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Recently our family traveled down south to drop our daughter off at college in TN. Then, we spent a few days in NC. One of the many activities we enjoyed was mountain scenery. We looked up at mountain peaks. We were mesmerized by waterfalls descending rocky hills. We also had nervous fun driving through switchbacks and looking over the edge of guardrails. But along with the mountain air, it was a change of pace and place that helped our family feel refreshed.

The Christian life is like that too. We breathe the busyness with the hurries and worries of life. And we feel stuck or trapped. We need to take time to pause and refresh our perspective. We need to breathe different air from a different place.

Our next series will emphasize the fresh wind of God’s Holy Spirit. Our last message series was about being with Jesus: eating, walking, and being on mission with Jesus. And the last message from Acts 1 challenged Christians to embolden their witness by being filled with the Spirit. The reason why the church lacks power and impact, and the reason why Christians lack passion and influence, is because they tend to operate in their own means rather than God’s. We need awakened to and by the Holy Spirit. He is a real person, not merely an energy vibe boost. The Holy Spirit is God’s designated presence from heaven on earth. The Spirit is our[1]

• Creator (Gen 1:2)
• Saving Grace… convicting of sin (Jn 16:8), and opening eyes/heart (Ac 16:14), and washing sin to rebirth & renewing life (Titus 3:5)
• Sustainer & Helper (Jn 14:16)
• Sanctifier & Assurer (Gal 4:6; 5:22; 1Jn 5:8)

EXAMINE  Root & Fruit               Galatians 5:13-26

Galatians

• 1^st letter (not book) of NT. So, it’s intriguing insight for early followers of Jesus and us today. It’s not about self-help determination and grit, but de-cluttering false and elusive optimism with foundational and firm hope.
• Gospel-centric. Our world lacks gospel clarity and is confused about Christianity. Sadly, the world views Christianity more as a cultural megaphone for their personal agendas rather than heart-transforming, life-shaping relationship with the Creator & Lord.
• SO, today we introduce a 10-week message series in Galatians. Today’s is Deep Roots & Good Fruit. The following weeks will examine what is known as the fruit [no “s”] of the Spirit.  

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers [and sisters]. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

2 principles for deep roots & good fruit

Freedom doesn’t mean independence from responsibility.

Paul has been explaining to Galatian believers that they are free from the law; namely festivals (4:10) and circumcision (5:6), but also obedience to all the ceremonial laws about dietary restrictions and following the sacrificial system with ritual purity for moral and physical cleanliness.

Gal 6:15 “For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but [what matters is being] a new creation.” In other words, God’s aim for humanity is not solely rules but relationship. Rules without relationship creates a hard, bitter heart bc we always fall short. But when we have a grace-based relationship with God, then He has given us a new heart and we seek to obey out of love and when we fall, we get picked up and return to the path of obedience instead of living rebelliously.

Jesus has declared His followers “free.”

• from rote religion.
• from shame & guilt that pushes you further away instead of motivating growth.
• from trying to earn what can only be obtained by grace
• from the curse of sin (Gal 3:13)
• from not being able to eat bbq (cf Gal 2:12; Ac 10:13).

So, stand firm and do not be enslaved (5:1).

In NYC Harbor stands a giant copper statue 150’ tall and mounted on a base that’s another 150’ high. The statue is “Lady Liberty,” and her torch is raised high to view from land or sea miles away. The statue was a gift from France in 1876, marking 100 years since the United States’ Declaration of Independence. It has become a worldwide symbol of freedom and hope.

As citizens of USA, we don’t just cherish freedom from a British monarch. We also treasure the principles of liberty: all persons are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator to experience life and pursue happiness. LIKEWISE, Christianity has a salvation from sin AND to righteousness. The cry of freedom is in every heart with both independence and responsibility – in a word: purpose!

Paul explains the Christian responsibility:

• V.13 Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. An added explanation of using freedom to indulge the flesh is found in 5:19-21… (forthcoming)
• V.13 Serve one another (cf Rom 12-14 about stumbling blocks). The Christian gives up its freedom to not care for the world and our neighbors – bc God so loved the world, and we should too… V.14 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• V.15 Do not bite and devour one another. Paul’s hyperbole suggests a pack of wild animals preying on one another.^[2] Christians are known to be the only army that expressly manufactures its own ammo to shoot their wounded.[3] My brothers/sisters, this should not be. Let us use our words not for gossip, shame, or division, but for encouragement and reconciliation.

A last (not exhaustive) Xian responsibility:

• V.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Unfortunately, those who experience the blessings of being God’s child and beneficiaries of heaven can sometimes display pride and superiority. Or, we can be tempted to envy others who are advancing while it seems God has overlooked us. But Paul reminds Christians they are free – people who are too blessed to be stressed. God has a special assignment and allotment for each of us, and we can learn the secret of contentment in all circumstances, trusting our God will supply every need according to His riches in glory (Php 4:19).

Christian responsibility to

• Your walk – – – > witness.

“The greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” – Brennan Manning

• Your family – – – > unchosen but undisputable mission field
• Your church – – – > Jesus’ bride /
  not career, athletic team, kid’s activity, or anything else… If we mis-prioritize the role of church then we will deeply miss the blessings and delay the maturity that God intends for us.   

Faith in Jesus requires radical dependence upon the Holy Spirit

Paul also understands that Christians cannot function on the strength or wisdom of their own flesh.  

¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of helicopters above your house. Based on the loud volume the helicopters must be very close and hovering right above. So, you look out your window and see soldiers roaming around your yard. You quickly get dressed and go downstairs. You continue seeing soldiers roaming outside your windows. You slowly peak open your door, and the soldiers make eye contact with you. They ask to enter your home. There’s no legal reason or suspicion for why they should be at your doorstep. The soldiers simply identify themselves as soldiers against freedom. How do you respond?

*If we’re of sound mind, then we do not invite conflict into our home. YET, this scene is a spiritual reality with agents of mischief and demonic forces waging war against our soul, our family, and our future. Until we understand we cannot fight the flesh without the help of the Holy Spirit, then we will be surrounded by temptation and trouble.
¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The believer is not helpless or hopeless in this battle, but we must be vigilant.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: – 15 features of the flesh; obviously significant, and notice the first temptation: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality. Humans were designed as sexual beings. Sex is sacred. Sex is not recreational but deeply spiritual and instituted by God for marriage of a husband and a wife as a gift, but sadly we have distorted God’s design and human society is wrecked with rotten fruit. So, Proverbs 4:23 warns, “guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

The next feature of words relate vertically in worship: ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery (φαρμακεία). Hearing of idols, we think of an archaic society bowing down to statues or whatever. But idolatry is anything that supersedes our attention and affections over God. So, that can be something unwholesome or it could also be something healthy but in exaggerated perspective and priority over God.

Additionally, sorcery relates to the supernatural dark world but also includes substance abuse with drugs and alcohol. Time limits us to go into detail about the harms of addiction. But, it’s so easy to get hooked, and addiction doesn’t discriminate between young or old, high or low income, gender or ethnicity.

The next series of the flesh are relational: enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The relational category has a longer list than sexuality or worship, because Paul is writing to a group of Christians/ churches that are struggling to heed the Holy Spirit. They’re fiercely fighting and deeply dividing over issues that don’t measure up to the gospel. So, the issues of the flesh are not just addressing those outside the church but specifically those inside! Christians struggle and sin relationally as much as irreligious people.

This is the power of Scripture to not sidestep everyday and practical issues. The Bible is relevant today as it was 2k+ years ago.

So, whether it’s sexual disorders, worship disciplines, or relational dysfunction, these are things that disqualify you for the kingdom of God. We must take each of these issues seriously and soberly, for our eternal destiny is on the line

• The weapons of Christian warfare are prayer and community.
  Heb 3:12-13 “Take care, bros & sis, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
  
  Heb 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Last, Paul describes our relationship with the Holy Spirit as fruit. Jesus chooses this metaphor because it relates to mutual cooperation, though not equal terms of who produces the outcome. It’s a profound illustration because:

• Fruit is not automatic or guaranteed
• Fruit takes tons of attention: preparing soil, planting seeds, water but in balance, sunshine… and then wait – for growth that you cannot see underground and that is fully relying upon the Creator.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

We will spend the next 9-weeks reflecting upon this fruit and how we can be humble and faithful gardeners.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

The Orioles season has been disappointing for the Win-Loss column. The team has been hit by injuries, poor performance, personnel mismanagement, and a string of bad fortune.

As I’ve gone to a few games recently, the stadium has almost as many fans of the opposing teams than of the home team. The most recent game I sat surrounded by Boston fans. I endured many taunts in our home stadium. And near the end of the game the Boston fans wanted to hold up a huge banner, essentially claiming OPACY as their own home! They displayed the banner and entire sections were taking pictures of the banner.

BC I’m an Oriole fan with moxy – one of my spiritual gifts is smack talk, I decided to stand in front of the banner with my Orioles hat waived.

“We must protect this house!”

[Don’t worry. It was all taken w/o harm or malice.]

But this is similar for how Christians should react to protecting their life. Their body is a temple… and you will either host the Spirit of God or the soldiers of mischief. Will you stand firm?

Today, welcome the presence and power of God into your life.

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[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-holy-spirit-agent-of-salvation/

^[2] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982), 242.

[3] inspiration from a frequently heard quote… cf https://www.1517.org/articles/out-of-ammo