Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). 

                This verse serves as a bridge of sorts, concluding the preceding matter and introducing the discussion which follows.  If you look at this verse in its context, you will see that it picks up the theme introduced by verse 16 and gives further concrete application. 

                The verse begins with the assumption that the believer is intended to live by the Spirit.  There is nothing natural about the Christian walk; it is from start to finish a supernatural work of the Spirit.  First, the Spirit grants the life-giving power of grace which enables one to be born again.  Further, He provides the empowering to live the Christ-centered life. 

                Thus the phrase “walk by the Spirit” points to the volitional activity of believers to exercise the strength provided to them by the Spirit.  To “walk” means to conduct one’s life.  The Spirit must become the norm of one’s life.  He creates an entirely new life-style.  This work of the Spirit must be met by a continuous exertion on the part of the believer.  Thus Paul includes himself in this mandate—“let us also walk by the Spirit.” 

Prayer:  Father, today I commit myself to walk by the Spirit.  Amen

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24).

                The lordship of Christ demands the crucifixion of the flesh.  The flesh is still active in those who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, and “sets its desire against the Spirit” (17).  Throughout our life they remain in opposition to one another. 

                Believers not only participate in the resurrection of Christ, they share His cross as well.  Therefore, the Spirit enables us to deny the lordship of the flesh.  When a person comes to Christ in faith, he/she is buried with Him so that they can be raised to walk in the newness of His life.  This does not mean that the believer never again yields to flesh and sin; it means that the power of the flesh as lord over us has been broken and the power to live to Christ is now available. 

                It is still possible for the flesh to influence us to sin, but the crucifixion of the flesh with its passions and desires, enables the believer to say no to the flesh.  The power of the Spirit now available to us is greater than the power of the flesh.  Believers have chosen and must continually choose to say yes to the Spirit and no to the flesh.  Are you walking in the power of the Spirit or yielding to the desires of the flesh?

Prayer:  Thank You for breaking the power of sin.  May I daily live in Your victory.  Amen.

“Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:23).

                The word “gentleness” is rendered by “meekness” in some translations.  Meekness is underlined by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount as one aspect of the kingdom-centered person.  It has no idea of “weakness” but of power surrendered to God.  This attitude toward God enables one to live with kindness or tolerance toward others. 

                Self-control means personal temperance in general.  It signifies restraint and moderation in the living of one’s life.  If there is any area where we seem to be lacking in our day it is in the area of self-control.  We are out of control when it comes to spending, the venting of our anger, and the way we live in general. 

                These things are the gifts the Holy Spirit gives to those who will surrender themselves to His control.  Paul adds, “Against such things there is no law.”  The issue of grace and law is still clearly in the background.  It is the Spirit and not the law that enables man to obey God and live an ethical and fruitful life.  Those who walk by the Spirit have the capability to fulfill the law. 

Prayer:  Thank You for giving me the strength to obey the Law.  Amen

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Gal. 5:22).

                We began our look at the first three components of the fruit of the Spirit last time.  As indicated last week fruit is singular so these are all inter-related and work together in the believer’s life to produce the character of Christ.  Peace forms the transition from joy to patience. 

                Patience or “long-suffering” presumes some provocation or attack which must be endured.  The fruit of the Spirit enables the believer to absorb and overcome the provocation of another.  The desire to retaliate is managed by the Spirit.  Kindness, following, patience indicates how patience must be applied.  The Spirit filled believer does not simply “grin and bear it,” he/she responds with acts of kindness. 

                Goodness refers to our attitude towards others.  The idea of being good sounds a bit dated to our contemporary vocabulary but it is clear evidence of the work of the Spirit.  Faithfulness is to be understood in terms of loyalty. 

                Does your life display the evidence of the Spirit?  These qualities are not produced by human effort but rather by surrender to the work of the Spirit.

Prayer:  Father, help me to surrender fully to Your Spirit.  Amen.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Gal. 5:22).

                A few years ago I wrote a series of devotional books called Kingdom Promises.  One of the most popular titles in that series is But God.  As you might imagine every verse has the word “but” which introduces the contrast that shows that God is in control.  Paul is now set to contrast the fruit of the Spirit with the works of the flesh. 

                The word fruit is singular indicating that one is not to pick and choose among the listing of virtues as if I choose love but reject patience as being contrary to my A type personality.  The Spirit is one and His fruit is a unified whole.  The word “fruit” contrasts with “work” to underline the truth that fruit is not something man can accomplish through any effort of his own.  Fruit is natural to the branch and comes by virtue of the DNA of the tree. 

                Love, joy, and peace stand at the head of the series.  Love is love for the brethren and joy is one’s delight in God because of redemption.  Peace is not simply a state of well-being it is much more.  It is the result of the removal of enmity between man and God and consequently man and his fellow-man.  Thus the fruit of the Spirit is produced naturally and supernaturally in the life of the person who has been reconciled to God through Christ. 

Prayer:  Father I thank You for allowing Your Spirit to produce Your character in me.  Amen.

“Envyings, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21). 

                 Paul adds three more acts of the flesh to his list.  The word translated “envyings” is a plural which means envy in all its many manifestations.  Drunkenness and carousing refers to drinking bouts and the accompanying orgies.  The phrase “things like these” informs us that Paul is not attempting to give a comprehensive list but one which is illustrative of the works of the flesh which form a barrier which keeps one from inheriting the kingdom of God. 

                This verse indicates that Paul taught about these matters when he was with them in person.  He had warned them that those who habitually practice the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom.  Paul is not suggesting that any or all of these sins will keep one from entering the kingdom.  The issue is not the particular sin; it is the obtuseness to conversion that leaves one without power over the flesh.  Paul leaves no doubt that the final judgment of those who reject Christ is certain—“will not inherit.”

                No one can win in the ongoing battle with the flesh without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that is precisely what Paul now underlines. 

Prayer:  Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to indwell me.  Amen.

“Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions” (Gal. 5:20).

                Paul now lists nine more deeds of the flesh, beginning with idolatry, which means the worship of images.  Technically idolatry occurs when we place anything in God’s place and make it our God.  It can be much more subtle in our modern day society than setting up a totem.  We can worship money, fame, or pleasure and such gods seem a little less pagan but they are idols, nonetheless.  Sorcery originally meant the preparation of medicines and thus came to mean the preparation of magical potions.  Thus the word also speaks of idol-worship and magic. 

                The word “enmities” is plural and probably serves as a heading for strife, jealousy, and outbursts of anger.  While there are subtle differences in the meanings of the various words, taken together, they speak of a selfish and unrestrained social life.  In the same manner, disputes, dissensions, and factions speak of a divisive spirit which leads to disruption of the unity of the body of Christ. 

                We would quickly agree that idolatry and sorcery are clear indications of the triumph of the flesh.  However, we often practice and tolerate anger, disputes, dissensions, and factions; all of which often do more damage to the church than many other sins.  These, like idolatry, are deeds of the flesh which will be put to death by surrendering to the Spirit. 

Prayer:  Father, forgive us when we pick and choose among sins and allow factions to create enmity between brothers.  Amen.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident which are immorality, impurity, sensuality” (Gal. 5:19).

                Paul now enumerates the deeds of the flesh which wage war in the mind and flesh of man.  Over the next several days, we will be focused on the desires of the flesh, but don’t despair; Paul follows this list with the fruit of the Spirit. 

                Paul first indicates that these deeds are “evident” or “manifest.”  This does not mean that they always happen in public, although many do.  It means that they can clearly be recognized as the work of the flesh (cf. Rom. 1:19).  These sins are fought in the battlefield of the mind and are seen as they impact the fleshly desires of man. 

                The first three are related to sexual aberrations which were often seen in paganism and the cultic extravagances of the first century.  Immorality or fornication refers to illegitimate sexual activity in the widest sense of the word.  “Impurity” in Paul’s writings has both an ethical and sexual sense.  Sexual sin is impure because of the beauty it has in marital relationships.  “Sensuality” focuses on the lack of restraint seen in sexual sin.  It is pure abandonment to the flesh.  These powerful forces can only be combated by the ministry of the Spirit. 

Prayer:  Father, keep me pure in thought and action by the power of Your Spirit.  Amen

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (Gal. 5:18).

                Have you ever played the game where you were blindfolded and you had to be led by someone.  At first, you move rather slowly attempting to feel your way along, fearful that you might bump into something.  As you develop confidence in your guide, you move with greater speed and confidence. 

                Paul now calls upon the Galatians to be led by the Spirit.  If they trust themselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit, they will no longer be under the Law.  Once again, being led does not indicate that believers are passive.  In the same manner that walking in the Spirit (5:16) requires active participation, being led requires an active surrender of oneself to the Spirit.  This does not occur without the individual making an active and personal decision to allow the Spirit to direct one’s life. 

                The Spirit is the active force of new life and thus gives one the power to resist the flesh.  The phrase “under the Law” speaks of the curse, bondage, and impotence of unaided man to obey the Law of God.  When man has only the Law devoid of the Spirit he is helpless and defenseless against the desires of the flesh.  Thus life in the Spirit does not lead to lawless behavior.  On the contrary, the Spirit enables man to fulfill the moral demands of the law. 

Prayer:  Father, lead me by Your Spirit so that I might fully obey You.  Amen.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).

                Perhaps you are wondering how we can avoid the destructive behavior that progresses from biting to devouring.  One thing is sure; we cannot do so by sheer will power.  We can only do so when we walk by the Spirit. 

                We sometimes forget that as we live the Christian life our flesh (human desires) and the Spirit are in an irreconcilable conflict.  The Spirit is not only the giver of new life; He is the source of power for the living of the Christ life.  To walk by the Spirit, means that we must allow ourselves to be ruled by the Spirit daily and moment by moment.  “Walk” indicates the conduct of one’s life.  The activity of the Spirit does not make human effort unnecessary, but arouses and enables it.  The present tense verb indicates a continuing condition of life. 

                The second phrase shows the sure victory of walking by the Spirit—“you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  The one walking by the Spirit will be able to resist the power of the flesh and live victoriously. 

Prayer:  Father, I surrender to the Spirit’s control.  Thank You for victory over the flesh.  Amen.