The Rest Of The Story
Gtcotr/ws120104
This past Sunday morning we studied from the 5th chapter of the book of Galatians.
* The topic was Turn & Embrace
* We began reading with verse 17 which reveals two forces at work in our lives attempting to influence each decision we make.
Galatians 5:17 (NLT)
The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.
> There is that old sinful nature of man which loves to do evil.
> And the Holy Spirit which loves being right with God, at peace with God and man and constantly filled with joy.
* We learned that our choices are never free from the influence of these two forces constantly in conflict with each other.
We found the remedy to the conflict in verse 24, which says:
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Then we concluded with the admonition found in verse 25:
25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Even though we concluded with verse 25, the Apostle Paul did not conclude his thoughts on this subject there. No, there is one more scripture in this chapter which is necessary to complete this teaching.
Now, for The Rest Of The Story (For context sake, verses 25&26)
I. Galatians 5 (NLT)
25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.
A. The implication is that if we are following the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives that we will not become conceited, irritating or jealous.
B. The reverse is also implied. If we are not following the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives, we are subject to becoming conceited, irritating to others and jealous.
C. If we assume that both of these things are true, then we might give ourselves a simple test from time to time to see if perhaps we are actually following the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
D. This test of Galatians 5:26, would consist of three questions:
1. Am I conceited
2. Do I irritate or provoke others
3. Am I a jealous person
II. Lets Study The Bible Concept of Conceit
A. The King James Bible translates this word as:
Desirous of vain glory
B. The Living Letters by Kenneth Taylor translates it as:
The need to look for honors
C. The New American Standard 1995 translation says:
Boastful
D. The NLT, NKJV, NIV and some others translate the word as:
Conceited
E. What does conceited mean?
To be boastful, prideful, to desire glory, recognition, honor, to believe that we know more than others so as To compare ourselves to others and think that for some reason we are better.
F. This is the result of being influenced by the old sinful nature of man.
G. So Question #1: Am I conceited?
Am I prideful, do I boast or desire to be recognized and honored above others or do I compare myself to others thinking for some reason I am better or know more than they know?
H. If the answer is yes or maybe, then I have some nailing and crucifying to do.
III. Irritating Others
A. The KJV translates this as ‘provoking one another’
B. This word is best understood when viewed by a more fully expressed, literal definition:
* To act or speak in such a manner as to irritate others to the point they feel challenged to contest or combat.
C. This too is a result of following the influence of the old sinful nature of man.
D. Question #2:
Do I irritate others and provoke them to be combative?
* what does combative mean > posture to fight & defend
E. If the answer is yes, sometimes or maybe, then I have some more nailing and crucifying of my old nature, passions and desires.
F. If the answer is yes, what makes me this way? --- It is the lack of following the Holy Spirit’s leadership influence in every part of our lives.
IV. Jealousy
A. Again the KJV translates this word as Envy
B. It means To want what someone else has, position or possession.
C. To feel that we deserve it as much as they do and wish we had it instead of them.
D. Often we are unknowing, unable or unwilling to do what they did to get what they got, we just want it.
E. Lets look at the Apostle Paul for one example.
1. He was earlier a sinner, a persecutor of the church, yet he became one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all the Apostles.
2. He had a gift of healing, revelation, preaching and performed miracles. He was pretty special.
3. He was given the honor of writing two thirds of the new testament.
4. Many of his friends and associates had reason to be jealous just like Korah, Dathan and Abiriam were with Moses.
5. Some could have felt like they deserved that position more because of one thing or another. Maybe they had never persecuted the church, or went to jail or perhaps they had believed and followed Jesus all of their lives. Maybe they were more qualified.
6. All of these reasons could be used by the old sinful nature as it tries to influence us to be jealous or envious. To want what Paul has, believing we deserve it as much as he does.
E. Even the Apostle Paul could have been tempted to believe that he deserved a bit more. After all:
2 Corinthians 11 (NKJV)
22 ¶ Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? —I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
He continues on down and we get to the 1st verse of chapter 12.
1 Corinthians 12
1 ¶ It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast.
F. What qualifies us for position, power or possessions?
1. Not our works nor our service - but
2. God’s grace --- it’s His decision, His choice
Psalms 75:7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
G. Question #3: Am I jealous or envious?
Do I feel that I deserve what others have, their position or possessions, more than they do?
H. If the answer is yes, sometimes or maybe, then you have a bit more nailing and crucifying of your desires to the cross.
V. So, This Is The Rest Of The Story From Sunday
A. Follow the Holy Spirit’s Leading In Every Part Of Your Life.
B. Do Not Allow Your Old Nature To Control You And Make You:
1. Conceited
2. Irritating to Others
3. Become Jealous of Others
C. Nail those feelings to the cross of Christ and crucify them there.
D. Test yourself and you may never be tested by God.
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
