WEBVTT 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:15.119 Well, again, my name is Richard Bumpers, and I have the privilege of being able to serve as uh Stone Mountain Baptist Association, Associational Missionary. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:34.240 And many of you have known my predecessor, uh Larry Cheek, has served in this role for 25 years, and he actually uh turned it over to me, and I pray that the Lord will continue to use uh this position to impact churches. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.759 And I just want to say, you know, Church to Grove, you guys are awesome. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:38.880 You guys are awesome. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:47.600 You guys are standard, you guys are just doing what God has purposed and called you all to do. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:01:02.479 And greater is still yet to come because you guys have not even seen the impact that you are making and wanna grow Walton County, Rockdale County, Newton County, and around the state of Georgia and around the world. 00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:17.040 And so I'm grateful to be able to work and partner with you all and actually get a chance to work alongside of my brother, a member here, my brother Larry Larry Black, who uh does a phenomenal job in church planning, and so we're excited to see what God is doing. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:17.840 Amen. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:18.799 Amen. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:27.359 Well, this morning I'm tasked with continuing in the series that you all have been walking through in Galatians. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:39.359 And this morning we are going to look at verse at chapter 5, and we're gonna read verses 16 through 26. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:49.120 Again, that's Galatians 5, and we're gonna begin reading at verses 16 through 26. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.599 Hear the word of the Lord. 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:57.760 Then I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:09.439 For the flesh lust against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:15.919 But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:36.960 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lowliness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contention, jealousy, outburst, wrath, ambition, dissension, heresy, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelessness, and the like. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:47.520 And I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in the past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:58.479 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:02.000 Against such these there is no law. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:11.759 And those who are in Christ have been crucified, have crucified the flesh with its passion and desire. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:18.240 I live, if if we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:23.919 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.759 Father, I pray this morning that you will speak to our hearts. 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:40.719 Open our eyes to see, open up our ears to hear, and open up our hearts to receive what Holy Spirit is going to say to us. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:43.439 Lord, we love you and we thank you. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.080 And it is in Jesus' name that we do pray. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:48.879 And all of God's children said, Amen. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:55.759 Well, this morning I want to look at four key points as it relates to this passage of Scripture. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:01.120 The first one is I want to talk about to walk in the Spirit. 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:04.800 The second one is to be led by the Spirit. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:09.360 The third one is to be is to live by the Spirit. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.960 And the fourth one is to surrender to the Spirit. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:17.680 Now, before I go any further, I understand that this is Father's Day. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:32.800 I'm excited because being a father, there is no greater joy it is than to see your loved ones and to be uh the go-to person for all the monetary needs that are asked. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.120 That's it, that's it. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:38.319 Daddy, can I? 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.959 Daddy, I need, daddy, daddy, daddy. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:47.279 But I'm grateful to be able to be in the position of father. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:52.319 But but generally, as men, can I speak to men for a minute, right? 00:04:53.120 --> 00:05:02.319 Scripture tells us, says, then walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:10.160 To walk in the spirit means that we have to surrender to what the will of the spirit is. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:24.000 But as men, sometimes when things don't go the way that we think they should go, we have a tendency of taking matters into our own hands. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:33.040 And if we're true and we're honest with ourselves, sometimes we don't lend and lean into sometimes the best decisions. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:38.560 Because by tendency, we want to fix things. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:59.439 And so, yes, we're believers, yes, we love the Lord, but there's sometimes we're faced with issues in our lives that cause us to step away from what we know to be right, to fulfill the lust of the flesh, to tell you what I feel and what I think about you. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.560 Is that a fair statement? 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:10.319 The reality is that it's not just for men, but it's also for women as well. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:17.920 Because when things don't go your way, the first thing that you will probably say is, I'm gonna tell them what I think. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:29.839 And you love the Lord, you pray, amen, you read your Bibles, you do the devotionals, you have your journal, you do all the great things that you're supposed to do as a good Christian woman, but let someone cross you the wrong way. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:32.879 Bless your heart. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:35.600 Amen. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:42.959 So we have a tendency of sometimes stepping out of the spirit to walk in the flesh. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:51.040 To put this text into context, to walk in the spirit, it is a wider usage of means that we typically don't understand. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:07:03.439 To walk in the spirit is not just in a general sense, but to walk around after following, it means to walk around after or following someone to walk in a particular direction. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:09.439 For those who walk in the spirit rely on the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.079 Because we can't do it on our own. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.360 Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the helper. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:32.639 In John 14, 26, Jesus says these words, but the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things and bring you to remembrance all the things that I've said to you. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.720 Now, this is what Scripture says. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.759 He says, the Holy Spirit will be your helper. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:56.879 So when times come when we feel like we have to say what's on our minds, because somebody didn't tick us off, or things didn't work out the way that they thought the way the way that we thought they should work out, then it is at that moment that we rely on the Holy Spirit that dwells with inside of us. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.800 And it's that voice that we hear that says, be still. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.000 It is not your responsibility to repay evil for evil. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:22.959 But sometimes we have a tendency of allowing the flesh to war with the spirit. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:33.679 Paul is reminding us to help us understand that we are to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh, not gratifying our own desires. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:39.440 Because when we begin to gratify our own desires, it leads down a slippery slope. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.039 It leads us into places that we really don't want to go. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:48.480 It causes us to say certain things that an apology will not suffice for. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:56.399 Yield to the Holy Spirit's control, to follow his lead, to go where the spirit leads, to listen to the voice, to discern his will, and to allow him to exert, exert his influence in our lives. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:07.919 When we begin to yield to Holy Spirit's control, then what happens is we will prevent ourselves from getting in a lot of trouble. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:14.559 When we yield our control, then what we're doing is we're allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.759 We're not walking in our flesh, but we're walking in the spirit. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:35.519 Now, sometimes it's hard because, again, we are emotional people and we have to subject ourselves, our flesh, to the spirit and the will of God because if we don't, it'll cause chaos, it'll cause casualties. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:41.919 But practically, this can't be done in our own power. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:48.159 Those who walk in the spirit must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them through their thoughts, words, and deeds, and actions. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:52.240 Jesus says these words in John 16, 13. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:11:02.799 However, when the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.759 He will guide you. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:16.000 In situations that we're at a crossing point. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:21.759 And we have a decision to make. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:28.320 Do we do and say how we feel? 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:38.879 Or do we bite our tongue, pray, and allow the Lord to fight for us? 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:51.679 Because it may feel good in the moment to tell someone how you feel, or to respond the way that you feel. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:12:04.639 But when the Holy Spirit speaks to you, that voice, Jesus says, My sheep know my voice. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:08.240 They hear it, they recognize it. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:22.799 And when the Spirit speaks to you and tells you not to say anything, to be still and know that I'm God, that I got your back, that you are in total control of this situation, then that's when we find peace. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:26.240 That's when we yield to the will of God. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.519 But it takes a decision. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:43.120 The Holy Spirit is not going to enforce himself or press himself on you unless you will him to do so. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:44.720 I love it. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.039 The Holy Spirit is a perfect gentleman. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.440 If you don't want him, he's not gonna come in. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:13:01.360 But once you yield and surrender and allow him to have control over your life, then that's when he takes control. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.200 A lot of times we sing songs about Holy Spirit, take control. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:08.000 I'm letting you have my life. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.639 You can have me, you can lead me. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:18.559 But when it comes to situations, we have to now practice what we've preached and what we've sang about. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:35.039 But when we decide to get in our feelings and we want to retaliate because of what has been done to you, and begin to allow ourselves to walk in the flesh, and that becomes problematic. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.480 When we walk in the spirit, you should not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:49.039 Walking in the flesh is not just something that you deal with. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:57.679 Walking in the flesh is what I deal with, what Pastor Russ deals with, what every pastor deals with. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:05.440 We're all tempted, as James 1.14 says. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:12.080 It says, but each one is tempted when he's drawn away from his own desires and enticed. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:18.320 Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:24.559 And sin when it is full grown, brings forth death. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:34.159 You know, the reality is that we're all tempted to walk in the flesh. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:44.080 But it's the Spirit of the Lord that causes us to be drawn back to walk in the spirit. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:46.639 It's hard. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:54.559 For anyone who's walked this walk of faith for any amount of time, understand how difficult it can be. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:02.720 Yes, it is exciting when we surrender our lives to Christ because we know that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life and that we're going to spend eternity in heaven. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:10.080 But one of the things that we fail to tell you is that this walk is hard in your own authority. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:18.879 But it becomes easier when you walk it in the spirit. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:24.720 Second point, to be led by the Spirit. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:33.679 In verse 16 and 19, there are times that we have to be led. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:39.519 As leaders, we're taught to lead. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:49.039 As men, fathers, we're we're we're we're we're we're expected to lead our families, our children. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:54.960 If we're an employer in a job force, we we are expected to lead. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.279 But it's okay to be led. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:08.399 When you're led in a right way, we're led by the leadership of this church. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:17.279 We're led spiritually by men and women who are positioned to do and to fulfill what God has called them to do. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:27.360 But we also have to understand that when we're led by the Spirit, we're totally yielding, we're surrendering to the perfect will of God. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:39.200 When Paul is telling us to be led by the Spirit, he is referring to the fact that we should be open and receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.399 Men, me. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:52.399 I have to look at it from my perspective. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:57.519 It's okay to be led. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:05.200 It's okay to totally surrender your will. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:08.160 We know what we know. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:16.160 We've been raised to to handle the situation, to take the bull by its horn. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.000 We've been trained, we've been taught to not back down. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:29.359 But when we are led by the spirit, sometimes we have to let the reins go. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.119 And allow the spirit to lead us. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:47.680 When Paul is referring to the fact that we should be open and receptive to the Holy Spirit's guidance, he's ultimately saying, look, it's okay to realize that it's not about you. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:54.240 You don't have to have the last say, you don't have to feel like you have to be right. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:18:02.079 It's a hard thing to allow to happen in our lives. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:08.400 But with the Spirit's help, he leads us. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:19.359 But when we resist and we are reluctant, here's the evidence of what happens. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:25.279 In verse 19, it says that now the works of the flesh are evident when we operate within our flesh. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:48.160 And it says it talks about sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, which is hostile and hatred, strife, discord, conflict, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalry, competition, dissension, division, drunkenness, orgies, all these things are alike. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:57.680 When we begin to not operate in the spirit, then what happens is we begin to allow other things to control our lives. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:07.119 Now you may say, none of this, this doesn't apply to me. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:15.839 Well, if you read this intently and understand what the text says, it's passing by all of our houses. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:27.759 Just because you see one or two that you're like, no, that's not me, but there's others here that causes us to evaluate our own lives. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.319 Where have we allowed the flesh to become evident in our lives? 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:39.279 Do we throw fits of anger when things don't go our way? 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:46.640 Are we drawn away by hostility, by conflict, by discourse? 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.920 Are we competitive? 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.440 Do we have competitions? 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:55.039 You know, one of the things that is so real is that the Joneses are some some crazy is a crazy family. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:02.319 Because when we're in competition, we try to keep up with the Joneses. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:09.279 But we have to make sure that our hearts are right. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:20.000 We have to make sure that every step that we take, every moment, every conversation, every action, that God, are you in this? 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:28.480 This is not just a message for you, but this is a message that I'm living now. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:40.079 The reality is that God, do I allow you to have total control, or do I handle the situation a way that I know how to handle it that's best useful for me? 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:43.279 The reality is that God says, I got it. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:46.559 But it's not fair. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:52.640 I'm upset, I'm angry, I'm hurt, and he says, Don't worry, I got you. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:05.359 Because if I begin to allow bitterness, anger, envy, conceit, and all contentions to begin to enter my life, what happens is that sin controls. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.799 Then we wonder, how do we get in this situation? 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:15.519 And the reality is that we allowed it to happen. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:25.039 Romans 8 and 5 through 8 says these words. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:31.359 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.559 Let me read again. 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:39.759 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:46.880 But those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:59.759 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:05.680 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.480 For it does not submit to God's law. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:12.319 Indeed, it can't. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.920 Because it's contrary. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:16.319 It's working opposite of God. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.839 Those who are in the flesh can't please God. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:27.279 For among them who are led by the Spirit are the sons or children of God. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.359 This scripture is clear. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:43.200 If we live in the flesh and set our minds on the things of the flesh, we can't consider the things of God. 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:53.200 As a matter of fact, when someone tries to calm you down and you're operating in the flesh, that's where that that tension comes. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:56.400 Because you're not considering about the flesh at that moment. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.160 I mean about the spirit at that moment. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:01.039 What you're concerned about is your flesh. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.559 And it's battling against each other. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:10.160 We have the spirit saying, calm down, listen, be still, and know that I'm God. 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:13.839 You have the flesh saying, I don't care about you being God. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:18.400 What I care about is fulfilling the lust of my flesh. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.839 Whatever that is. 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:24.559 That's not my words, that's scripture. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.319 Don't be mad at me. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.920 It's what the Bible says. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:37.680 When we listen to the Spirit's conviction and guidance, we can truly be led by the Spirit. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:41.119 Number three, to live in the Spirit. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:49.119 To live in the Spirit is acknowledged, and it is acknowledging that our life is not our own. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:58.480 It belongs to God who deposited the Holy Spirit to guide our actions. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:07.039 To live in the Spirit means to have faith that we have shared in the dependency of God. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:16.799 We get to walk in the Spirit as a demonstration of what living in the Spirit makes possible. 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:21.359 We are a demonstration. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:28.160 We are an example of what it means to live in the Spirit. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:33.440 To live in the Spirit, there has to be evidence that is produced. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:37.680 How do you know someone is walking in the Spirit? 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.119 It's very clear. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:51.839 Verse 22 and 25 say this, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such there is no law. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:25:02.880 But those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with his passions and desires. 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:06.720 Verse 25 sums it up. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:12.799 It says, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:21.119 The evidence is not how well you do your morning devotions. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.799 But it's how well you live. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:38.559 Do you live with love? 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:42.640 Do you live with joy? 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:46.079 Do you have that peace? 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.960 That peace, that kind of peace that surpasses all understanding? 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:56.960 That in that peace it guards your heart and your mind. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:04.559 Are you long-suffering, kind, goodness, faithfulness? 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:09.759 Regardless of what I'm going through, I'm still going to be faithful. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:12.799 God is not good when things are going right. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:16.559 God is still good when things are going wrong. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:25.359 God is faithful, not just because he provides, but God is faithful because he said he'll never leave me nor forsake me. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.839 I'm faithful to knowing that. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:33.039 That's the fruits of the Spirit. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.160 Self-control. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:39.039 I don't just lose my mind when things go awry. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:43.279 But I'm able to control myself. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.119 I'm slow to anger. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:51.599 Slow to speak. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.240 Slow to wrath. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.839 Slow to anger. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:01.519 That's the fruits of the spirit. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:06.799 That's what shows evidence in what it means to live by the Spirit. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:17.839 To experience victory, we must walk, be led, and to live by the Spirit. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:28.960 As we live our lives in dependency on and obedience to the Holy Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of our sinful nature. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.359 That's a guarantee. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.440 But what if I? 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:41.599 The good part is that you recognize the what if. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:45.680 And you're able to take a step back. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.880 And you say, God, that's not how I know that you want me to live. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.000 That's not what you want me to say. 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.440 That's not how you want me to respond. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.279 That's not, that's not, that's not. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.880 So please help me. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:56.960 Holy Spirit, guide me. 00:27:57.200 --> 00:28:04.880 So that when I'm faced with another situation in my life that is similar or even greater, that I'm able to recognize your voice. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:11.759 And respond in a way that's not in the flesh. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:16.880 But it reflects the spirit. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:27.680 But although we may be able to walk in the spirit, which is a great point, and although I say that we must be led by the spirit. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:38.319 And it's not just enough to live by the spirit, but the main thing is that we have to surrender to the Spirit. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:45.200 The only way that we can surrender to the Spirit is by allowing the Holy Spirit to come into our life and have total control. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:54.079 And the only way that we can allow the Holy Spirit to come into our life is that we have to invite Jesus to be our personal Lord and Savior. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.960 But we can't do any of this on our own. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:03.200 None of this is possible without the Holy Spirit. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:09.359 But we can't get the Holy Spirit unless we're connected to God the Father through Jesus Christ his Son. 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:20.000 James 4, 7 and 8 says this word. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:22.160 Therefore, submit to God. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:27.039 Therefore, submit to God. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.799 Surrender to God. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.319 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:40.240 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:51.920 Some of us in our own evaluation of life, we recognize that there are some things that we have not been walking in the spirit in. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:56.480 That we've been walking sometimes in the flesh. 00:29:57.599 --> 00:30:00.480 God understands that sometimes we'll miss it. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:03.759 That's the grace, that's the mercy that we have. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.039 To get it right. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:39.039 That's the beauty of it. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:43.440 And you go back and you try to get it right again. 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:47.680 You say, I want to be led by the Spirit. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:51.359 Only you know where you are. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:31:05.200 Paul is reminding the church that walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:17.680 Walk in the purpose of who Christ is in your life and not in the flesh of the old man who should have died long time ago. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.759 Yes, they messed with you. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:27.039 Yes, they did all these bad things to you, and yes, you feel like you got to get back at them. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.079 I get it. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.279 Yeah, yeah, I'm with you. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:31.200 If I was back in the day, I'd be on your team. 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:33.680 I'm like, let's go get them, let's, let's, let's take them out. 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:39.200 But I realized that you know what? 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.519 God got this. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:57.839 Every single day I have to fight to walk in the spirit because there's something that's going to cause me to turn and respond. 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:09.440 But I realize that if I respond the way that I want to, I'm not leading in a way that he wants me to. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:32.319 Say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:36.079 That's a guarantee. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:41.599 It's a process and it's our purpose. 00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:45.039 Will we get it wrong? 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.319 Yes, we will. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:53.440 But the good part about it is we can ask for forgiveness. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:33:00.720 And if we're pure in heart, we're able to get it back on track again. 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:33.839 If you have not surrendered, and you've been trying to deal with this stuff on your own, I would encourage you to recognize that you can't live, you can't walk, you can't be led, and you can't live in the Spirit without totally surrendering to the Spirit of God by accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:49.359 If that is missing in your life, that is the most important element, the most important person that you can ever surrender to. 00:33:51.119 --> 00:34:19.280 And today, on Father's Day, to submit yourself to God by surrendering your life and saying, Jesus, come and be my Lord and Savior by inviting him to be your forever. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:22.159 So that you can walk in the Spirit. 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:27.679 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:37.039 Father, we thank you that we see the example that was made by Jesus. 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:44.880 That he said, I only do and say what I hear and see my Father do. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:35:00.000 Thank you, Father, for being our greatest example of what it means to love us in spite of. 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:16.559 God, let us today, as believers, number one, walk by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, and to live in the Spirit by the Spirit. 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:25.199 And for those of us who have not surrendered, that we take the next step and surrender our lives to you. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:28.000 God, we want you to be pleased. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:29.679 We want you to be honored. 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:37.840 We want to be an example of fresh fragrance in places that are chaotic. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:45.280 To walk in the Spirit, but to show the evidence of the fruits of the Spirit. 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:54.000 Lord, we love you and we thank you so much for the opportunity to serve you, to live for you, to know you. 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:59.519 And it is in Jesus' name that we do pray. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.360 And I've got shouldn't say. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.400 Amen.