The Flesh vs. The Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Last week:
We see that it is for freedom that Christ set us free, now, we are to stand firm in that freedom
We also see that the flesh wants us to live in bondage to sin and the law, the Spirit wants us to live in freedom from sin and the law
Today, we will continue to see this battle between the flesh and the Spirit, and how it looks for to be a part of each one.
Illustration:
Think of this parable in Matthew 21:28-32
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’
29 “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
32 “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.
What Jesus was talking about is similar to what we deal with today. Do you believe God and His plan for your righteousness, or not, and continue to try to earn your righteousness through your works. This is the battle between the Spirit and the Flesh, one wants to believe God, the other discredits and wants to do it their own way.
Today, we get to see the difference between the two, and why the Spirit is far superior to the flesh
The Flesh Vs. the Spirit
V.16
O: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh
I: That we would live by the Spirit, and by doing that, you will have the ability to say no to the flesh.
A: Again, why is this important?
Because we want to believe that we can say no to the flesh through the requirements of the Law
The problem is, that is the flesh, and it is fighting the flesh with the flesh.
Instead, the Spirit is the answer, so we don’t carry out the desire of the flesh
What is the desire of the flesh? For you to be in bondage, to your sin and the law!!
What is the desire of the Spirit? Freedom, from your sin and the law.
V.17
O: For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another so that you may not do the things that you please.
I: The Spirit and flesh are against one another, and this battle between the two is why it is so hard to just do what we know is right.
A: This is why we see what Paul talks about in the coming verses, so that we know what the flesh looks like and the Spirit looks like.
That we can better discern what is right and wrong.
One would think that we should just know this as christians, as believers, as new creations. But the fact is, we don’t. And it is all because of this spiritual battle that takes place against the Spirit and the flesh, the battle of freedom and bondage.
V.18
O: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
I: When the Spirit is leading, there is no law against you.
A: Since this is a reality, when we allow the Spirit to lead us, we don’t need to worry about whether we are doing things wrong or right, the Spirit will always lead you into the Father’s will.
Think of John 16:13
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …”
V.19
O: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,
I: The things we do that are motivated by the flesh are obvious,
A: The deeds, the works, the things we do in the flesh.
Notice “deeds”, that they are things that we do. (works)
The flesh can only produce these things in our lives
O: immorality, impurity, sensuality
I: sexual sins and being promiscuous
A: Sexual sin is not from the Spirit, it is of the flesh
Regardless of what the world says, it is sinful, it is fleshly
These are things that should be obvious to us, but they must be said.
Remember Romans 8:8
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
V.20
O: idolatry, sorcery
I: turning to other gods, witchcraft
A: When we put other things as more important than God, this is the flesh
Could be as simple as a football game
Witchcraft
Turning to demonic means and powers
Think of Saul in 1 Samuel 28
O: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes
I: Having a poor attitude towards others
A: What we see today, this anger and hate towards others, when they don’t agree with you or see eye to eye, this isn’t the Spirit, this is the flesh
O: dissensions, factions
I: creating division
A: Turning people against one another
This is the work of the flesh, it can only cause divisions
V.21
O: envying
I: which is very similar to jealousy
A: (Put your application here)
O: drunkeness, carousing
I: Being out of control
A: living according to our impulses, whether we are influenced by a substance or something else.
O: and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God
I: Those who make their life about living this way and in the flesh will not be part of God’s kingdom.
A: (Put your application here)
O: “practice such things”
I: practice= to intend to and keep doing these things with no intention or desire to stop
A: It isn’t as if we will never do these things, and Paul isn’t even implying that if you do that you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But rather, that these are things that you intend and keep doing with no intention nor desire to stop them.
This is why Paul says in Romans 8:6
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
All these things Paul mentions are destructive to our lives, in relationships, in attitudes… the flesh is destructive, and what the flesh wants is you to be in bondage to these things, and in turn, be in bondage to the Law to get rid of these things. Its a vicious cycle.
V.22-23
O: 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.
I: The Spirit produces fruit in our lives that no law can come against.
A: (Put your application here)
O:fruit of the Spirit
I: What the Spirit produces in us
A: Notice the difference between fruit and deeds.
Deeds are works, immediate
Fruit is the result of… not things we do, but the things that are being produced in us.
We don’t have control of the fruit, the Spirit does. But it isn’t immediate, it isn’t even quick, its the transformation that is going on inside of us.
If you don’t have this fruit
First, be patient… let the Spirit do His work in you
Second, fruit is seasonal. You may see fruit, but not all of it. But don’t worry, the Spirit is working in you to make you complete.
This is grace, to know the Lord is working in us, not us working on ourselves. Quit trying to produce the fruit, let the Spirit work to do it.
How do we ensure the fruit grows?? Jesus says in John 15:4
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
Abide in Jesus, stay in Him… stand firm in the grace, stand firm in freedom, not because of your work, but because of His.
O: love
I: The first fruit that is produced, Agape love
A: Let me tell you a story about Jake.
Jake was your typical midwest, rugged man, who lived in a small farming town. There was one local church that everybody met at, including Jake’s wife. But Jake never went. He was a mean man, and the only time he went to church was to beat up the pastor or one of the elders. Jake was big, ugly, and mean, so no one was too disappointed that he would forgo going to church on Sunday morning.
One day, there was an evangelist who came to town, and was due to speak at the church for 3 nights during the week. Everyone was excited to hear this man speak and see what the Lord would do. The mood, however, would change, when the first night Jake came rolling through the doors. He sat right in the middle of the sanctuary, and to everyone’s surprise, didn’t beat anyone up or cuss anyone one out. In fact, Jake quietly got up to leave once the first night was over.
The next night, Jake showed up again, people still unsure what he was going to do. After the service started, the preacher asked if anyone wanted to share something the Lord showed them from the night before. To everyone’s nervous surprise, Jake stood up. Nobody dare to challenge or question this. But Jake began to speak. He said, “I dun know how to say this, and I sure dunt know what is going on, but all I know is last night, I hated every single one of you.” Everybody shook their head in agreement.
But Jake continued. “I can’t tell you exactly what happened, but tonight, I love you all.”
You see, that is the fruit of the Spirit. Jake did nothing to grow that, he did nothing to change how he felt or how he saw other people. The Spirit produced this wonderful fruit.
And that is what he is doing in us. His Spirit turns our apprehension towards one another into love
O: Joy
I: We would have a reason to rejoice
O: peace
I: That we would experience a peace that we could never understand
A: Where we use to freak out, be anxious and worry, the Lord has brought a peace.
I’ve had people tell me that they would worry about their finances, but then the Lord has given them a peace about them, and they don’t worry about it any more.
I’ve seen married couples fighting and arguing. Then after giving their hearts and home to the Lord, he brings a peace to the family they never had.
O: patience
I: we would wait upon the Lord
A: The Lord doesn’t hurry us up, in fact, the Spirit brings us patience
O: Kindness
I: we would treat others kindly
A: Again, a fruit. You have to be patient with this one, but you see the Spirit start working in how you treat other people
O: goodness
I: That what we do in life would be good for others
A: That it would be us looking out for what is good for others, not just ourselves
O: faithfulness
I: The word is “pistis”- or to believe
A: That we would be people of faith, that we would believe.
And yes, the Spirit produces this in us.
“I believe, help my unbelief.”
O: gentlenss
I: being gentle with how we deal with people
O: self-control;
I: to control your attitude and impulses
O: against such things there is no law
I: These things are always permissable.
A: What produces fruit in us? Is it the Law, following a program, adhering to special rules or programs? No, it is the Spirit.
We cannot continue walking in trying to perfect the flesh, but rather, walk in the Spirit
V.24
O: Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it’s passions and desires.
I: In Christ, our flesh is put to death and so are its desires and passions.
A: This is done in Christ, not by our works, not done by the law
We still have the tendency to do this by our efforts, as I would say, to take grace and the work of the Spirit and turn it into a whole other law.
Meaning, if you are Spirit filled, you have to “…”
Love, be joyful, be peaceful, etc. Instead of the FRUIT of the Spirit, its turned into the deeds of the Spirit, and that is how easy it is for the flesh to take over.
But instead, our flesh has been crucified in Christ, not by our works and efforts
V.25
O: If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit
I: Since the Spirit gives us life, let us follow the Spirit, not the law
A: I will live a Spirit filled life, the life that gives me freedom and power.
Thinking of what Paul says to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
V.26
O: Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
I: Don’t let these things make us treat each other poorly
A: The sad reality of spiritual things, is the tendency to become prideful, boastful, then treating each other in these ways. That is the flesh.
Don’t turn back to the flesh, don’t rely on your good works, your efforts, or your abilities, rely on the Spirit, Who wants you to experience freedom and His grace that goes beyond any human expectation.
Conclusion:
Let us walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Live in freedom, not in bondage
