or both sides – simple as that.  And I know this better than most.  So, the key is NOT abstaining from differing views – that is how the wonderful way we determine statements of fact and test truth claims.   Come, let us reason together, right?  The key is to strip ego and emotion from the arguments, allow the Spirit to reign and to therefore test all things.  The majority religion in the state, in the face of arguments, will quickly sense contention and say the disagreement is of the devil – if the disagreement is emotional and fleshly, they are right.  But when argumentation is used in the proper way, to build a case and break down error, it is one of the best ways to prove a position – this is Good and not of the devil.  So the KEY – the KEY to any discussion or debate is to live by the Spirit and NOT the flesh.  Therefore, Paul says at verse 16  16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  The Christian life is often described as a journey or a walk which is synonymous with living.   Live and/or act in the Spirit.  Its an old phrase, as we see it used by religious leaders in Jesus day as Mark 7:5 reads:  “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?”   And Paul uses the imagery of walking (and running) a number of times throughout his epistles.  But the question is . . . (beat) how?  How does one walk in the Spirit?  We know the directive but what does it really mean when it comes right down to it?  It seems to me that walking in the Spirit includes  1.     seeking the will and Spirit of the Lord 2.     accepting the influe...