HOW TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16-25

INTRODUCTION

a. There has been a lot of talk about walking lately

1. This past Tuesday in the Republican response to President Clinton's State of the Union Address, Bob Dole said, "We will see if he will walk the talk he talks so well"

2. Do you actions match the words of your mouth

a. Your walk talks and your talk walks but your walk talks farther than your talk walks

b. The current issue of Guideposts has a moving story about Mary VanDyke

1. Born with multiple defects and disabilities

2. Told would never walk, probably would have some mental deficiency with a host of other problems

3. After 12 surgeries this 2 year old would never crawl - her three year old sister taught her to crawl - up a flight of stairs - soon the three year old was showing her how to walk - and tried to hold her as she tried

4. Little Mary used the favorite phrase of two year olds, "I can do it myself" - The three year old replied, "Jesus is teaching you how to walk"

c. Today I want us to consider this subject

1. It is the fourth in a series of eight sermons on "Concepts You Should Know" - Concepts that will enhance your growth and life in Christ

2. Recap first three sermons

d. Let's move forward

I. SLAVERY OR FREEDOM

a. Your daily walk leads to either slavery or freedom

b. Those are the only options and there is no in between

c. Look at the two

1. Walk after the flesh (sinful nature)

a. Look at what it leads to and is characterized by

b. This is a list of behaviors in our society and sadly sometimes even in the church we find some of these

c. Many times we try to cover sin by calling it cultural

1. At Ole Miss - black student turned away at FBC

d. Young people look at this list and think about the kids you know at school - all these are happening right here in our town

e. Adults think about your behaviors and those of your friends

f. People are enslaved to their own desires - so many addictions - people are looking for release and freedom

g. Gordon Dahl said, " Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play and to play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values are distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair, and their lifestyles resemble a cast of characters in search of a plot."

2. Walk after the Spirit

a. Here Paul lists the behaviors and characteristics that are the natural result of following the Spirit -

b. These set you free - there is no law against acting this way - will never lead to slavery - but to absolute freedom

II. LEARNING TO WALK

a. Persistence is more important than Performance

1. Everyone falls when learning to walk

a. The important thing is to try again

1. One minister was walking down a row of fine old Victorian homes on a cold day when he spotted a young boy on the front porch of one home. The old-fashioned doorbell was set high in the door, and the little fellow was too short to ring it despite his leaping attempts.

Feeling sorry for the youngster, the minister stepped up onto the porch and vigorously rang the bell for him. "And now what, young man?" inquired the minister.

"Now," exclaimed the boy, "we run like crazy!"

2. Can you imagine a child after the first fall saying, "I'll never walk" and sitting down never to try again

2. The more you walk the better you get at it - may still stumble but not nearly as often

b. Watch where you step

1. Foot placement is important

a. Joshua - "Sole of foot..."

b. Not sole of sandal but of foot

c. The element of faith

1. Step and believe God will hold you - Throw out other leg and believe God will hold you

d. By Faith you trust God to lead you -

e. When you see the behaviors in either list you will have an idea of how you are walking - We walk one way or the other

III. CONSISTENCY IS THE GOAL

a. Are you walking the talk you talk so well

b. One step after another

c. Every area of life is affected

1. Home, work, family, friends, recreation

d. It is a progression of these first four concepts

1. Being sure you are a Christian

2. Experiencing God's love and forgiveness

3. Being filled with the Holy Spirit

4. Walking in the Spirit

e. There is Freedom in you life and walk with Christ

LEARNING TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT

JESUS WILL SHOW YOU HOW

BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER

HYMN # 317 "FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS"