2017.5.14 礼拝

2017.5.14 礼拝

2017.5.14 Galatians 5:13-26　”Seeking the fruit of the Spirit”

When we become Christians, we are told that we have received the Holy Spirit. This makes us wonder what kind of physical, mental or spiritual changes occur or some special sign is given. Some people may have such experiences. However, regardless of such signs, the fact is we are filled with the Spirit.

1． The fruit of the Spirit is built in a group.

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

It is important to find a place to commit ourselves.

Group is a gathering of people who have promised to love one another in the name of Jesus.

・ church (members of a church)

・ small group (members)

・ family (man and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters)

2． “The acts of the flesh” destroys the group.

Galatians 5:15　If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

3． To bear “the fruit of the Spirit”

Galatians 5:13　You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:14　The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:25-26　25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

➀　Challenge to walk in freedom

Galatians 5:13　You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:1　It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

freedom ⇔ slave to sin (yoke of law)

Romans 6:17-18　17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you we entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

When we are made to face something detestable, pitiful, enviable, disagreeable, unforgivable, unbearable, or unbelievable from someone, we are free to choose our attitude, such as:

take positive attitude or become perverse

offer help or ignore

be envious or blessing

be angry or forgive

make sarcastic remarks, or endure

look down on the person or respect

blame the person or admit failure/mistake

Whatever our choice, the answer is found in the Bible – Jesus wishes us to be free from being a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness.