Galatians 5:16-21
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts 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.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In verse 16, Paul gives us the solution, then in the following verses reminds of the problems.
If we are busy chasing the works of the flesh, sin and selfishness, then we are not saved.
Notice verse 21 says "those who practice such things".
When we practice, what are we doing?
We are exercising, improving our ability to do those things.
We are habitually committed to them.
We're getting better at sin.
This is not the goal we are seeking.
We do not want to improve our ability to be condemned for all eternity.
Do not practice these things.
Also, do not focus on quitting or stopping those things.
Don't have the negative mindset about stopping.
Instead start something new.
Begin to practice walking in the Spirit.
Practice the Godly things.
Don't focus on not lying, focus on being truthful.
Replace the bad practice with good.
Instead of adultery, focus on loving your spouse.
Why did you marry them, what do you love about them?
Focus on pleasing them and not yourself.
Do not chase these things, this long list of sins, which are a form of selfishness and self-pleasure and self-worship.
Instead focus on God and worshipping Him.
Study the Bible, learn more about God.
Then focus on helping others.
Make your life about more than all these selfish sins.
Be busy doing the things that are beneficial to others.
Practice being the Godly hero you were meant to be.
Instead of being angry and hating, focus on loving, forgiving, empathizing.
Pray for those who you have conflict with.
Do not meditate on your anger, but pray for your own forgiveness, then your opponent's.
Replace contention with humility and understanding.
If we practice these things, focus on doing the right, Godly things.
We will not have time or desire to chase the flesh.
Then we can have the results Paul mentions in the next verses.
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Practice being Godly and do not give up.
We will not very good at first, but that is what practice is for, to get better.
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