A Better Way – Week Two

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” 

GALATIANS 5:22-23

INEFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION …

GALATIANS 5:16-23

“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.”  (vv. 16-18)

A Life or a Life

CROSSROAD CHOICES
A Life Without God (vv. 19-21)

“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.”

A BETTER WAY
A Life in Christ (vv. 22-23)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

HOW: TRANSFORMATIONAL CHOICES

1. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  JOHN 1:12

2.  
“So I say, walk by the Spirit …”  GALATIANS 5:16

THE POWER OF SPENDING TIME WITH GOD …

• Reconnects you with God
  “Come near to God and he will come near to you …”  JAMES 4:8

• Rekindles your Hope
  “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord …”  ISAIAH 6:1

• Revives your Confidence
  “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”  PSALM 34:4 
• Renews your Perspective
  “When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”  PSALM 73:16-17
• Restores your Joy
  “… Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  NEHEMIAH 8:10
• Releases your Anxieties
  “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”  PSALM 94:19

3. “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord … You were taught … to PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to PUT ON THE NEW SELF, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”   EPHESIANS 4:17-24