SERMON TITLE: A NEW YEARS PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE

SERMON TEXT: Galatians 5:16-26

SERMON THESIS: Life in the Spirit is keeping in step with the Spirit.

INTRODUCTION: Perhaps, you, like millions of people around the world this year will be making, if you haven’t already done so, New Years Resolutions. You, like many, will resolve to lose weight, quit a bad habit, turn over a new leaf, etc. Resolutions are well and good in their place, but if they are done in the flesh they will not last. Today I want to give you something that will last. I want to give you a New Years Prescription for Peace, based on solid teachings and principles of Scripture.

A new years prescription for peace means, first...

I. UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT...

“For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not what you want”(Galatians 5:17).

1. The Conflict Described

The Apostle Paul was very much aware of the conflict he earlier described in his letter to the church at Rome, when he said...

“For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage of sin for that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing that I hate” (Romans 7:14-15).

Paul further develops this idea in his letter to the church at Rome, when he wrote...

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).

Note the phrase, “have their minds set.” Here we have two mind sets. One set on what nature desires, and the other set on what the Spirit desires. The results for the person who has his/her mind set on what nature desires are described in verses 19-21...

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, orgies and the like” (Gal. 5:19, 20, 21). These acts of the sinful nature are followed by a warning. Paul further elaborates...

“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21).

2. Dealing With The Conflict

Minds that are set on what the Spirit desires, on the other hand, are as follows:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 22-23).

Question: Which mind set best describes you? Your mind set will determine who is winning the conflict of the mind. A conflict described by Dr. Billy Graham, as a black dog sitting on one shoulder, and a white dog on the other shoulder, battling for the mind. The black dog represents evil, and the white dog represents good.

Speaking of conflict, I never shall forget a revival meeting I led at my home church some years ago. On this particular night, my sermon title was, Minds Set In Concrete. It was at that meeting, that my brother, Jackie, and his son, Brian, came forward and were gloriously saved. Later Jackie said to me, “Benny, the reason I had to come forward tonight was that I saw my mind, like Woodrow (our uncle) being set in concrete, and I knew I had to do something now.” Jackie, under the convicting and convincing power of the Holy Spirit, understood the conflict, and changed his mind-set.

Question: Do you understand the conflict? If so, are you winning the conflict that is being raged in your mind? The Apostle Paul, like Jackie, understood the conflict and cried out to the one who could set him free...

“Wretched man that I am!” he asked, “Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24-25).

A new years prescription for peace means, second...

II. UNDERGO A CRUCIFIXION...

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

The old nature described in verses 19-21, must be crucified. That is to say, both its passions and its desires. Back in Galatians 2:20, Paul writes concerning the crucified life...

“I have been (past tense) crucified with Christ; and it is I who no longer lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.”

In a very practical sense, what does this mean for you and me? Does it mean that the saved person is without sin? No! What it does mean is this, in the words of one writer, “It does mean we constantly fight against sin and yield ourselves to the Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony to this constant fight against sin and yielding to the Spirit, in terms of a runner in a race. He writes,

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (I Cor. 9:24-27).

Undergoing a crucifixion has everything to do with the disciplined life. Did not Jesus say, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). What kind of cross is this? 1) A cross of denial, and a 2) cross of discipline. This is how we crucify the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Spurgeon wrote, “You must bear the cross, or you will never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you will never walk the golden pavement.”

Concerning discipline and self-control, which is also a fruit of the Spirit, the writer of Proverbs wrote, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control” (Proverbs 25:28).

In way of identification, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have (past tense) crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24).

A new year’s prescription for peace means, finally...

III. SURRENDER UNCONDITIONAL CONTROL TO THE HOLY SPIRIT...

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God” (Romans 8:6).

If you had a choice right now, and you do, what would you choose? 1) Death, or 2) Life and peace? I would imagine that all of us would quickly say, life and peace. One writer put it like this, “Life is either dominated by sin or by God’s Spirit.” Herein we have the prescription for peace, that fruit of the Spirit, located between joy and patience. The Scripture makes it very clear–“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace...” (Rm. 8:6).

Not only is the “sinful mind hostile to God...those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (Rm. 8:7,8). Therefore the question for us to consider is this, How do I surrender unconditional control to the Holy Spirit, and experience uninterrupted peace?

1. Live by the Spirit - “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:16).

Again, let’s return to the book of Romans for an expanded understanding of what it means to live by the Spirit. Paul writes...

“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).

2. Keep in step with the Spirit. This means walking in love, the first fruit of the Spirit. Paul wrote,

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Sprit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Gal. 5:25-26).

3. Be filled with the Spirit. Paul wrote in Ephesians,

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

CONCLUSION: Having heard this message, do you now understand the conflict? If so, are you willing to undergo a crucifixion, and surrender unconditional control to the Holy Spirit? If so, you will experience peace throughout the New Year. Lost person, you cannot know peace until you have received the Prince of Peace into your life. Will you receive Him today? The choice is yours!