Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro and Tension

Do you ever feel like there is an internal battle where you want to do the right thing but something is stopping you?

You want to stop being comfortable | Stop feeling Condemned | Just stop that one habit that if you knew you could break would change your life?

It’s because there is an internal battle - The flesh, against the Spirit - Today, let’s talk about it.

Excited | What a series | Treasured Posession | Been here for a bit | It’s all based on God calling us his “Treasured possession” Segullah | Base of Mount Sinai, “If you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured posession” - Isrealites went on a trip, should of been 11 days - Lasted 40 years - In the wilderness we pick up these patterns | been talking about it | Comfort | Convinience | Condemnation - They all start with C.

Today, I want to talk about winning the internal battle.

Today I want to talk about WHY we are in the Wilderness in the first place and how to PRACTICALLY win this war within.

This is a BIG topic, so it’s going to be primer.

Title: Win the War in the Wilderness

My Hope: That you will take the practical steps forward to start winning the war within, the war against the flesh, that we will choose to be Spirit-Lead, in all that we do.

Who are we?

Truth-Seeking, Spirit Led, Faith Filled, warriors of God.

Truth-seeking = Truth will set you free, Faith Filled = we have BIG FAITH God does and will move, Warriors of god because we are in a battle and Spirit Lead - Sinless, everything good is of the Spirit.

**Pray**

Sometimes, in a dry season, sometimes when we are in the desert, we might be like “Why God” - Why, can’t I just find someone to love, Why can’t I just get that one job, Why did that person hurt me so bad, why, are we wondering around wilderness | Maybe, The devil, is not the one that put you there.

Truth

Matthew 4 | Jesus has just been baptised | Just given identity

Spirit lead Jesus into the Wilderness | This is a replay from the isrealites into the wilderness that couldn’t do what Jesus did | Jesus defeats Lust of the flesh - PLeasure | Pride

and Power | Jesus defeated the devil | Defeated tempation and gave us blue print for how to get THROUGH the wilderness | Jesus Christs Spirit lives in US to guide us, to help us through wilderness.

God’s plan was never for them to stay IN the wilderness, and it’s not HIS plan for you, we are to move THROUGH the wilderness.

Through the habit | Through the addiction | Through the wilderness

The wilderness is not always the devil | Sometime God wants to do something | He always does stuff in the wilderness |

Look what God said to the isrealites;

Obedience | Humility | Character - The same things that Jesus defeated the devil on.

The things that he is trying to develop in you, are the same things that the devil wants to use against you.

Your flesh wants to be rebelious, your flesh wants to be prideful, and your flesh has poor character, waiting to take over.

Nate - Lion - We all have that Lion - You have that lion

We are at war between the spirit and flesh |

Flesh = Humanity condition = The humanity in us that agitates for pleasure

If you are born into this world you are in this battle, you are recruited | God has given us everything to win this battle | Armour of God | His Word | Can’t do it alone | That’s why God gave us the Holy Spirit | The Holy Spirit, Unable to Sin | That’s why we are told | You will know them by their fruit.

So what is the difference between the flesh and the Spirit?

Let’s have a look;

Sin Nature | Spirit Nature

Status: Separated | Submitted

Dependance: Self | Saviour (GOD)

Home: Here | Heaven

Fuel: Flesh | Spirit

Fruit; Poison | Purpose

Let’s look at the battle;

The battle, you might be facing right now, might be God teaching you | Can’t win it in your own strength | God might want to teach you to live by the Spirit | There is a war, between your flesh dealing with current season | Spirit

Sometimes, we get “spriitual warfare” wrong - In our minds about what it is.

Jesus in wilderness = Ultimate Battle = Good Guy (Jesus) vs Bad Guy - Who comes to attack good guy.

Good guy, by himself, devel comes to attack Jesus (when we are committed remember)

This is a War, Clash of titans, Avengers - This is how Spiritual Warfare plays out.

We think Warefare is a battle of two things of the same strength - BUT, we shouldn’t be wondering - “Who is gonna win” - When you step into Spiritual Warefare, you need to KNOW you are coming from a place of already knowing YOU WIN.

The enemy knows the outcome - He was DEFEATED in the GRAVE | He is not trying to BEAT YOU to WIN THE WAR, He is trying to DISTRACT YOU and TAKE YOU OUT OF THE GAME | Trying to make you think, you can’t win | Hoping, if he distracts you enough, you’ll just quit yourself.

Can’t destroy you | destract you |

Gym Story - On Treadmill - I have decided that I will be a finisher - This is a funny story, but it’s so true.

Now, listen, you are in the wilderness | Bonds on you | We been talking about it | Enemy is trying to keep you there | it’s time to say | I WILL NOT STAY HERE - just keep moving

Pleasure | Power | Pride - That’s what Jesus was tempted with | We think Spiritual warefare are hte big things | Battle are also these small things | Enemy knows the tactics | Garden of Eden | Little Niggles | Always been the war, and today, is the war.

Paul tells us;

IF - There is FREE WILL HERE:

OK, so if we want to win the war, if we want to be Spirit led, how are we Led?

It’s Faith - Faith in Jesus Christ | Faith that he is COMING BACK FAith in the FINISHED Work, FAITH IN THE CROSS.

however, the Bible tells us that we need to FEED THIS FAITH.

We need to feed the Spirit;

Paul says;

The problem is not a desire of fulfiment, the problem is where we get our fulfilment from.

How you fuel your fulfilment, will determine your future.

the flesh always wants instant fulfilment, the spirit wants delayed fulfilment.

Two Jars Illustration and Water - - Flesh one starts full - If you feed your flesh, you will pour from the flesh, this is what will come out - If you feed the Spirit, you will pour from the Spirit - You will build your FAITH on the PROMISES OF GOD.

This is why the apostles said, be DEVOTED - they where DEVOTED and what happened, the SPIRIT MOVED - If you want to be LED by the SPIRIT, then you need to FEED yourself Spiritual Food.

What do we do?

What did Jesus do?

This is quoted from Deuteronomy!

Did what the isrealites couldn’t to give us an blueprint for us to get out but more than that HIS SPIRIT LIVING INSIDE US.

Here, you have bonds, you have shackles, you have patterns, Behaviours - Here is how to break them.

TURN TO MY WORD.

You feel in the dark?

Here is a torch.

What do we do?

WE TURN TO THE WORD OF GOD DAILY

2. We take our pour habit to God and repent - Listen - God already knows.

Pray to him

Prayer changes everything because prayer changes you!

3. Turn to Community - Get plugged in - Get accountable - Get serving -

Inspo and Close

What does your life look like?

If you knew, for CERTAIN;

If you’re single, that if you get a wife or husband you would be content?

If your project failed, or succeeded, you are already victorious

It doesn’t matter what suffering comes, you know JESUS is coming back for you (someone give me an amen)

Let’s get real;

What does it look like, for that thing, that is holding you back, that thing that you are completly anxious about, that thing that is keeping you in the wilderness, was defeated?

The enemy has distracted you for too long, The world has had it’s grip on you for too long, You have a job that is too important.

We need to make a decision as church - to be SPIRIT-LED Christians - It’s a choice every day, to pour, into the Spirit.

It starts with a step of Faith -

**altar call**

**Prayer**