Text: Galatians 5:16-24

Introduction: Have you ever felt like there was a “tug a war” going on inside of you? On the one hand, you are being pulled and pushed to do RIGHT. But on the other hand, there is a battle raging to yield to the FLESH…..satisfying SELF. By the way, the best definition for FLESH is drop the H and spell it backwards.

What do you have?

S-E-L-F.

Paul describes this WAR between the FLESH and the SPIRIT in Galatians 5:16-24. Here, he lists two (2) steps to take for your breakthrough.

1. Recognize the “Battle of the FLESH”! (Gal 5:16, 17, 19-21)

“16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Personal Application:

Works of The Flesh:

** Anger

** Lusts

** Drugs & Drunkenness

** Witchcraft

** Adultery

** Fornication 

** Lasciviousness 

Are you fighting with any of these? What can you do?

2. Realize how to “Win the WAR over the FLESH”! (Gal 5:16, 24)

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

The phrase, “Have crucified,” (v 24) is σταυρόω, which means to fix to the CROSS, mortify. It is in the active construction and passive, which means we participate in the process. As we repent, fast, and pray, the FLESH is being nailed to the CROSS. 

Personal Application: 

We Win the WAR over the FLESH by walking in the Spirit. That includes both our walk & talk.

Conclusion: The Christian life is not a life of IMITATION but of COOPERATION and PARTICIPATION.

So first, the secret to overcoming the FLESH is RECOGNIZING the BATTLE and then by REALIZING how to WIN the BATTLE over the FLESH. This comes by walking in the SPIRIT.

Feed the Flesh = Flesh Wins!

Feed the Spirit = Spirit Wins!

Which are we feeding?