The David Spoon Experience 10-24-23 part 2

1) We find ourselves engaging with very profound content in the book of Galatians. This isn’t to imply that the rest of the book isn’t remarkable, but the material at the end of chapter 5 is simply extraordinary. In Galatians 5:16, Paul’s initial statement is to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. This message is relevant to us all, indicating that we can live according to our old life in the flesh, regardless of whether people choose to acknowledge it.

2) Paul substantiates his statement by asserting that if we lead our lives in the Holy Spirit, we won’t succumb to what our sinful nature desires. We won’t indulge in our old sinful selves with appetites and cravings. The reason is simple: life in the spirit and life in the old flesh are at odds, which is why we often experience internal conflict.

3) Paul further elucidates that the desires inspired by the Holy Spirit are diametrically opposed to those driven by our old sinful nature. It’s important to remember that while this sinful nature is judicially crucified, it is gradually being eliminated from our system. This process aligns with the three tenses of salvation: past, present, and future.

4) Moving on to some of the most potent content, Paul outlines some of the fruits associated with the flesh - our old nature, our former evil selves that coexist with our reborn selves. He enumerates 16 different fruits or outcomes that can emerge from our old self, which is concerning considering it’s nearly twice as many as there are fruits in the Holy Spirit.

5) Instead of delving into each word individually, we’ll examine the general words and their meanings to comprehend how they directly influence our behavior. It’s crucial to recognize that if we consistently exhibit this fruit without any internal conflict, it’s not a positive sign for our faith journey. Struggling and seeking help is one thing, but being indifferent is an entirely different matter. And dangerous.