Galatians 5:13-26 (KJV)

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

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.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Let us start looking at and discovering how to walk in the Spirit:

We can not defeat the flesh by obeying rules. “Colossians 2:20-23 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [21] (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [22] Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [23] Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”.

We only can do this by submitting to the Spirit. “James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

This requires us to die to the flesh daily – to take up ourcross daily (Luke 9:23), by abiding in the vine – Jesus “John 15:3-5 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”.

When we are born again, are we from then on in the spirit as it explains in Galatians 5:24-26.

As we discovered in the last few studies we have an new heart, our spirit is joint together with GOD, Jesus Christ lives in us by the Holy Spirit, from that point onward we also need to constantly learn to walk and walk in the spirit and stop walking in the flesh

Our mind/soul is a work in progress – one could say that it is being saved.

“Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

A Fruit plant will produce nice big tasty fruit that is good. This happens in the right conditions and with the right nourishment. If it does not have that there might be no fruit or only a little and low quality fruit. By abiding in the Jesus – walking in the spirit – we will produce more and more the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

In the next devotion we will look at the process of sanctification which includes learning to walk in the spirit and not the flesh.

Let us be encouraged today to always examine our fruit by checking what we think, say and do and if it is not good to repent and ask the LORD to help us. “Luke 6:43-45 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”.