The Conflict - Wednesday night notes.

Here we go. Man this is huge to me. I know that all of us empowered by God can overcome our selfish desires but I also know that we can't do it with out Him. God help us. . . . . . . . . .

The Conflict

Video: Two Face from Batman.

Intro: Do you ever feel that way. I’ve got a great side that wants to do what’s right and a bad side that is pushing me almost feeling like another person to do what’s wrong? Our goal is to know God in a way that directs our life into change and transformation. When we understand that we have a battle going on within us, it helps us identify what we need to do different.

Drama: Both sides at war.

Believe it or not the bible actually talks about this conflict in Galations 5:16-24

Galatians 5:16-24 (MsgB)
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. [17] For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. [18] Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

[19] It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; [20] trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; [21] the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
[22] But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, [23] not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. [24] Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.



BackGround:

Paul was writing this letter to the church in Galatia. This was a great church with great potential but they struggled with things much like we do. Paul was writing this directive because there was people that took advantage of the freedom we have as Christians. Some of the Christians said Jesus will forgive us and we can basically do whatever it is that we want.

Paul knew this wasn’t right and wrote this letter in response describing to the church the battle we all fight so they understand it then about loving God and understanding that willingly following His ways take us far but mindlessly following rules do nothing for us. It’s easier but we don’t learn from it.


Two Ways:

I. Our own ways. What we naturally desire.



a. The flesh fights for dominance (v.16)
b. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit (v.17a)
c. The flesh keeps a person from doing what he would (v.17b)
d. The flesh fails to keep the law (v.18)

Results: vs. 19-21
· Repetitive, loveless, cheap sex;
· a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage;
· frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;
· [20] trinket gods;
· magic-show religion;
· paranoid loneliness;
· cutthroat competition;
· all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants;
· a brutal temper;
· an impotence to love or be loved;
· divided homes and divided lives;
· small-minded and lopsided pursuits;
· [21] the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival;
· uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions;
· ugly parodies of community.



II. God’s Way - His spirit directing our lives.

1 The believer is to walk bearing God’s nature (v.22-23)
a. Source: The Holy Spirit (v.22)
b.Purpose: To stand strongly against fleshly works (v.23)

Results: vs. 22-23
· affection for others,
· exuberance about life,
· serenity.
· We develop a willingness to stick with things,
· a sense of compassion in the heart,
· a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
· We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
· [23] not needing to force our way in life,
· able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.


The fruit tells you what’s coming out of the inside.

Trees that are well taken care of give out a huge crop.

Eventually it will come out in everyway.



Galatians 5:13-14 (MsgB)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. [14] For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom.