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Today is Wednesday December 2, 2009 and we are completing our studies in the book of Galatians, please read chapters 4-6 in your Bible or Click Here to read them copy & paste this URL http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-reading

Today's Message: The Fruit of The Spirit
We struggle within ourselves between spirit and flesh, it is important that we learn to walk in the fruit of the spirit rather than the lusts of the flesh.

Paul explains the history of the two covenants, the Law and the Gospel of Grace. The covenants represent two women in Abraham's life, Hagar and Sarah. "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar." -Galatians 4:22-24. Hagar, whom by human reasoning gave birth to Ishmael, is symbolic of the human efforts used of the Law to accomplish the will of God. Sarah, whom by faith gave birth to Issac, is symbolic of God's grace as this miraculous birth took place when they we too old to have children (Sarah was 99). "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." - Galatians 4:28-31. God imparted miraculous life obtained by faith with spiritual fruitfulness.

Paul also warns of 17 specific sins made by the flesh, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (sensuality), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (discord), emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, sedition (rebellion), heresies (unorthodox beliefs), envying, murders, drunkenness, and reveling (getting drunk). "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians - 5:19-21. Sexual immorality, which includes adultery and fornication, heads the list. These sins include intercourse between any unmarried man and woman, as well as the perversions of sex, such as homosexuality. However, the works of the flesh also include everything that defiles our mind, body, or spirit, such as sexually explicit magazines, television programs, immoral jokes, and evil thoughts. Idolatry includes greed and anything or anyone other than God Himself that determines our conduct. The object of idolatry could include money, an occupation, a person, a personal pleasure, or a habit. Though some of these may not be evil in themselves, if they occupy the time and are given the loyalty which God deserves, they actually become an idol to us. Often overlooked is witchcraft, which includes horoscopes, palm reading, hypnotism, seances, and other acts of the fortune telling.

The Law can direct worshipers to outwardly keep religious symbolism, rules, and regulations, and appear to be very devoted; but it can never produce an inner desire from the heart to keep His Commandments unless we express the fruit of the spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25. We can give thanks to God that we are no longer enslaved by the works of the flesh since all who have accepted Jesus had their sins crucified on the cross when Jesus died for them. Now we are filled with the Holy Spirit that allows us to bear His fruit and are free from all bondage of sin. Praise Jesus!

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and Merry Christmas.
God Bless You,
Christina

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