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For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1
Hey, friends! It’s week five of the Galatians Online Bible Study. Can you believe it?! Don’t worry if you’re taking your time going through the material. I do that, too. There’s no pressure! We’ve got an extra week at the end to review and catch up.
This week we’re taking about freedom! We have been set free in Christ Jesus! We’re not slaves anymore. We’re not slaves to the world and we’re not slaves to perfectionism. Let that be a relief to all of us who’ve been under burdens of every kind for so long!
Freedom is not circumstantial. You’re free. Period. Freedom is not conditional. God chose to give it to us.
Have you ever seen a trapped and injured wild animal that’s been taken in by wildlife recovery services finally set free? It’s incredibly beautiful. That’s us. We were created for freedom, but we got trapped in sin and so damaged and hurt. You know what I mean. You know what the cost was in your own life. I certainly know in my life the pain that it has cost me. But in Jesus… Wow… In Jesus, we are both healed and being healed and we are free! It’s a beautiful thing!
The sign over our lives says, “For Freedom. Paid by Jesus.”
Christ has set you free but you have to stay free. ~ Jada
The smallest thing can change our lives and derail us from our freedom, rock our boats, shake our faith, knock us out.
We are fragile things, right? I don’t know about you, but I have to stay so very close to God because life is hard and stuff happens and I don’t dare stray because I don’t want to get knocked down like I’ve seen others get knocked down. Is that true for you, too?
He paid a huge price for me and I paid a big price to get this far and I’m not going to let that go to waste. Freedom is too valuable!
In the same way, the flesh can creep in and do damage. Freedom can cause problems if we’re not mature. We can’t grasp our freedom and think we can do whatever we want! No way! We’re free, but free to be wise and godly. Free and loving. Free and like Jesus. Free and like our heavenly selves. We don’t want to be self-centered, or “bite and devour” each other like the world does. Good heavenly days, no!
Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17), resist the flesh, live free, and enjoy life!
Now the works on the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. — Galatians 5:9-21
Every one of those things can trip us up, no matter how holy we think we are, because we’re made of flesh.
When we bump into the guardrails of the verses above, we need to be aware and reassess where we’re headed, and get on our faces before Jesus.
The Fruit of the Spirit is LOVE. Love guards us, protects us, keeps us and others safe, and keeps us sane!
Walking in the Spirit is not something that’s meant to be intimidating. It’s not this lofting idea. It’s just listening to the next thing the Holy Spirit tells you to do. ~ Jada
We’ve been set free to have a life of freedom to please God in all that we do.
Free to throw out the guilt trap of the world and the guilt trap of perfectionism.
We’re free!
This week in your study:
- Then, watch the video for session five of Galatians on our study home page and take notes in your study guide on pages 83-89 and stick around to go through the questions afterward!
- Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 91-100
- Join the conversations about this week’s teaching and get to know our community in our private Facebook group.
Scriptures this Week
Galatians 4:31
Galatians 5:1
John 8:36
Romans 6:18
Galatians 5:7-8
Galatians 5:9
Galatians 5:13
Galatians 5:14-15
Galatians 5:16-18
Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:22-23
Prayer for the Week
Abba, we love You! Thank You for setting us free! Thank You for giving us Your Spirit to guide us and keep us from doing stupid things that would harm and enslave us again. Help us make the right choices with our lives. We want to honor You and lift You up. We want to glorify You and enjoy You and have You enjoy us, too. Help us to walk with You every moment of every day. We love You! Amen.
