Free People: Free Spirit
October 3, 2025
Title: Free Spirit
Text: Galatians 5:1, 13, 16–26
Target: True freedom isn’t the right to do what I want — it’s the power to live how Christ wants.
1. Freedom’s Foundation: Statues of Liberty
a. Set Free: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do
not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Vs. 1)
b. Stand Free: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
(1 Cor. 16:13)
c. Stay Free: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
2. Freedom’s Function: Can Do Vs. Can’t Do
a. Don’t Gratify the Flesh: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do
not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,” (Vs. 13a)
b. Consider Others above Yourself: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
(Philippians 2:3)
c. Break Chains in Love: “...but through love serve one another.” (Vs. 13b)
3. Freedom’s Fight: Fight for your Right!
a. Walk in the Spirit: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh.” (Vs. 16)
b. War in the Spirit: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the
desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,
to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Vs. 17)
c. Warning in the Spirit: “...those who do such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.” (Vs. 21b)
4. Freedom’s Fruit: Abiding leads to Producing
a. Evidence of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law.” (Vs. 22-23)
b. Execution in the Spirit: “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Vs. 24)
c. Expression of the Spirit: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with
the Spirit.” (Vs. 25)
Takeaway: Christ sets us free, the Spirit keeps us free, and love shows the world we are free.