Galatians 5:1-9 NIV: 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.Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” Galatians 5:13-21 NIV: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Romans 7:19 NLT: I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Flesh vs Spirit Flesh wants bondage. Spirit wants freedom. Flesh produces doubt. Spirit produces faith. Flesh produces religion. Spirit produces relationship. Flesh produces legalism. Spirit produces grace. Living by the Spirit Galatians 5:22-26 NIV: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 1. It requires me to see. Psalms 119:105 NIV: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Romans 8:28 NIV: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. II Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Psalms 121:8 NIV: the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. 2. It requires me to listen. Isaiah 30:21 NIV: Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 3. It requires me to follow. James 1:22 NIV: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.