Walking in the Spirit: Part 2

Series about walking in the spirit or walking by the spirit. Today. We're going to look at the conflict that's there, you know, the little bit of conflict that happens in our lives between Are old sinful nature and who we are supposed to be as a new creation? Galatians chapter 5, verses 17 and 18 says for the flesh desires. What? Spirit of the spirit.

Are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want. But if you are led by the spirit, you're not under the law, you know, these two verses along with a whole lot of other verses in the New Testament.

Isn't such an easy and simple thing as it sounds like sometimes. You know, we might think it's easy to say. Oh, I'm led by the spirit. I'm going to walk in the spirit. But you know, it's more than just a matter of passive surrender. And that's what these verses are talking about. Cuz you know, the Spirit Led life is a life of conflict because our old sinful nature and what we are becoming a new creation in Christ.

Would be nice if it wasn't. So but you know, our old sinful ways and the things of the world continue to tempt us. Even after we become a believer in Christ. So that sets are old, sinful nature in direct opposition. To this new nature and it creates that inner tension that we all feel a lot of times when we think we'll should I do. Or should I not? And I think it's fitting that we are training so much in our culture to recognize. But the truth of the matter is is that often what is going on there that tension? Is spiritual warfare? Sometimes on a very minor level sometimes on a pretty major level and we need to recognize it for what it is.

You know, Paul who wrote this letter, to the glacian to know, Paul like every other believer, faced a constant struggle between his old sinful nature, and how he knew he should be living the spirit life.

Some of the favorite passages. I have in scripture, coming, Romans chapter 7, where Paul's very open and candid about all that. Romans chapter 7 verses 18 and 19 Paul rights. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is in my sinful nature.

For I do not do the good. I want to do, but the evil, I do not want to do this. I keep on doing. Then skipping down to Romans chapter 7 verses 21 through 23 fall rights. I find this law at work. Although I want to be good. Evil is right there with me, for, in my inner, being I Delight in God's law. But I see another law at work in me, Waging War against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

I think everyone can relate to what we hear in those passages. Did, you know, Paul is talking about the mortgage moral and spiritual weakness. That is a part of everyone's Human Nature. You know, we might struggle in different areas, but we all have those things that are difficult for us. And we all have, you know, that part of our sinful nature that just likes to cling to our redeem Souls, you know, even though we're walking this new life. I like when you get pet hair stuck on you and you can't get it off, you know, you pull it off, but it's

Our sinful nature likes to do the same thing. It did even though we keep trying to separate ourselves from it. It clings to us.

That's the basic human problem with the human condition is that, you know, even though we are this new and holy Creation in Christ. We're stuck inside this Mortal Earth. Lee body that lives in a fallen world. So we struggle like every other human being in the conflict. Is there between our sinful nature and our new nature in Christ? Continue to battle with each other.

That is the struggle that we go through as Believers in Christ. It's not the same for an unbeliever. You know, the person often regret your actions, you know, when it comes back to bite him a little, they might regret why they did it, but they don't have that same spiritual warfare going on within them.

You know, they don't have spiritual warfare going on with them then because they only have the sinful nature. They don't have that a majority of people aren't raised in church. They don't even have a little bit of Bible knowledge that can create that conflict within them. So they don't know all that they've learned about how to act his come from society and social media. So the simple things that they do, so they might be disappointing and maybe even sometimes disgusting to them.

Nevertheless, those things are consistent with basic human nature.

Ephesians chapter 2 verse 3, reread. All of us also lived among them at one time gratifying the serving of Bratz.

Basically saying we've all been there at one point in time. We all had a

Christian, when we didn't have those values.

There's no real internal conflict going on. Beyond what conscience. They might have about certain things that Is basic to human nature that they think might be wrong, but the thing is that they still have an unredeemed sinful nature. Is what's driving them. It's only in the lives of Believers that the spirit can fight this battle for us, that the spirit can help us to resist those things that we shouldn't be doing.

Only a Believer can truthfully. Say what Paul writes in Romans chapter. 7 verses 22 and 23. When he says, for, in my inner being, I Delight in God's law. A lot of us. Like what we read in scripture, don't we when we read those things? Oh, yeah, that's good. That's right.

Ben is Paul says in the rest of that verse 23.

Of the law of sin at work within me.

Then we've all had those moments in our Christian Life where we know what's right? And we have the desire to do. What's right. But we don't do it. We failed to take action. I know it's often that we feel the spirit prompt us to do something and we know that we should do because it's right but all too often. Our sinful nature gets the best of us and we let it override what we feel, the spirit prompting us to do.

Neck creates frustration in her life and, you know, Paul felt that same frustration. Swine verse 24, he went on to say what a Wretched, Man, I am who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death. Paul was frustrated with himself. He was frustrated with how he was walking his life because he knew what he needed to do. But he didn't always do it. And I think all of us can relate to that. That's so often. We know what we need to be doing. We know where the spirits prompting us. But we just don't take that final step and do it. And I'll do the Christian Life is something marked by spiritual warfare and you might be right if they don't have to go through all this internal conflict, if they don't have to struggle with this. That's the easy side of things. Will the good news for all of us? As Believers? Is the fact that, yes, spiritual warfare happens in our lives. Yet. It's a battle every day. But the good news is that it's a battle that's already been won. We know the outcome of it. We're blessed with God's word in his scripture that we can read because of that we can live victoriously, we can have victory over these areas where we struggle in life.

later on in Romans, Paul wrote in Romans chapter 8, verse 2 Because through Christ Jesus, the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. In other words, Paul is reminding us that we have an all-powerful ally that energizes. This new creation that we are in Christ and strengthens us to the point that we are able to claim victory over our sinful nature. And that is the Holy Spirit. And that's what you know, we're going to talk about for quite a few weeks here. Is the power that the Holy Spirit can give us the fruit that we should see in our lives from that.

Yes, sons of God and Servants of Jesus Christ. As it says in Romans chapter 8 verses 12 through 14. Therefore brothers and sisters. We have an obligation. But it is not to the flesh to live according to it for if you live, according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of the body.

For those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God.

You know, sweet think about. Struggles that we have, you know, something we have to come to realize as Christians is the most effective way for a Christian to oppose, the desires and deeds of our sinful nature is to starve to death.

You can't feed it.

Yeah, I thought it was great, though. In a show that James likes to watch that we were watching last night, Longmire. If you've ever watched it, it's cuz it happens in Wyoming. It's why he likes it. But is we're watching that one of the guys share the story that he said Sitting Bull used to share. He said, you know, Sitting Bull says, every man has two dogs within him.

The nice kind dog that likes to obey and you know, will run up to you.

There's that mean dog that is just looking to bite every hand that comes near it and bite everyone and just fight with everything.

and when someone asked Sitting Bull well, which dog, Is in control. He said, whichever one I feed the most.

You know, it's our sinful nature. That same thing is true. I thought that when I heard that, you know, we have to realize when were talking about living by the spirit or living by the flesh. The one that's going to be the strongest is the one we feed the most.

Like Connie said, talking about you spending all of you or watching TV or any of the other things you can do. If that's what time.

That's the side. You're feeding most. But if you're spending your time and God's word or time worshipping God, her time, doing other things that are focused on others and on God and what key challenge. Spirit Led life. That's going to be the stronger Side of Everything. And that is a difficult balance for any of us Define.

but, you know, it all boils down to You know. It's kind of like he pulled up something on Google Maps and you're trying to follow it. And I know some of you may not know what I'm talking about. But as you're falling it on Google Maps, you know, sometimes it'll show you if you're in like a large city where there was an accident or where the speed traps are, are these things and you know, so you can plan ahead and avoid it right? It shows you these things.

But if you ignore that, it doesn't do any good. If you say nope, this is the path. I'm on. This is the path and this is the only way I'm going to take to get there.

Miller Road to travel. No, sir, that's going to lead you into some trouble.

Did you know that map that GPS does you? No good if you pay no attention to it.

You know, it's the same with the Holy Spirit also in our lives. It does no good. If we don't pay attention to it. You know, if we don't listen to the promptings, that it gives us. We're not going to be able to avoid the things that tells us to avoid, we're not going to able to do the things that tells us to do.

You're the spirit can help you resist anything. And we're told and scripture that God will always provide us a way out whenever were tempted. But if we don't pay attention to that.

We're not going to see it. We're not going to do it in this. Can't help you resist something. If we're not committed to living a spirit life and listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Peter does a beautiful job of explaining that balance in the Christian Life and 2nd Peter chapter 1, verses 3 and 4. It says his divine power has everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these. He has given us his very great and precious promises. So that through them, you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

you know, there's a lot of popular sayings and if you go in any Christian bookstore, you can find two dozen little plaques that have all these Nifty little sayings on them, but you know, when were thinking about true balance, In a Christian Life, it's not a matter of who know all of him and none of us. But it's also not a matter of all of us and none of him. It's striking that balance between the two those times when? We have to do our part and listen to the spirit. We have to do our part and Obey. What, it's in our society might be telling us. If we know this is the way God wants us to go, we go there. It's really finding a balance between our submission and our commitment that we have to balance as children of God, cuz that's the only way we can live a spirit life. Is if we are submissive and if we are committed to what God is calling us to do in life. Neither of those are words that our society likes very much anymore of being submissive or committed, but it is a vital part of spirit life. Do you have something? We have to learn? Also is that living a spirit, life is a lot more than just living by a set of rules.

You're My Hope and prayer is that you never look at scripture as just simply a book full of rules. It's so much more than that. Cuz what we have to realize is that the flesh is powerless to fulfill the law and that the law is powerless to conquer the flesh. Just can't do it.

Again going to Romans chapter 7 but skip going forward in it. 2 verses 8 through 11. It says that since

Priest in me every kind of coveting. For apart, from the law sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the Commandment came, since spring to life and I die. I found it the very commitment that was intended to bring life, actually brought death for since seizing, the opportunity afforded by the commandant. And through the commandant, put me to death.

That can be difficult to understand, but to put simply, you know.

When is it most challenging to do something?

When you're trying to not do it, right?

So, you know, you might get sick and be sick for a couple weeks and it's easy to lose weight.

You could drop a couple pounds. No problem. But if you set the thought in your mind of, I'm not going to eat this or I'm going to do this. That's a lot harder.

You don't think about the religious leaders in Jesus's day.

They thought they were doing everything to follow the law of Moses to the T. And they thought that they would be saved by their faithfulness to that law. So they murdered God's own son in the name of fulfilling God's law.

What that spot and ideas soaking for a minute. They murdered godson. In order to fulfill God's law.

Doesn't make a lot of sense, but how often do we do the same sort of thing?

We have to realize that it's much more than simply following the rules. you were to be led by the spirit and to see ourselves as his equal walking alongside the spirit, but we're to follow his leading, and that's a lot more of what it has to do with about his leadership in our lives.

Yes, I read earlier and Romans 8:14. It says for those who are led by the spirit of God are children of God. You don't, this is something that you might disagree with me on, but the truth is Believers, really don't need to pray for the spirits leading. Cuz the truth is when you accept Christ into your life from that very moment, on the spirit is leading you. What we have to be praying for. Is we must be humbly, praying for is willingness and obedience to follow where the spirit leading us?

Cuz the truth is it's there if you surrendered your life to Christ, if you gave your life to Christ, the spirits going to be there and be leaving you. Our problem is, is are we too stubborn to listen to what it says and to do what it says.

It's really my Challenge and all this talk about this.

Leading of the spirit is for us to realize he knows we talked about the combat aspect of it today. It's just for us to realize, it's time for us to stop fighting. Against our old sinful nature on our own. Realize that a big part of the spirit life is allowing the spirit to lead us.

That means at times that leads us away from things and then other times, it leads towards things. That only comes when we are fully committed and willing to be fully submissive to whatever that Spirits leading is.

The only thing we might need to be asking the Holy Spirit to do is to help us to follow him so that we can finally once and for all. Put our sinful nature Vines. Play Lord. I don't want to struggle with these things. In the truth is you're going to struggle in the moment. You pray that the fights going to become more Fierce than it ever has in your life. But the good news. Is that battles already won. So from that very moment, when you ask the Holy Spirit to help you in that area. You can claim victory over it. But we have to start living that way. Please bear with me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning Lord to be do so humbly. Lord asking that you would help us all. In this Daily News. Hourly In This Moment by moment battle that we all face in our lives. Lord, with wherever it might be. That we struggle.

Lord. It could be Pride. It could be jealousy. It could be MVA. It could be any number of things.

Or do you know where each and every one of us? Struggle and Lord, I pray that you would help us all just to lay that at your feet. Lord to know that we don't have to continue to struggle with that anymore because you've beaten it already.

So, all we have to do now. Humbly walk in the direction that you're leading. But I pray that you will strengthen us and help all of us to do this day by day. Play the song, your most. Holy name. Amen.