More Treasure from Galatians 5

During Super Friday each week I am privileged to meet with a wonderful group of moms at "Mom's Rest Stop" and share a little talk about various schooling and parenting issues. On my blog, I will be featuring several lessons I have shared at Mom's Rest Stop. If you'd like to follow along, subscribe by email in the box to the right.  

This week I based our lesson on Galatians 5 where we find several sins listed which will prevent us from inheriting the kingdom of God.  YIKES! 

The sins that many parents and siblings seem to struggle with are highlighted in bold, which is my own emphasis. Mercifully, just a few verses later, the antidote to these sins is found!  I have correlated them in a chart below and referenced other scriptures which also instruct us in the ways of righteousness.  

Pray about what area God would like you to address in your own heart and then with your children this week.  Use the scriptures as copy work or memory work, or just read them aloud together.  I pray this lesson would be a blessing to you. 

God is so good to always provide us a way out of our sin.  If you or yours struggle in any of these areas, take heart!  There is hope in God's word.

Life by the Spirit – Galatians 5:16-26

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷ 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 do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

¹⁹ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Acts of Sinful Nature	Fruit of the Spirit	Other Scriptures
Discord	Peace	Heb. 12:4
Jealousy	Faith	Rom. 8:28, Mt 5:39-42
Envy	Joy/Contentment	Rom 12:15,  Phil 4:12-13
Fits of Rage	Self-Control	Prov. 29:11, Prov 10:19
Selfish Ambition	Kindness/Humility	Phil 2:3-5
Dissensions	Gentleness/Patience	Eph 4:2
Factions	Love	Prv 10:12, 17:9, 1 Pet 4:8

Finally, I truly believe that if we practiced 1 Pet 4:8  most of the sins addressed above would vanish! 

1 Pet 4:8  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Other Scriptures: 

Heb 12:4 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Matt 5:39-42 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Rom. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Phil 4:12-13  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Proverbs 29:11  A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Eph 4:2  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Phil 2:3-5  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Prov. 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

Prov 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Have a GREAT week!