Steve Petch Sunday 13 th February 2011 Life as God Intended

Steve PetchSunday 13th February 2011

Life as God Intended

We are made for a RELATIONSHIP with God

We have been given RESPONSIBILITY by God

We have been entrusted with RESOURCES by God

‘Life as God Intended’

Steve PetchSunday 13th February 2011

Life as God intendedPart 12: Living by the Spirit

Galatians 5 v 22 - 25

We are meant to be fruitful:•We are appointed by Jesus to bear fruit (John 15:16)

•We should avoid the fruitless deeds of darkness (Eph 5:11)

•We will produce fruit according to our heart’s condition (Luke 6:43-45)

•We can recognize people by their fruit (Matt 7:15-20)

•God is interested in our fruitfulness (John 15:1-2)

•We produce fruit by keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, not by following religious rules (Gal 5:22-25)

Living by the Spirit

As Christians, we have been freed from trying to please God by keeping rules!

Living by the Spirit

The Old Covenant was based on obedience to the law, which led to blessings, and

disobedience, which led to curses

Living by the Spirit

The New Covenant is based on grace. We are justified freely, as a gift,

through faith in Jesus …

… and even this faith is a gift from God

We must not go back to trying to please God by keeping rules!

Living by the Spirit

Why would we want to?

•Lack of understanding

•Fear of others falling into sin

•Fear of what others will think

•Demonic theology! (1 Tim 4 v 1-4)

We must not go back to trying to please God by keeping rules!

Living by the Spirit

It’s a common pattern:

•Paul’s church plants were sometimes deliberately targeted

•Today we still have to fight this battle

We must never be motivated by fear or guilt!

Live by the Holy Spirit and keep in step with the Holy Spirit

(see Galatians 5 v 13 – 25)

Living by the Spirit

How do we live life as God intended?

•Keep in step with the Holy Spirit!

•Our motivation must be faith, expressing itself through love … for God and for others (see Galatians 5:6)

Living by the Spirit

Steve PetchSunday 13th February 2011

Life as God intendedPart 12: Living by the Spirit

Galatians 5 v 22 - 25