{ Chapter 5: Servanthood, Not Selfishness }

PAUL DEFENDS THE UNITY of the CHURCH by: - Challenging them to embrace servanthood, not selfishness

- Comparing/contrasting the “works of the flesh,” and the “fruit of the Spirit”

When God called you, my dear family, He called youto make you free. But you mustn't use that freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, you must become each other’s servants, through love. For the whole Law is summed up in one word, namely this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite each other, and gobble each other up, watch out! You may end up being destroyed by each other.

GALATIANS 5:13-15

I need you, you need meWe're all a part of God's bodyStand with me, agree with meWe're all a part of God's body…

I pray for you, you pray for meI love you, I need you to surviveI won't harm youWith words from my mouthI love you, I need you to survive

HEZEKIAH WALKER

Now the works of the flesh are obvious.They are such things* as fornication, uncleanness,licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife,jealousy, bursts of rage, selfish ambition,factiousness, divisions, moods of envy,drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things.I told you before, and I tell you again:people who do* such things will notinherit God’s Kingdom.

GALATIANS 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are obvious.They are such things* as fornication, uncleanness,licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife,jealousy, bursts of rage, selfish ambition,factiousness, divisions, moods of envy,drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things.I told you before, and I tell you again:people who do* such things will notinherit God’s Kingdom.

GALATIANS 5:19-21

These happen when you STOP trying...

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,great-heartedness*, kindness, generosity*,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.There is no law that opposes things like that!And those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus,crucified the flesh with its passions, and desires.If we live by the Spirit, let’s line up with the Spirit.We shouldn’t be conceited, vying with one another,and jealous of each other.

GALATIANS 5:22-26

GALATIANS 5:22-26But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,great-heartedness*, kindness, generosity*,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.There is no law that opposes things like that!And those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus,crucified the flesh with its passions, and desires.If we live by the Spirit, let’s line up with the Spirit.We shouldn’t be conceited, vying with one another,and jealous of each other.

These happen when you ARE trying...

“Grace is not opposed to effort, but earning. Earning is an attitude; effort is an action. Grace, you know, does not just have to do with forgiveness of sins alone.”

DALLAS WILLARD

- As much as possible, God wants our life NOW to reflect what life WILL BE like in His fully realized Kingdom

THE IMPLICATIONS FOR EACH OF US...

- As much as possible, God wants our life NOW to reflect what life WILL BE like in His fully realized Kingdom

THE IMPLICATIONS FOR EACH OF US...

- This means we must be ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN the process, not simply PASSIVE OBSERVERS OF the process

- As much as possible, God wants our life NOW to reflect what life WILL BE like in His fully realized Kingdom

THE IMPLICATIONS FOR EACH OF US...

- This means we must be ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN the process, not simply PASSIVE OBSERVERS OF the process

- The best thing we can learn to do is learn how to live lives of SELF-GIVING LOVE, as we serve one another…

the first oneto the cross

wins.