A sermon from Andi Andrews at Get Smart 2009 during the High School segment.
Relationships:
There are two fundemental relationships.
1) Relationship with God.
2) Relationship that flows from that (aka everyone else)
The fight of Flesh versus Spirit
(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.
-Galatians 5:16-18
Two questions:
1) Do you tent towards waling int he spirit of walking in the flesh?
2) What fruit are you bearing in those relationships?
The Fruits of The Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Love - It's a choice. To love someone as much as God loves them. It gives a standard to work at and reach. Forgiveness is important.
Joy - Choose joy, even in the hardest times. Find it in God.
Peace - Make peace situations, even if you don't want to.
Patience - You can't make people change, you have to let them.
Kindness - even in tough situations.
Goodness - Let wholesome talk come out of your mouth.
Faithfulness - with words and actions.
Self Control - in your words, your body, in actions and in anger.
Sometimes everyone needs a reminder of this.
There's a lot to love. It's what we as humans seek for. We are wanting acceptance, we are wanting someone to care, and someone to love us fully.
Sometimes I forget that God loves me the most. No one else can love me like any other. I can get caught up in all my human emotions and then I lose the small voice in my head that is saying how God cares for me.
In those moments, I remember- where is God in my heart?
I need, and I want, to remember that God is always first in my life.
That's why when I feel at my worst, I want God to be the one to cleanse me of my mistakes.
God, I am made new by you.
I love you.
Forgive me.
