LifeFlow: winning the Battle Within

LifeFlow: winning the Battle Within
Galatians 5:16-25
Pastor Miles
3/30/2014

1. You have a battle going on within you.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:17 NIV)

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; (Romans 7:21, 22 NIV)

2. The flesh is your capacity to sin.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV)

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18 NIV)

3. You overcome the flesh by the power of the Spirit.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 NIV)

A. Consider yourself dead to sin.
- we don't have to respond to sin anymore.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24 NIV)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:5-7, 11 NIV)

B. Walk in the power of the Spirit.
- we cannot live the character of Christ by our own power.
- we need to submit to His authority.
- we need to be filled with the spirit.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)