The Spirit vs. the Flesh… (3 things)

• 1^st – The battle inside of us… vs. 16-18
  • We are all made up of 3 parts – Spirit / mind / and body…
    • Spirit – the only part of us that is eternal…
      • Body – the flesh – the physical body we live in…
      • Mind – where we make our choices and decisions – either the Spirit or the flesh
    • Defining the flesh or body…
      • The physical desires/needs of men – representing the sinful nature of man…
      • Has no desire to please God – serve God – it only thinks about its momentary needs…
      • Does not think about the consequences for its actions – only momentary pleasure
    • Defining the Spirit…
      • Dead before we were saved – born again when we believed in Jesus…
      • The eternal part of man – the knowledge of God placed in the heart of a man…
      • Understanding life is about far more than momentary needs and pleasure…
      • Recognizing the consequences – both temporary and eternal – for actions…
      • Desires to please and serve the Lord in both actions and thought…
  • The war over our mind – do we obey our flesh or our spirit…
    • Every decision we make is influences by this battle….
    • Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions…
    • Do we choose to live for pleasure/the moment – or do we live for the Lord…
    • The flesh says I am hungry – and have no food – so I will steal food to eat…
    • The Spirit says it is wrong to steal – trust in the Lord to provide for our food
    • The Spirit says to get up in the morning and spend time with God in His Word…
    • The flesh says keep sleeping – you can always read your Bible – buas lang
      
  • How do we overcome our flesh…
    • The first place we often look – rules – we think they can keep us from sin…
      • We know keeping rules cannot save us – we cannot be perfect…
      • Romans 3: 20 – “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight…”
      • But we think perhaps once we are saved – rules can keep us from sin…
      • Go to church twice a week / pray every day / read a Bible chapter ever day…
      • Then I will be able to avoid sin – live for Jesus – and follow Him…
      • As if having been saved by Grace – our good works can now keep us from sin!
    • But the flaw in looking to rules – is we are still depending on our flesh…
      • Depending on OUR convictions / OUR ability / OUR strength to keep us from sin!
      • The problem is we are NOT dependable – we are sinful – and we will fail…
      • We can promise ourselves we are not going to give into THAT sin again…
      • But it only takes one moment of weakness – one opportunity – and we fall again!
    • The problem is not our rules – the problem is our heart…
      • The rules are all good things – and we might even do them – for a few days…
      • It is not that we do not want to do the right things – we cannot do the right things!
      • Romans 7:15 – “I want to do what is right, but I do not… Instead, I do what I hate.”
      • My problem is my heart/desires – I am the problem – I sin because I want to!
      • Why do I do what I know is sin – because I want to – no one forces me…
      • Why do I not do what I know is good and right – because I do not want to…
      • And I cannot change my heart – how can I change what I want…
  • If we walk in the Spirit – we will not fulfill the desires of our flesh…
    • I fear many people come to the ‘battle against sin’ woefully unprepared…
      • They come depending on themselves – then are confused when sin wins the battle…
      • We constantly fall into sin in life – because we bring ‘sticks to a gunfight’…
      • So how do we overcome our desires – how do we change what we ‘want’…
      • By the Power of the Holy Spirit – who can change our desires and our wants!
    • Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit…
      • The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin before we believe in Jesus – John 16:7-8
      • The Holy Spirit come to live within us when after we receive Jesus – John 20:22
      • The Holy Spirit is also the gives us the power to overcome the flesh/sin…
      • Saul was a man with a tainted history – murderer – never really used by God…
      • Until he was filled with the Spirit – Acts 13:9 – and his name was changed to Paul…
      • Filled with the Spirit he became one of the greatest men used by God in history!
      • Perhaps you have a reputation – your name carries a lot of baggage with it…
      • God wants to fill you with His Spirit – give you a new name – change your heart!
    • How do you get the Power of the Spirit – just ask…
      • Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find…”
      • Not just once – but over and over and over again for – asking for the Holy Spirit
      • Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Spirit to those who ask Him.”
      • You need gas to run a car – but you need to keep filling that car up with gas…
      • We need also need to be daily filling up on the Holy Spirit to overcome our flesh!
    • The result of being filled with the Spirit…
      • II Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
      • If we are full of ourselves – our flesh – then we will have a defeated life in Jesus…
      • But when we are emptied – not depending on ourselves – full of Jesus – Holy Spirit…
      • Then we will find God changes our hearts – our desires – we will find victory over sin
      • Not that we can no longer do the things we used to ‘want’ to…
      • We will no longer have the desire – instead we will ‘want’ to live for Jesus!

• 2^nd – The works of the flesh… vs. 19-21
  • Take a long hard look at your life – and see if your are following the Flesh or the Spirit…
    • II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine…”
    • If we are still acting like (or worse) than the world around us – where is Jesus…
    • If you are wondering where your walk with the Lord is – examine yourself…
    • Do we live in willful sin – ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives…
    • Or are we forgiven by grace – not living for sin – but living our lives for Jesus!
  • Paul gives a list of ‘works’ – that show we are following our flesh – 4 categories…
    • 1^st – Sexual sin – is evidence of a life dominated by the flesh…
      • Adultery – any sexual relationship outside of the bounds of marriage…
      • Fornication – pornia – where we get the word pornography – images of women… 
      • Uncleanness – thinking about sex – fantasizing about women in your mind…
      • Lewdness – living only to talk about sex / green jokes / inappropriate comments…
      • A life that is dominated by sexual sin – is a life that is dominated by the flesh!
    • 2^nd – Not putting God first…
      • Idolatry – putting anything before God in our lives…
      • Which leads to trusting in things other than God to save us in times of trouble…
      • Horoscopes / faith healers / superstitions / palm reading / witchcraft…
      • It is playing with the demonic – opens you up to the powers of darkness…
      • Putting our trust in men – circumstances – demons – rather than in God…
    • 3^rd – In our personal relationships…
      • Hate / quarrelling / outbursts of anger / murder – whether in action or in the heart
      • Jealousy / envy – wanting what others have – feeling like we deserve it more…
      • Selfishness – putting our needs before the needs of others…
      • A self-centered life – is a life dominated by the flesh!
    • 4^th – Drunkenness and partying – are evidence of the flesh…
      • Some get drunk to forget their sin – rather than come to God and repent…
      • Others go to parties / discos to enjoy the moment – with no thought for tomorrow…
    • Not a complete list – just good examples of the Flesh…
      • We know we are walking in ‘the flesh’– because of what is on our mind…
      • If we are ‘in our flesh’ – we will be dominated by the ‘desires of our flesh’…
      • Momentary pleasures / anger / pride / lust / hate / bitterness / jealousy…
      • All the while ignoring the things of God – the Word / prayer / fellowship
  • The result of walking in ‘the flesh’ – we will not inherit the Kingdom…
    • Meaning those who do these things will not go to heaven!
      • If we say we are Christians – but still live like the world – do we really have faith…
      • We can call ourselves Christians – but if we are continually sinning – are we…
      • Our lives after we believe in Jesus should be different – changed…
      • James 2:17-18 – “So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless…”
        
    • Not to say that we never sin – but those who practice these things…
      • I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not [continue to] sin…”
      • As believers – if we sin – there should be remorse – confession – repentance…
      • If there is no remorse – no repentance for sin – there is good reason for concern…
      • We cannot say we are saved and continue to live in unrepentant sin!
        
• 3^rd – The fruit of the Spirit… vs. 22-26
  • It is not the works of the Spirit – but the fruit…
    • We create the ‘works’ of the flesh – they come from our own sinful desires…
    • But the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit is something that God creates in us – it is from Him!
    • You cannot make yourself a Godly man – it is the result being connected to Jesus…
    • John 15:5 – “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
  • The fruit of the Spirit…
    • There is only one fruit – Love…
      • Notice it does not say the ‘fruits’ of the Spirit – but the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit…
      • THE fruit is Love – you know you are walking in the Spirit when there is Love…
      • Most importantly – a Love for God – Deuteronomy 6:5
      • But almost equally important – a love for others – Leviticus 19:18
    • The evidence of walking in Love – 8 examples…
      • Joy – happiness is based on your circumstances…
        • If you find P100 on the ground – it makes you happy – free money…
        • If someone sees you pick it up and says it is theirs – you are now sad…
        • Joy is far deeper – it is not based on your circumstances – you are ‘Joyful’ in Jesus!
      • Peace – Because you are forgiven – no longer living in fear of the judgment of God…
      • Longsuffering and kind – because we are fighting for people’s eternal salvation…
        • The people we are reaching out to – are currently working for our enemy – satan…
        • That means they will say and do many hurtful things to us…
        • Rather than react – we need to be longsuffering – and show them kindness…
        • Because it is the goodness of the Lord that brings them to Jesus – Romans 2:4
      • Goodness – A life defined by doing good things – upright in heart and life…
      • Faithfulness – People do not question our integrity – we finish what we start…
      • Meekness – We understand it is not about our ability – it is all about Jesus!
      • Self-control – We do not let our passions / desires drive our life – Jesus is in control!
    • If we are walking in the Spirit we no longer have a need for rules…
      • Because we have a changed heart – and do not need rules to tell us what to do…
      • We are already doing all the right things – bearing good fruit – by the power of the Spirit
    • We have crucified our flesh – with its passions and desires…
      • If we are ‘in the Spirit’ – we will be full of the ‘things of the Spirit’
      • Eternal perspective – heaven / loving God & others / pleasing the Lord…
      • Desiring to be in the Word of God / spend time talking to God – prayer…
      • Not caught up in the pleasures of this world – instead desiring to please God!