Kingdom Tension Part 11
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Tension,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
Last week, in our ‘Kingdom Tension’ series, we reflected on what it means to live the crucified life—laying down our old selves and finding new life in Christ. This week, we explore how to walk out a new life in practical terms through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:13-18 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
This passage reminds us that we are called to be free. But biblical freedom isn’t about doing whatever we want. Paul warns us not to use our freedom to indulge the flesh—our self-centered desires—but rather to serve one another humbly in love. This kind of love, Paul says, fulfills the entire law.
Freedom, as many understand it, means having unlimited choices. But Scripture reveals a deeper truth: real freedom isn’t about the number of options we have, but about choosing what leads to true life. God doesn’t restrict us to limit our joy; He offers boundaries so we can flourish. Left to our own devices, we misuse creation and relationships in ways that are destructive to ourselves and others. That’s what it means to be enslaved to sin: we act outside God’s intended design.
Paul draws a sharp contrast between walking by the Spirit and gratifying the desires of the flesh. These two forces conflict with one another. The flesh pulls us toward selfishness, pride, division, and indulgence. The Spirit, on the other hand, leads us toward love, humility, and serving others. Walking by the Spirit means allowing God’s presence within us to guide our decisions, reshape our desires, and empower us to live differently.
Paul says that when we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. This isn’t about trying harder—it’s about being led. When the Spirit leads us, we are no longer under the law because we are living from the inside out, not the outside in. It’s not about external rule-keeping, but about an internal transformation that produces the fruit of the Spirit.
True freedom is found when we choose to do the next right thing, not out of obligation, but out of love. It means making choices that align with God’s will and bring about life, peace, and wholeness. Walking by the Spirit is the path to the abundant life Jesus promised—a life that blesses others and glorifies God.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
