Fath Over Flesh | Part 1
Faith Over Flesh • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsWhat does it mean to choose our faith and not our flesh?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Most of you were hear for the Holy Spirit series and I have been challenged. What about you?
We know that the Holy Spirit has Kingdom things He wants YOU to do with Him, in Him, by Him, and through Him.
Everyone that would raise their hand and say that they are a Christ follower, that is a truth for you.
The Holy Spirit has a specific plan, purpose for your life and all we have to do is surrender to His plan.
The miraculous gift of salvation is awesome, but there's more that God wants to do in your life after you're saved.
[CFA SANDWHICH VS CFA SANDWHICH W/ SAUCE]
Thinking about this thought of living the Spirit driven life, I don't think that I'd be doing you all justice by just telling you what God wants to do without telling you what the enemy doesn't want you to do.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be in, sort of, a sequel series titled 'Faith Over Flesh'.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John lays out Satan's tactics for us as believers. This is not to scare you, but when you become a believer in Christ the target on you grows bigger.
The enemy hates when Christians are living the Spirit driven life. He would much rather you be apathetic, just coasting in life.
[READ VERSE AGAIN]
I look those three words up in Greek and Hebrew:
Steal — take without permission by stealth:
Kill — slaughter:
Destroy — make you be state of ruin and destruction:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Lots of times I think that the enemy is going to come at me gun blazing, storming the castle type of attack. But that's not the case, because he's crafty.
Just as we say God has a specific plan, purpose for your life; the enemy knows what specific attack he's bringing your way.
Often times, the Satan will stealthily attack you in small areas.
Winning the war against the enemy starts with winning the day to day battles.
Guess what? There will be battles you are going to lose, because we aren't perfect. But be encouraged the Holy Spirit dwells within you and will guide your steps according to God's will.
Each day is an opportunity to choose your faith over your flesh. God through His kindness and free will, we have the choice to make.
Body
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul is writing a letter to a group of churches in Galatia.
The book of Galatians is the only one of Paul’s letters addressed neither to an individual nor to Christians in one specific city, like Romans, Corinthians, Colossians and other books of the New Testament.
The sub-title to this set of verses is called, Life by the Spirit.
Meaning that when you are living by the Person of the Holy Spirit, this is what is going to happen: you’ll be free, serving one another in love and not gratifying fleshly desires.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Choosing God’s way may not always look like we think it should look like, but it will always yield the best outcome.
[TUG-O-WAR MATCH BETWEEN FAITH AND FLESH]
We don’t see it happening, but there’s two kingdoms fighting with each other. When you’re on God’s team, under heaven’s banner; the opposition is coming for you.
Closing
I’ve heard pastors and preachers use this passage as a ‘scare tactic’ that brings about fear. But the Bible says that where the Spirit of the Lord is there’s freedom.
The enemy wants you to hole up and cower in fear.
I believe that if we could increase our spiritual awareness of what the schemes of the enemy are we could begin to win more battles and ultimately win the war against our flesh.
Tonight, as we pray I want you to think about some areas in your life that the enemy is trying to steal, kill, and destroy.
I want you to begin to intercede for yourself or someone else that is being affected by those attacks.
Like I said before, you will face attacks as a Christian but be encouraged that God has already defeated death and the enemy.
Prayer