Galatians 5:19–26 [NIV]1. Intro: This passage (i.e., pericope) of Scripture is the toughest to preach because it is the toughest to live out!a. Illustration: The woman who yelled at me yesterday.... People are so angry (I can understand hangry, but angry???)b. The only way not respond is because I know GOD’s got it!2. Because of JESUS, we can “live by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit.”a. Fact #1: To “live by the Spirit” means we get “the kingdom of God” right now.i. “live” (v. 25) = (present tense; indicative mood “(i.e., the indicative may present something as being certain or real, though the speaker might not believe it).”1. “I am alive” (Strong’s Concordance) “experience GOD’s gift of life” HELPS Word-studies)Luke 17:20–21 20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”2. If we get “the kingdom” then we get the KING!Romans 8:11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.ii. “The only way to know [the KING] is through the Spirit.” (Tony Evans)John 4:24 [NIV; emphasis mine]God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 1. “[This] is one of the clearest statements in the New Testament of what a Christian is: "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." (John Piper, Romans 8:9)Romans 8:9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.2. This is how we know GOD! We are in union with “Christ!”John 15:1–5 a. “abiding” and “bear fruit” is a work of the “gardener”: b. GOD “cultivates the lifeless and cultivates the living.” (John Piper)c. “prunes” = “removing undesirable elements…making unmixed” (HELPS Word-studies)Proverbs 17:3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.1 Peter 1:7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.3. Realized Eschatology: “already, but not yet” (N.T. Wright)i. So, if we are “liv[ing] by the Spirit” then why the emphasis on the expression of the Spirit?1. “…those who live [practicing “The acts of the flesh”] will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (v. 21)b. Fact #2: This is how “the flesh with its passions and desires” are ‘crucified,” by “keep[ing] in step with the Spirit.” (v. 24)i. The only reason we are alive in CHRIST is JESUS. Our lives are now wrapped in “the Spirit.”1. What am I going to do with the life GOD’s given me?ii. “keep in step” = “row…rank…walk in cadence” (HELPS Word-studies)1. There is a rhythm! Numbers 11:29But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”2. This is how we are unified! The “Spirit!” One tongue, one language, one culture, one “body!”3. “the control of the Spirit in our life” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)a. “God reveals Himself through the Spirit” (Tony Evans)3. Application:Claim Your Authority – Tony Evanshttps://www.youtube.com/watch…a. Will you stop, kneel and pray acknowledging and renewing your trust in the LORD because “you know where this thing is going.” (Tony Evans)

Galatians 5:13–26 [NIV]1. Intro: Hayden JacobsLuke 15:11–20 a. Let JESUS “establish your character before you step into your calling!”i. “The stage does not build your character, it reveals your character.”b. The Lie: The “son” thought he was a slave when he was still a “son!”Romans 5:6-8Galatians 5:13–26 [NIV] 2. Main Idea: “walk[ing] by the Spirit” brings victory over lies! (v. 16)a. Even when we don’t feel victorious, feelings don’t change facts!b. “walk” = “conduct my life” (Strong’s Concordance) / “going full circle” (HELPS Word-studies)i. “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives” (NLT)c. But Jon, why is it such a battle? You’re right! (vv. 16–17) i. “the flesh” has “desires” = “to set heart upon” (Strong’s Concordance) / “focused on…passion” (HELPS Word-studies)ii. “conflict” “opposed” = “resist” (Strong’s Concordance) / “thoroughly [irreconcilable]” (HELPS Word-studies)1. oil and water…never mix! They cannot chemically!d. The truth: No matter what happens, we go back to what the HOLY SPIRIT says! Why? JESUS always ends up being right!1. “Love never fails!” 1 Corinthians 13:8a3. Application: “JESUS changes everything:” even the lies! a. We have the HOLY “Spirit” (v. 18)Video: Tony Evans – Free Indeed (0.0 – 2:06)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAXWPlyjYqs

Galatians 5:1–12 [NIV]1. Intro: Why is faith so hard?a. 9/11 happened because of faith. People call us a faith organization, people of faith, faith-based non-profit, etc.i. Why is it about “faith?”ii. What is the difference between our faith and Islamic faith?James 2:17 [***NASB]Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.b. The question is faith produce works or faith comes from a work? ((Is it the chicken or the egg?)i. Islamic faith is for good works to appease Allahii. “…do the promises [of God] enable me to be good, or must I be good to qualify for the promises?” (John Piper, Future Grace (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 1995), 251) 1. Christian faith is from good worksJames 2:17 [***NASB]But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."Ephesians 2:1 [NIV]Colossians 2:13–15 [NIV] Ephesians 2:8–10 [NIV]iii. Our “works” “are not meritorious performances of the heart that call attention to our worth, so that God will be indebted to our value.” (Piper, 252)iv. Our “works” “are acts of turning away from self and our emptiness to all that GOd is for us.” (Piper, 252)2. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” What does that mean? Main Idea: The “freedom that Christ has set us free” looks like “faith expressing itself through love.” (v. 6)a. The only way for people to see the Christian “faith” is it expressed “through love.” i. “expressing” (v. 6) = “working” (Interlinear) = “display, activity” (Strong’s Concordance); “…like an electrical current energizing a wire, bringing it to a shinning light” (HELPS Word-studies) cf. Matthew 5:16ii. “faith” brings love! “We are not required to perform, before faith, what faith alone can perform.” (Piper, 251)1 Timothy 6:12aFight the good fight of faith.b. “Fight the good fight of faith” by “expressing…love” “through” “humility!” (Piper)i. Being “humble because by nature [we] despair…self and look to God.” (Piper, 253)Philippians 2:5–8 c. “Fight the good fight of faith” by “expressing…love” “through” “draw[ing] near to God.”James 4:7–87 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded.i. “draws near to God and cries out to God” (Piper, 252)Matthew 12:20–2120 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.ii. d. “Fight the good fight of faith” by “expressing…love” “through” “waits for God and takes refuge in God and trust in God and hopes in God” (Piper, 252–53)i.“…the essence of faith is to see and embrace God., and God alone, as the sum of all [we] will ever need.” (Piper, 253)1. Yes, “faith” in JESUS CHRIST who gives us “righteousness” and HIS presence…2. And, “faith” in JESUS “free[s us] from the deceptive promises of sin3. ‘faith’ [brings]…strength and courage to live the radical, risk-taking, Christian life.” (Piper, 251)

Galatians 3:15-29

The Courage to Live “[F]ree: A Journey through GalatiansGalatians 3:7–22 [NIV]1. Intro: If there has ever been confirmation that the LORD gave me the word courage as the word of the year, it was this week.a. It takes courage to live “free” in the LORD. What do I mean by “free?” b. When I define “free” I mean to be in love with GOD so much and our LORD JESUS CHRIST that I live a life unashamed of my relationship with HIM. i. My heart is changed…and people see it. (I trust HIM!)ii. My mind has changed…and people see it. (The way I filter situations and decisions)iii. My emotions have changed…and people see it. (My affections have changed)iv. My will has changed…and people see it. (GOD’s agenda is my agenda)2. Main Idea: The more we understand CHRIST’s redemption the more we will respond in “freedom!”a. Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restorationi. Fall: GOD did not need sin for us to understand who HE is or HIS great love for us!ii. GOD’s Word and HIS presence go together! (e.g., Adam and GOD)Genesis 2:15–16 1. Fall: Rejecting GOD’s word is rejecting HIS presence! Hebrews 4:122. Example: Prophesying to dead bones (The HOLY SPIRIT works with the “word of God.”b. Responding in “freedom:” CHRIST’s redemption brings us “no condemnation!”Matthew 5:48Romans 8:1–4 i. “redeemed” = “active voice…ek…fully…agorazo…to buy, rescue…recognizing its future gain” (HELPS Word-studies)1. Illus: Single and where I am going! (Make sure we understand that where we are is just as important as where we are going!)Matthew 28:19Hebrews 12:1–32 Corinthians 5:7 [***NKJV]Isaiah 35:8And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.Isaiah 40:3A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.2. “faith” “walk” or “highway of holiness” or “make straight the way of the Lord”c. Responding in “freedom:” CHRIST’s redemption brings reconciliation!i.

Galatians 3:7-22

Eli is a CSU Alumni currently enrolled at South Eastern Seminary in NC. Eli was a former CSU Football player and Elder at Summit Church.

Galations 2:21-3:14

Galations 2:1-10