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THECONFLICTBETWEENTHEFLESHANDTHESPIRIT Gal5:1618,2224 March10,2013 INTRODUCTION:Inlightofournaturalinclinationtosin,theonlywaytopreventusfromtotally unleashingourworstpassionswastoestablishasystemoflawsthatsetboundariesonbehavior andthatcarriedpenaltiessevereenoughtopromoteconformityoutoffear. Incontrasttothelaw,theApostlePaulspeaksofbeingledbytheSpiritorliveintheSpirit orwalkintheSpirit;thefruitoftheSpirit. Thefleshispowerlesstofulfillthelaw,andthelawispowerlesstoconquertheflesh.HisStory affectslifebynotonlyguidingme,butempoweringmetolivealifeofvictory. Romans8:34,Forwhatthelawcouldnotdointhatitwasweakthroughtheflesh,Goddid bysendingHisownSoninthelikenessofsinfulflesh,onaccountofsin:Hecondemnedsin intheflesh,thattherighteousrequirementofthelawmightbefulfilledinuswhodonot walkaccordingtothefleshbutaccordingtotheSpirit.

rit. EXAMPLE:JohnBunyan,inhisPilgrimsProgress,describesInterpretersHouse,whichPilgrim enteredduringthecourseofhisjourneytotheCelestialCity.Theparlorofthehousewas completelycoveredindust,andwhenamantookabroomandstartedtosweep,heandtheothers intheroombegantochokefromthegreatcloudsofdustthatwerestirredup.Themore vigorouslyheswept,themoresuffocatingthedustbecame.TheInterpreterorderedamaidto sprinkletheroomwithwater,withwhichthedustwasquicklywashedaway.Interpreter explainedtoPilgrimthattheparlorrepresentedtheheartofanunsavedman,thatthedustwas originalsin,themanwiththebroomwasthelaw,andthemaidwiththewaterwasthegospel.His pointwasthatalltheLawcandowithsinistostiritup.OnlythegospelofJesusChristcanwash itaway. NOTE:Rom7:712 I. THESPIRITDIRECTSONESEARTHLYCONDUCT.16a walk(conduct)behavior;imperativeandindicatesHeisnotgivingbelieversanoption. LifewalkedintheSpiritislifepatternedaftertheteachingandexampleoftheLordJesus. Whenobeyed,wefindourselveslovinginfaceofhatred;peaceandjoyinthemidstofchaos andgrief;wecancontrolselfbythepoweroftheHolySpirit. A. SPIRITDEPRESSESONESEVILCRAVINGSINLIFE.16b shallnotfulfillthelustofthefleshadoublenegativeusedwiththeverbfulfill. ThepresenceoftheSpiritintheChristianslifemakesitpossibleforthelustsofthe fleshtobecompletelysetaside.OnlybytheSpiritofGodcanweproperlyhandlethe desiresoftheflesh. ILLUSTRATE:MODELPRAYER/DISCIPLESPRAYERLuke11:14Lord,teachusto pray 1 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt | The Conflict Between The Flesh and The Spirit | March 10, 2013 PM

SoHesaidtothem,"Whenyoupray,say: OurFatherinheaven, HallowedbeYourname. Yourkingdomcome. Yourwillbedone Onearthasitisinheaven. Giveusdaybydayourdailybread. Andforgiveusoursins, Forwealsoforgiveeveryonewhoisindebtedtous. Anddonotleadusintotemptation, Butdeliverusfromtheevilone."

1INTIMACYourFather 2SUBMISSIONYourkingdomcome (Yourwill) 3DEPENDENCEGiveusthisday 4FORGIVENESSForgiveusoursins 5OBEDIENCEDonotleadusintotemptation 1. THESTRUGGLE.17a ThesameprincipleofRomans7:1425 Thefleshinlustisaselfishexpressionoflife TheSpiritinthehumanlifeisGodsexpressionoflife

thefleshreferstotheunredeemedhumanness,thepartofabelieverslife thatawaitsfutureredemptionatthetimeofhiscompletedsalvation (glorification).Itismansfallennature. Thefleshopposes(standsagainst)theWordoftheSpiritinthebelieversheart. 2. THESTATEMENT.17b sothatyoudonotdothethingsthatyouwish AbelievercannotaccomplishanythingfortheLordinhisownpowerwithhisown resources.TheSpiritcanaccomplishlittlethroughabelieverapartfromthebelievers submissionandcommitment. Romans13:14,ButputontheLordJesusChrist,andmakenoprovisionforthe flesh,tofulfillitslusts. 2 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt | The Conflict Between The Flesh and The Spirit | March 10, 2013 PM

II. THESCRIPTURESGIVECHARACTERISTICSOFFAILURE.1921 worksofthefleshthesearetheproducts/deedsoflifelivedintheflesh,sidebysidewith theproductsoflifelivedbytheSpirit.(2223) Theseworksoftheflesharenotjustchallengesfromtheoutsidebutproblemsonthe inside. Mark7:2023,AndHesaid,Whatcomesoutofaman,thatdefilesaman.Forfrom within,outoftheheartofmen,proceedevilthoughts,adulteries,fornications,murders, thefts,covetousness,wickedness,deceit,lewdness,anevileye,blasphemy,pride, foolishness.Alltheseevilthingscomefromwithinanddefileaman." Theseareworksproducedbymansownunregeneratenature. SexualImmorality(porneia)pornography Impurity(uncleanness)anykindofsexualuncleanness.Keptonefromdrawingnear toGod;affectedworship Sensuality(lewdness)anappetitethatknowsnoshame,lackofrestraint,sexual excess,indulgence Idolatryworshippingmanmadeimagesofwhateversort Sorceryderivedfromwordwegetpharmacy;drugs Hatredhatefulattitudewhichresultsinstrife;bitterconflicts Contentionscausingdiscordordissension Jealousiesformofangerandhatefulresentmentcausedbycoveting Outburstsofwrathunrestrainedexpressionofhostility Selfishambitionsselfseeking,selfishambition Dissensionsdivisions Heresiesfactions;tofollowonesownchosencourseofactionandthoughtratherthan Gods Envygriefatsomeoneelsesgoodfortunes Murderstokillinbody,mind,spirit,hope Drunkenness&Revelriestogetherspeakofwildparties,worldlyindulgences, carousing Andthelikeonlyrepresentativeandnotexhaustive 3 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt | The Conflict Between The Flesh and The Spirit | March 10, 2013 PM

III.THESPIRITGIVESCHARACTERISTICSOFFRUIT.2223 MAJORCONTRAST Deedsoftheflesharedonebyapersonsownefforts FruitoftheSpiritisproducedbyGodsownSpirit TheSpiritneverfailstoproducesomefruitinabelieverslife,buttheLorddesiresmuch fruit(John15:8). Matt7:1618teaches,youwillknowthembytheirfruits. Inv.2223,Paullists9characteristicsofthegodlyfruitproducedbytheHolySpiritina believerslife.Thesearemultiplecharacteristicsofbutonefruitandarethereforerelatedto oneanother.Theyarenotproducednorcantheybemanifestedinisolationfromeachother. JesusisthesupremeexampleandtheHolySpiritisthesource. 1. LoveisthesupremevirtueofChristianliving (1Cor13:13).Manybelieveloveisasynonymoffruitandencompassestheother characteristicsinthelist. Thewholelawisfulfilledinoneword,Youshallloveyourneighborasyourself... Lovereflectspersonalchoice,awillingselfgivingservice. Romans5:8,ButGoddemonstratesHisownlovetowardus,inthatwhilewewere stillsinners,Christdiedforus. John15:13,Greaterlovehasnoonethanthis,thantolaydownone'slifeforhis friends. 1John3:16,Bythisweknowlove,becauseHelaiddownHislifeforus.Andwealso oughttolaydownourlivesforthebrethren. Itisamarkofsalvation: 1John3:14,Weknowthatwehavepassedfromdeathtolife,becausewelovethe brethren.Hewhodoesnotlovehisbrotherabidesindeath. 1John4:7,Beloved,letusloveoneanother,forloveisofGod;andeveryonewho lovesisbornofGodandknowsGod. 2. JOYDoesnotcomefromfavorablehumancircumstancesbutsometimesgreatestwhen thosecircumstancesarethemostpainfulandsevere.Joyisthedeepdownsenseofwell beingthatabidesintheheartofthepersonwhoknowsalliswellbetweenhimselfandthe Lord. 4 - Pastor Johnny M. Hunt | The Conflict Between The Flesh and The Spirit | March 10, 2013 PM

Godsjoyisfull,completeineveryway.Nothinghumanorcircumstantialcanaddtoitor detractfromit. 3. PEACESpeaksoftheexhilarationofheartthatcomesfrombeingrightwithGod.Verb referstobindingtogether;everythingisinplaceandasitoughttobe.Likejoy,peacehas norelationshiptocircumstances. Philippians4:9,Thethingswhichyoulearnedandreceivedandheardandsawin me,thesedo,andtheGodofpeacewillbewithyou. Philippians4:67,Beanxiousfornothing,butineverythingbyprayerand supplication,withthanksgiving,letyourrequestsbemadeknowntoGod;andthe peaceofGod,whichsurpassesallunderstanding,willguardyourheartsandminds throughChristJesus. 4. LONGSUFFERING(Patience)tolerancethatenduresinjuriesinflictedbyothers.The calmwillingnesstoacceptsituationsthatareirritatingorpainful.Slowtoanger. Thesteadfastnessofthesoulunderduress. LovesufferslongSpeaksofChrist. 2Peter3:9,TheLordisnotslackconcerningHispromise,assomecountslackness, butislongsufferingtowardus,notwillingthatanyshouldperishbutthatallshould cometorepentance. 5. KINDNESStenderconcernforothers;agenuinedesireofabelievertotreatothers gently 6. GOODNESShastodowithmoralandspiritualexcellencethatisknownbyitssweetness andactivekindness. Galatians6:10,Therefore,aswehaveopportunity,letusdogoodtoall,especiallyto thosewhoareofthehouseholdoffaith. 7. FAITHFULNESSpertainstoloyaltyandtrustworthiness Lamentations3:2223,ThroughtheLord'smercieswearenotconsumed,because Hiscompassionsfailnot.Theyareneweverymorning;greatisYourfaithfulness. 1Corinthians4:12,Letamansoconsiderus,asservantsofChristandstewardsof themysteriesofGod.Moreoveritisrequiredinstewardsthatonebefoundfaithful. 8. GENTLENESSdoesnotconsistinapersonsoutwardbehavioronly;itisaninwrought graceofthesoul,andtheexercisesofitarefirstandchieflytowardsGod.Itisthattemper ofspiritinwhichweacceptHisdealingswithusasgoodandthereforewithoutdisputing orresisting.Itsbeingpatientlysubmissiveineveryoffense,whilebeingfreeofanydesire forrevengeorretribution. IntheNewTestamentthreeattitudesaredescribed:

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1. SubmissivenesstothewillofGod 2. Teachableness 3. Considerationofothers 9. SELFCONTROLhasreferencetorestrainingpassionsandappetites. againstsuchthereisnolawthosewhoarelivingouttheseconceptsneednolawsto keepthemincheck. 2Peter1:8,Forifthesethingsareyoursandabound,youwillbeneitherbarrennor unfruitfulintheknowledgeofourLordJesusChrist. ThebelieverwhowalksintheSpiritandmanifestsHisfruitdoesnotneedasystemoflaw toproducetherightattitudesandbehavior,theyrisefromwithinhim.

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