The War You Can’t Ignore

Text: Galatians 5:16–17-

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

INTRO: The Reality of the Battle

One thing every believer has in common — no matter your age, background, or how long you’ve been saved — is this:

We all at war with the flesh!

Illustration —I heard this story once that went like this….

An old Christian man once told his grandson, “Inside of me, there are two dogs. One is full of anger, lust, pride, and selfishness. The other is full of love, peace, kindness, and obedience to God. And They fight constantly.”

The boy asked, “Which one wins?”

The man replied, “The one I feed the most.”

So tonight ask yourself what do you feed more your flesh or your spirit?

I’m here tonight to tell you this. 

Contrary to what you have heard………

: The Christian life isn’t a cruise ship;      it’s a battleship.-  

let me say that again. 

The first takeaway — The Flesh is Not Your Friend

Romans 8:7-8 

7 Because the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

— The flesh wants to please itself instead of pleasing God.The flesh is the part of us that craves sin

It’s not just weakness — the flesh is rebellion living inside us.

The flesh wants to pull you back into old habits.

The flesh whispers, “Just this once,” when you know you shouldn’t.

The flesh tries to make sin look harmless

The flesh never shows you the end result of sin, only the temporary pleasure.-

Hebrews 11:25 — sin is pleasurable for a season.

“Letting your flesh lead is like giving the your car keys to someone who has totaled every car they’ve ever driven.”

You can’t make peace with the flesh — it must be put to death.

POINT 2 — The Fight is Daily!

Luke 9:23 — 

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

You don’t win this war once and for all in a single altar call. Victory today doesn’t guarantee victory tomorrow — the fight renews every morning.

Paul — the man who planted churches, raised the dead, and wrote most of the New Testament — still said in

 1 Corinthians 9:27 —27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

“A soldier doesn’t lay down his rifle just because the battlefield looks quiet. The enemy often waits for the moment you’re unprepared.”

We must remember there is a real adversary. Satan does not care who you are or what your status is. 

Satan tempted the lord Jesus. 

Satan wanted to sift Peter like wheat. 

There is a real enemy that wants us to fall.

But satan is a defeated foe.

Last point — Victory Comes through the Spirit 

Galatians 5:24 — 

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

Romans 8:13-14 — 

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

—We don’t win the war with our own willpower, without the holy spirit we are powerless!— we have victory by the power of the Holy Spirit.

SO THANK GOD IM IN A CHURCH THATS BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST! 

You can’t kill the flesh in your own strength; you must starve it and feed your spirit.

You might be in here tonight asking brother Shain how can I feed the spirit… well I’m glad you asked 

You can feed your spirit through 

Prayer

Reading & obeying the Word

Worship

Praise! 

Fasting

Surrounding yourself with godly influences 

What you feed grows. What you starve dies.

If you keep feeding your flesh — through what you watch, listen to, or dwell on — don’t be surprised when it overpowers you.—, the flesh grows weaker and weaker!              But if you feed your spirit

In closing  — The War is Real, but the Victory is Yours!

The war of the flesh isn’t a sign you’re failing — it’s proof you’re alive in Christ.

Dead people don’t fight; only the living do.

Jesus didn’t just save us from sin’s penalty — He gave us power over sin’s control.

Colossians 2:15

15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Romans 8 :11 —11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The victory is ours through our lord and savior Jesus 

ALTAR CALL

Tonight be honest with yourself :

What have you been feeding the most your flesh or your spirit?

“What old habits, thoughts, or desires are still holding you back

Have you just been on auto pilot lately? 

There’s victory at this altar 

there’s healing at this altar 

Im going to ask the youth to come up one last time and sing a song. And if there is anything you need tonight I’m going to ask you to come up here and get your break through!

Come forward and declare war on the flesh.

 Lay it down at the altar, surrender it fully to Christ, and commit to walking in the Spirit.