The Inner War
Notes
Transcript
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Turn to Gal. Ch. 5… Vs. 16
Announce: Baby Bennett born yesterday (9:51 a.m.). — Gavin Lee (19.5 inches, 6 pounds 14 oz)
!! Open in Prayer !!
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II. Introduction
II. Introduction
Life is full of desires
Life is full of desires
Good desires and bad desires.
Coming to FAITH — DOESN’T REMOVE the STRUGGLE.
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Feels: “INNER WAR”
DESIRE for GOOD
DESIRE for BAD
Encourage: BELIEVERS… WAR is CERTAIN.
BUT SO is FINAL VICTORY…
NOT EVERY BATTLE
BUT the FINAL OUTCOME of the WAR is SETTLED.
Focus: TODAY—WE’LL BE LOOKING @ the INNER WAR…
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Transition ➡ LOOK W/ ME @ PASSAGE
(V16-24)
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II. Passage Reading:
II. Passage Reading:
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 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.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Church this is God’s Word for us this morning.
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III. Context Recap
III. Context Recap
Larger Context:
TRANSITION: from THEOLOGY to ETHICS…
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BELIEVER is FREE!
FREE from SIN’S POWER
FREE from LAW’S CONDEMNATION
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**HOW DO WE LIVE in RESPONSE?**
NOT INDULGING FLESH
BUT SERVING OTHERS in LOVE
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Two ditches:
Legalism
Lawlessness
Middle of Road:
SALVATION — CHRIST ALONE
RESPONSE—STRIVING to PLEASE HIM
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Last week:
Christian freedom shouldn't lead to self-indulgence…
… but rather selfless service rooted in love.
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Transition ➡ PAUL FURTHER EXPLAINS…
HOW THIS LIFE OUGHT to BE LIVED...
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 16
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IV. Passage Exposition
IV. Passage Exposition
Thought 1: The Command (v.16)
Thought 1: The Command (v.16)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Last Week: NOT OPPORTUNITY for FLESH
This Week: INSTEAD—WALK BY SPIRIT.
Command & Result
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Command: Walk by the Spirit
Command: Walk by the Spirit
Exhortation: CHRISTIAN LIFE — ISN’T JUST CONVERTING to RELIGION
NEW LIFE in CHRIST
INDWELT W/ SPIRIT
**Theology Point: NO SPIRITLESS CHRISTIANS**
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SPIRIT BRINGS NEW DESIRES…
O.T. Background:
O.T. Background:
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Walking By Spirit = FOLLOWING SPIRIT’S LEAD— NEW-CREATION LIFE in CHRIST
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Result: WILL NOT gratify the DESIRES of the FLESH.
Result: WILL NOT gratify the DESIRES of the FLESH.
Flesh, Background: EARTHLY MAN W/ NATURAL, SINFUL DESIRES
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Greek Word: “Gratify” — TYPICALLY MEANS:
bring something to completion//finish
accomplish a goal
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Powerful Truth: FOLLOWING NEW SPIRITUAL DESIRES—YOU WILL NOT BRING FLESHLY GOALS to COMPLETION!
Background: EMPHATIC DOUBLE NEGATIVE (see PPNT)
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Encourage: New Covenant difference:
Spirit gives inward power the law never could.
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Transition ➡ LOGICAL REASON for PAUL’S CONCLUSION
HE’LL BACK IT UP W/ REASON in VS. 17…
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Thought 2: The Reason (v.17)
Thought 2: The Reason (v.17)
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
WON’T GRATIFY… WHY??
Because Spirit & Flesh desire opposite things…
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Flesh = PRESENTED as POWERFUL FORCE W/ DESIRES…
Encourage: EVEN BELIEVERS WRESTLE W/ TEMPTATION & SIN.
ESSENTIALLY GAME of TUG of WAR.
COMPETING DESIRES W/ COMPETING OBJECTIVES…
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Illustration: KRONK, EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE. (PPNT)
FLESH
VS. SPIRIT.
**NOT NECESSARILY GOOD & BAD HUMAN NATURE**
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**Takeaway: NOT ALL DESIRES = GOOD**
Ref. Rob “polygamy” guy
MOST NATURAL DESIRES = BAD.
?SLEEP, SEX & ICE CREAM?
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(v17b) Result: keep you from doing what you want to do…
Challenge: WE MUST FILTER DESIRES BY WORD of GOD (See Below)
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Transition ➡ GOOD NEWS for THOSE of the SPIRIT…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 18
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Thought 3: A Preliminary Conclusion (v.18)
Thought 3: A Preliminary Conclusion (v.18)
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Background: SEEN PREVIOUSLY — SPIRIT = SIGN of NEW AGE
FORMER AGE—UNDER LAW
NEW AGE — UNDER SPIRIT…
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Illustration (recap)
SIN = DUNGEON
LAW = LIGHT — POWERLESS to FREE
NEW LIFE in CHRIST: BROKEN FREE.
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LED BY SPIRIT—NO NEED for LAW.
Reason # 1 SPIRIT FREES from SIN’S POWER
Exhort: IN CHRIST YOU HAVE POWER to SAY “NO” to YOUR SINFUL DESIRES…
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
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Reason #2 SPIRIT DOESN’T LEAD to LAWLESSNESS…
RULEBOOK = LESS IMPORTANT, SPIRITUAL DESIRES = GOD-GIVEN
Challenge: The Spirit of God will never contradict the Word of God.
AUTHOR FOLLOWS HIS OWN WRITING…
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Transition ➡ W/ INNER WAR MADE CLEAR…
PAUL WILL GIVE US GUIDELINES for WHICH SIDE is WHICH
WORKS of FLESH:
V19-21
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Thought 4: The Evidence (Flesh) (vv.19–21)
Thought 4: The Evidence (Flesh) (vv.19–21)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
GOD’S WORD = ANTIDOTE for SELF-DECEPTION
PEOPLE CAN CONVINCE THEMSELVES THEY’RE OKAY—BUT GOD’S WORD = IMMOVABLE BEDROCK.
Works of Flesh = Made Obvious.
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Helpful Categories (Arnold):
Helpful Categories (Arnold):
Sexual immorality—sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality
Perverted religion (idolatry & sorcery)
Social Sins (enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions & divisions)
Personal lapses (envy, drunkenness, orgies)
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1. Sexual immorality
1. Sexual immorality
Umbrella term. — Sex OUTSIDE HUSBAND & WIFE MARRIAGE.
INCEST, ADULTERY, HOMOSEXUALITY, FORNICATION
First Century: CULTURALLY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY = NO BIG DEAL…
PAUL MAKES CLEAR: THIS = SIN.
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Ref. PHIL VISCHER “CROTCH CHRISTIANITY”
GOD CARES ABOUT EVERY ASPECT of OUR LIVES…
WHAT WE CLAIM is OFF-LIMITS IS NOT.
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GOD established MARRIAGE as a COVENANT
& SEX as a GIFT WITHIN THAT COVENANT.
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2. Perverted religion
2. Perverted religion
FALSE & PERVERTED RELIGION
1ST CENTURY MORE PREVALENT
**BUT DIVIDED WORSHIP ISN’T ABSENT TODAY**
=> COVETOUSNESS = IDOLATRY.
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3. Social sins
3. Social sins
LIST of DIVISIVE THINGS
OPPOSITE of CHRISTIAN COMMAND to “LOVE”
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4. Personal Lapses
4. Personal Lapses
ENVY — DESIRES EVIL for OTHERS…
DRUNKENESS & DRUNKEN PARTIES — UTTER LACK of SELF-RESTRAINT/OVER-INDULGENCE
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Challenge: WORKS of the FLESH = BOTH BIG & LITTLE THINGS…
Sexual Immorality & Jealousy
Drunkenness & Envy
Idolatry & Fits of Anger
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Conclusion: THOSE WHO DO— WILL NOT INHERIT the KINGDOM.
Practice Versus Lapsing
Practice Versus Lapsing
“DO” — MEANING “PRACTICE”
ONGOING
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Challenge: WHILE WE WON’T BE PERFECT…
WE CAN’T LIVE LIKE THIS
& THINK GOD’S SPIRIT INDWELLS US.
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The presence of some sin isn’t the issue...
… but instead the continual practice of it
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Transition ➡ CONTRASTING the WORKS of the FLESH (BAD)…
… WE’LL SEE the OTHER SIDE
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 22-23
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Thought 5: The Evidence (Spirit) (vv.22–23)
Thought 5: The Evidence (Spirit) (vv.22–23)
22 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.
THIS FRUIT = PROOF in the PUDDING—YOU KNOW CHRIST.
THESE = SPIRIT-GROWN EVIDENCES of NEW LIFE
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Illustration: Identifying Trees Via Fruit
Illustration: Identifying Trees Via Fruit
Ref. Matt. 7 — JESUS WARNED ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS— SAYS YOU KNOW a TREE BY its FRUITS…
TREES IDENTIFY SOME LOCAL TREES (LEAVES, BARK, ETC.)
ORANGE TREE?!?! — I SEE ORANGES.
AVOCADO BUSH/TREE/VINE/??? — I SEE AVACADOS…
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Challenge: WHAT is the TESTIMONY of YOUR TREE?
SOME = FURTHER ALONG THAN OTHERS
SOME = DIFFERENT STARTING PLACES
**BUT THERE HAS to BE SOME PROOF**
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Unpacking Fruits:
Unpacking Fruits:
THESE THINGS = ATTRIBUTES of GOD THAT HE GROWS IN US…
LOVE
LOVE = THE CHRISTIAN DISTINCTIVE…
LOVE of GOD & NEIGHBOR
JOY
A SETTLED DISPOSITION… ROOTED in CHRIST.
NOT FLEETING HAPPINESS.
PEACE
PEACE W/ GOD,, INNER PEACE— ENABLING PEACE W/ OTHERS
O.T. “SHALOM” = WHOLENESS…
PATIENCE
**OUCH.
EVER SAY, “I’M RUNNING OUT of PATIENCE.”
PATIENCE = ATTRIBUTE of GOD — VIRTUE of HIS PEOPLE…
Scholar, F.F. Bruce: A “LONG TEMPER”
KINDNESS & GOODNESS
REPRESENTING GOD WHO is MERCIFUL, KIND, GRACIOUS—GIVING BETTER THAN WE DESERVE
FAITHFULNESS
RELIABILITY—DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU’LL DO
GENTLENESS
TREATING OTHERS DECENTLY
MEEKNESS—BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE YOURSELF TOO HIGH...
**MANY = PROUD of THEOLOGICAL POSITIONS—UNKIND!
SELF-CONTROL
EXERCISING POWER OVER ONESELF, SELF-MASTERY…
“SAY NO” to ONE’S BODY
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Challenge: FRUIT of the SPIRIT = ANSWER to WORKS of the FLESH
Sexual Immorality?? — Self Control
False Religion — Faithfulness & Loving God.
Social Sins — Love, Peace, Self-control
Personal Lapses— Self-Control
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(v23) Against—there is no law.
NO LAW = NECESSARY for BELIEVER to LIVE UPRIGHTLY
— PRESENCE of FRUIT & SPIRIT’S INFLUENCES… FULFIL LAW’S REQUIREMENTS…
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Transition ➡ PAUL HAS a SUMMARY THOUGHT
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 24
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Thought 6: The Conclusion (v.24)
Thought 6: The Conclusion (v.24)
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Paul Balances Commands w/ Truths
INDICATIVE & IMPERATIVE…
**EVERY COMMAND SPRINGS from NEW-LIFE in CHRIST!**
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THOSE WHO BELONG to CHRIST—HAVE CRUCIFIED the FLESH
BELONGING to CHRIST— HE is LORD!
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
2. COMING to CHRIST = CRUCIFIED W/ HIM
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
OLD SIN NATURE WAS DEALT DEATH-BLOW @ the CROSS
NLT (V24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there
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Gospel Invitation
Gospel Invitation
Passage Presents:
TWO WAYS of LIVING —FLESH VS. SPIRIT
TWO KINDS of PEOPLE
“PRACTICE” WORKS of the FLESH
BELONG to CHRIST
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IN SCRIPTURE — THERE’S ONLY EVER 2 CATEGORIES...
PEOPLE KNOW CHRIST
OR THEY DON’T
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REMINDER: CHRISTIANITY ISN’T RELIGION of SELF-IMPROVEMENT…
… BUT INWARD TRANSFORMATION BY SPIRIT of GOD.
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NEW HERE?? — WE’RE NOT SAYING “DO THESE THINGS & GOD WILL ACCEPT YOU”
Gospel: GOD ACCEPTS US in CHRIST...
NOT on BASIS of OUR WORKS
NOT on BASIS of OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
PUT OUR TRUST in CHRIST— SAVED BY HIM.
Invitation: WITHOUT HOPE?
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SALVATION = FREE GIFT… BUT FREE GIFT THAT BRINGS TRANSFORMATION
**CHRIST is LORD?? — HE WILL REARRANGE the FURNITURE**
WE DON’T CLEAN OURSELVES UP... to COME to CHRIST
BUT IF WE HAVE COME—HE SENDS HIS SPIRIT & CLEANS US UP…
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Transition ➡ for the BELIEVER…
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Application
Application
Passage Idea: Walk in the Spirit and starve the flesh.
Command: WALK BY SPIRIT
Result: FLESH WON’T BE GRATIFIED…
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OBEY SPIRITUAL DESIRES—WON’T FULFILL FLESH.
-> ANSWER to DOING the WRONG THINGS??
—> DO the RIGHT THINGS!
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Illustration: TUG of WAR
PUT DOWN the ROPE, PULL W/ OTHER SIDE!
WE CAN CHOOSE W/ ACT of WILL,, to FOLLOW SPIRITUAL DESIRES!
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Challenge:
SHOWING UP for TEAM: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, DRUNKENNESS, ENVY, DISSENSIONS, FITS of ANGER??
or TEAM: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, SELF-CONTROL, ETC…
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Good News: YOU CAN PUT the ROPE DOWN TODAY.
**IT’LL BE a BATTLE...BUT YOU CAN MAKE PROGRESS. **
EVENTUALLY,, SOME of the OTHER SIDE WILL GIVE UP—FLESH KNOWS YOU WON’T DO THAT ANYMORE.
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Closing: Encouragement
Closing: Encouragement
WE MIGHT NOT WIN EVERY BATTLE…
… BUT IF WE’RE in CHRIST, WE WILL WIN the WAR.
Schreiner: The opposition between the flesh and the Spirit is the normal Christian life, which is not marked by perfection but by war.”[1]
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IF YOU’VE RECENTLY LAPSED. YOU CAN START AGAIN.
SOMETIMES SANCTIFICATION CAN BE DISCOURAGING
UP & DOWN
GET BACK UP. BRUSH YOURSELF OFF. OBEY CHRIST TODAY.
**Challenge: BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OCCASIONAL FALL & SURRENDER.**
DON’T SURRENDER.
!! Close in Prayer !!
