THE FLESH OR THE SPIRIT

Welcome Home to the Cowboy Church of Young County, where everyone has a place to serve the Lord.

Galatians 5:1-26

(The verses today will be read out of the

New Century Version of the Holy Bible.)

KEY VERSE

Galatians 5:22,24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

OUTLINE

I. The mature believer understands that freedom from the law of Moses is the salvation of grace through Jesus’s crucifixion and His resurrection as victory over sin and death. Since the resurrection, humanity faces two choices: accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and receive salvation, or deny Christ and receive “the eternal condemnation” and separation from God, due to sinfulness. (Galatians 5:2-17; John 8:32)

II. The mature believer knows the flesh is in opposition to the Spirit of God. Therefore, believers are NOT led by the Law but by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:17,18; Romans 7:18 )

III. A mature believer understands that the old nature, the flesh, is always there and always in conflict with the Spirit that leads us in the right direction. Therefore, we must reject the old self and turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance in developing the New Self. (Galatians 5:18-21; Romans 8:14 )

IV. Mature believers know that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh along with its passions and desires so they can endeavor to conform to the image of Christ. (Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:29)

One of the greatest struggles in being a believer in Jesus Christ is separating ourselves from our fleshly desires. The main reason we have such a problem with this separation is that we are now people filled with the Holy Spirit, living in a world of people consumed by their fleshly desires. What’s the best way to overcome flesh? It’s a word most of us don’t like; the word is “DISCIPLINE.” Disciplining ourselves to study God’s word, follow His ways, and pray without ceasing. With these disciplines, we as believers are now becoming victorious as Kingdom Warriors.

Love Y’all Cary