These are the notes from the Bible Study that we are having on Monday, April 17, 2016 on the struggle between our flesh and the Spirit.
I. The
Struggle of the Spirit
· The day we trusted and believed in Christ and
when the Holy Spirit came into our life – we were given a new nature by the
Lord, but we still have our “old nature” within us – which was what was
“crucified with Christ” – the source of our sinfulness was done away and we
were given a new nature with good desires through the Spirit.
· Some might think that in light of this concept,
our struggle with sin would have been utterly done away with at the time of our
salvation – but that is not the case.
Even though our old nature has been replaced by a new nature – we still
LIVE in the flesh – in this world – and this is where the real struggle of the
Christian life resides – the flesh against the Spirit.
· We now live every day with a NEW heart and a NEW
nature struggling against a well-programmed sinful flesh, a brain, a body and
physical impulses that are well ingrained with sinful patterns of behavior.
· But thankfully with our new nature and because
of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we do have a new set of desires – to please
God, to live for Him, to avoid sin, and to lead a righteous life.
· Still within our flesh resides the power of sin
wrestling for control and demanding submission/attention.
· While the Spirit convicts and creates a thirst
for righteousness, the flesh fights to have its own way and to draw you back
into sin.
· Even though our “old nature” has been crucified
with Christ, it is entirely possible to live in the flesh, to live as though
the “old man” is alive and well. The
Bible refers to this as being “carnal” – I Corinthians 3:1 – “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as
unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” (KJV)
· This struggle is the most frustrating experience
of the Christian life – it was plague us for the rest of our natural life, BUT
in the midst of the struggle, there IS hope and a path to victory, and
eventually, complete deliverance.
· So we need to remember that even though the Holy
Spirit IS the power and presence of God in us – and He can win the struggle –
it still all comes down to OUR daily choices and sometimes our “moment to
moment” choices.
· The Enemy would love for us to believe that we just
can’t win when we experience doubt and become frustrated and sometimes want to
quit altogether. He wants us to think
that our “old nature” is still alive and that we have no hope of real
transformation, but that is NOT the case!
II The Struggle with the Flesh
· Paul goes through the passage in Romans 7:15-25
expressing his own frustration with his flesh and his failures – but he also
makes it very clear that his heart HAS been implanted with the will to do good
– and that is the work of the Spirit – even though he admits that he personally
does struggle with bringing those good intentions to reality.
Romans 7:15-25 – “For I do not understand my own actions. For
I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not
want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it
is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For
I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is
what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want,
it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law
that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For
I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I
see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making
me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I
myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of
sin.” (ESV)
· Galatians 5:17 – “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires
of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to
keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (ESV)
· It is very important that we understand the
difference between having a NEW nature and having a SIN nature – because if it
is your nature to sin, you are doomed to failure but if it is your nature to do
good – then through the power of God, the new nature CAN overcome the fleshly
habits.
· The first step to real growth in the Holy Spirit
and to spiritual victory over the flesh – is to BELIEVE what God says about
your new nature – the new man.
· Ephesians 4:24 – “and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true
righteousness and holiness.” (ESV).
· II Cor. 5:17 – “if any man be in Christ, he IS A NEW CREATURE – old things are passed
away and behold, all things become new!!”
· The second step to victory – is to daily “put
off” the old man and to “put on” the new man – just as you put on a clean set
of clothes every morning.
· Ephesians 4:22
- “to put off your old self, which
belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.”
(ESV)
· Col. 3:10 - “and
have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image
of its creator.” (ESV)
· Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(ESV)
· Rebirth – is immediate at salvation - Renewal is a lifelong, daily process and
Redemption is a future promise.
· The struggle of the flesh against the Spirit is
very real and it can rage every day in our life – which one are we feeding the
most.
· Illustration: This is a classic story about many years ago
when one evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on
inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us
all" "It is a terrible fight and it is between two
wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance,
self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and
ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love,
hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth,
compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every
other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then
asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old
Cherokee simply replied, "The
one you feed".
· If you are ignoring God’s Holy Spirit – and
feeding the flesh – you will continually lose this battle – BUT if you yield to
the Spirit and starve the flesh, you will win more and more with every passing
day!
· And over time, the wonderful life of Christ will
begin to flow out of you – naturally (or really supernaturally!) – Good things
will grow in your life and harvest time will come. The struggle of the Spirit – when handled
properly – will victoriously bring forth wonderful fruit!
