Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Galatians 4-6
Paul states that Christian freedom is the right and privilege of every believer. In chapter 5, Paul points out six negative consequences of falling back into slavery. Starting in verse 13, he warns them not to use this freedom as a license to sin. Rather than liberty being used for selfishness, the true objective of their new found freedom is love. Quoting Leviticus 19:18, Paul summarizes the law as “love your neighbor as yourself.” Always remember that we are slaves commissioned to love one another.
As a result of the legalists, this church was divided. They were biting and devouring each other. Their church and community of faith were on the verge of destruction. Legalism treats people harshly and often leads to divisions. The release from the law and the power to love are results of God’s working in us by his Holy Spirit. The law was powerless to help a Christian overcome these sins. We may want to please God, but our sin nature continually pulls us into disobedience. The answer to this battle between the old and new nature is found in the inward ministry of the Holy Spirit. To experience victory, we must live or walk by the Spirit. As we live our lives in dependence on, and obedience to the Holy Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
In verse 17,Paul demonstrates the need for the Holy Spirit’s enablement. The Christian will, this side of heaven, always experience conflict between the Holy Spirit and the flesh. Here flesh is not limited to the physical dimension of man but denotes anything less than and other than God in which man places trust that belongs to God alone. Paul gives a more complete description of this conflict in Romans 7. In summary, Paul tells us that victory over sin is not the result of living under the law. Instead, it is the result of actively yielding to the Spirit. Therefore, both the first step of salvation and its ongoing steps (sanctification, growth in holiness) are brought about within us by God’s Spirit working through faith. To be saved, we must have faith in Christ. To walk in God’s way, we must have faith in the Holy Spirit, for He empowers us to walk in obedience.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to love people the way you have commanded me to love them.
- Lord, please help me to walk in the Spirit today and every day so that I will not fulfill the desires of my flesh.
- Lord, please help me to trust the working of the Holy Spirit to help me live holy before you.
Political
- Representative Brad Paquette – District 078 – Niles
- US Senator Gary Peters – District S02 – Bloomfield Twp
- Representative Ronnie Peterson – District 054 – Ypsilanti