Month: January 2026

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:46 — 19.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians
Freedom’s Fruit
Galatians 5:16-26

How do we conquer this sinful nature that resides in each and every one of us?

The sinful nature and the Holy Spirit are at war in our hearts.

But as long as we depend on the Holy Spirit to hold us up, then our sinful nature cannot pull us down.

If we want to win the battle against our compulsion to sin, then we must live by the Spirit and so conquer the desires of the flesh.

When we, in our own self effort, try to better ourselves, we only make ourselves worse. That’s because the flesh knows no law.

So, it is when we let the Holy Spirit live His life through us. We begin to exhibit the beautiful fruit of the Spirit.

Be led by the Spirit and defeat the deeds of the flesh.

So, cater to him. Seek to please Christ by keeping in step with His Spirit.

Walk with the Spirit and so enjoy the death of the flesh.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:58 — 14.4MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1-12

Galatians
Free To Serve
Galatians 5:1-12

Do you want to find a little heaven in all your relationships? Then learn to serve. It’s the reason why Christ set us free.

There is a particular kind of love here that sets us free to serve, and that’s the unconditional love of God demonstrated on the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Rather than being in bondage to the Law or to the sinful nature, [we are now free] to be in bondage to one another.

It’s His love for us, as we respond to His unconditional love.

We don’t need to bite and devour each other, because God loves us.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:41 — 18.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1-12

Galatians
Freedom’s Enemies
Galatians 5:1-12

It’s time to take a stand because there are those who would try to enslave us all over again to their religious rituals and legalistic systems.

Even though Christ has set them free, they want to go back to prison; they want to put themselves in bondage again;

The law is not a buffet or smorgasbord. You cannot pick and choose the parts you like and leave the rest.

If we insist on living the Christian life ourselves, if we insist on earning our way, then we get nowhere.

The law leaves us feeling helpless of ever reaching perfection. Faith gives us the hope of future righteousness.

Instead, live your life in dependence upon the Lord and be enriched with hope for the future and love in the present.

It only takes a little bit of their teaching, and before long it permeates the whole church.

If we’re going to enjoy our freedom, we must stay free from the law, and we must stay free from the legalist.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:02 — 19.9MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians
Freedom’s Children
Galatians 4:21-31

Mothers are very important people (VIP’s). You don’t want to offend them, because they wield so much influence.

The first book of the Law, the book of Genesis, makes it very clear that Abraham had two children with two different mothers. One was a slave.

When we seek to secure God’s promised blessings through our own human efforts, we don’t get blessed; we get trouble.

There is a relationship with God based on adherence to the rules. The law said, “Obey and God will bless you; disobey and God will curse you.”

That’s what the covenant of law does to us. It makes us slaves to sin.

We relate to God on the basis of a promise with its unconditional blessings.

That’s because, as believers, we don’t relate to God on the basis of law; we relate to God on the basis of promise–the promise of His unfailing love.

So, get to know your mother, and throw out the other. Believe the promise, and stop trying to earn your way.