Urgent Message Part 3: "Loving Your Neighbor" (Galatians 5:13-15).

This is the final message of the three part series concerning the Holy Spirit. In our text, there's yet another contrast that needs to be examined. The phrase "walking by the Spirit" points to loving your neighbor! It refers to our love walk! It points to behavior that's motivated by God's love! Notice that the first thing mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit is love (v 22). Love is not listed first by accident. Love is what our text (Gal 5:13-15) is all about. Paul tells us, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another." First, let's understand that Christ followers are free from the law as a means of being saved. In other words, as Christ followers, we're free from the curse for disobedience to the law. Christ took that away on the cross! Paul says that this freedom is not to be used as a license to sin, or as an opportunity for the flesh! The contrast here is, "giving in to the flesh" and "serving one another through love." In other words, love is the evidence of the one who bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Love is the evidence of the one who is led by the Holy Spirit. Love is the evidence of the one who walks by the Holy Spirit! The word "fruit" in verse 22 is a collective noun which names a group of things with a singular form. Love is the word which names joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control! Walking in love is what brings forth the other manifestations! Praise God forevermore! Walking by the Holy Spirit, being led by the Holy Spirit, and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is what honors and glorifies the Father God! As Christ followers, these things are designed by God for us to practice. Let's get on board. This is the abundant life that Jesus spoke about! This is living life the way life was meant to be lived! Your move. Be encouraged!