Scripture lesson for this week, May 5:

Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV)

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

For anyone who wants to know about the Holy Spirit and his work in us, this passage from Galatians is one of the most important in all the Bible. Read it at least a couple of times before next Sunday, and meditate on it. Where it raises questions or difficulties for you, write them down and bring them with you to our interaction session following the service next week. Few things are as important for us, as individuals and as a church, as the lessons in this little portion of Holy Scripture.

Pr. Steve