Flesh Versus Spirit

I. Ignorance of the Flesh

If you were to ask Christians who their enemy is, most would respond, Satan.However,oneofthegreatestenemiesoverlookedinourlives is theflesh.Manyseetheenemyasbeingoutsideofthemselveswhentheir own flesh is the enemy! Many in the Church today are ignorant of the powerofthefleshintheirdailylives.

II.

Two Extreme Teachings About the Flesh

In ancient Rome, there were two extreme teachings aboutthe flesh. The firstwasthatmancouldnevergainvictoryoverhisflesh.Thesecondwas thattherewasnofleshnaturewithwhichtocontend. Overtheyears,thisthinkinghasntchangedtoomuch.Todaywehaveone groupsaying,Well,itsunfortunatebutyouarejuststuckwithyourflesh andyoucanthelpbutsintheresnothingyoucandotostopit. Theothergroupissaying,Well,justcomedowntothealtarandwelllay hands on you and you will be completely sanctified. You wont have to worryaboutsinninganymore. It is true that we have been given victory over the flesh, but we cannot overcome the flesh without an understanding of Gods Word concerning theflesh.

III.

Defining Our Enemy

Itisimportantthatwedefineexactlywhoourenemyis.Wecancompare studyingourenemytoafootballteamstudyingitsopponentmanyweeks before they face them on the field. The team will watch and study films about the opposing team in an effort to learn how to overcome their opponent. Duringatimeofwar,the military forceswilldefinetheenemy,describe thetacticsoftheenemy,explaintheweaponsandmethodsofcombatused bytheopposition,inanefforttoimpartknowledgethatwillsavethelives ofthosefightingagainstenemyforces. Knowledge is alwaysthekeytovictory intheChristian life.Youcannot havevictorywithoutknowledge.Knowledgeisthekeytoeverything.

In Hosea 4:6 God says, My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge Ifthedevilneverdarkenedyourdoor,youcouldstillbedestroyedforlack ofknowledgebecausethefleshcouldovertakeyou. Thethreeenemiesthatwefaceinthislifearetheworld,thedevil,andthe flesh. However, both the world and the devil endeavor to work through yourflesh.Thedevilcannotforceyoutosin.Hehastoworkthroughthe avenue of the flesh. When you learn to conquer your flesh, the devil cannotexercisepoweroveryourlife. We are taught to give the devil no place in our lives. James 4:7 says, Resistthedevilandhewillfleefromyou.

IV.

Temporal and Positional Truths

When we are born again, we move in two realms with the Lord. One is temporalandtheother ispositional.InJesusChrist,wearerighteous.In JesusChrist,weareholy.InJesusChrist,wearejustified.Colossianssays thatwearecompleteinHim.Theseareallpositionaltruths.Inourspirit, wearerighteous.Inourspirit,weareholy.Inourspirit,wearejustified andcomplete. Even if you have sinned today, you are still righteous. You may ask, Well,whatabout1John1:9thatsaysthebloodofJesusChristcleanses usfromall unrighteousness?ArentIunrighteouswhenIsin? In reality, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the righteous one from the unrighteousacthehascommitted.Ifyoucommitanunrighteousact,that does not mean you are unrighteous. It means there is unrighteousness in youthatneedstoberemoved. Here is the difference between temporal truth and positional truth. You willalwaysbeachildofGodafteryoureceiveJesusChristasyourLord andSavior.Whenyoucommitasin,youlosefellowshipwithGod.Thisis temporal.YouarestillachildofGod,but youhave lostfellowshipwith Him. If a small child does something wrong, it doesnt mean thatthat child is now outof the family. It also doesnt mean that that child must be born intothefamilyagain.Heisstillthechildofhisparentsbutcommunication hastemporarilybeensevered.

The same is true of your relationship with your heavenly Father. When yousin,itdoesnotmeanthatyouarenolongerachildofGodanditdoes not mean you are banished outside the family of God. It means that you areoutoffellowshipwithGodandhavetemporarily lostcommunication untilyouapply1John1:9toyourlife. 1John1:9: Ifweconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursins,andtocleanse usfromallunrighteousness. Thisdoesnotmeanwecondonesin. Romans6:12: Whatshallwesaythen?Shallwecontinueinsin,thatgracemayabound? Godforbid.Howshallwe,thataredeadtosin,liveanylongertherein? 1John2:1: Mylittlechildren,thesethingsIwriteuntoyouthatyousinnot.Andifanyman sin,wehaveanadvocatewiththeFather,JesusChristtherighteous.

However, there are many people who have been living in condemnation for years because they have been taught that if they do anything wrong, Godisouttogetthem. AswegrowinourknowledgeoftheWordofGod,weshouldsinlessand less. WecancompareourwalkwithGodwitha childthat is learningto walk.Whenachildistakinghisfirststepswithoutsupport,hetendstofall downmanytimes.Butthemorehepracticeswalking,thelesshefalls.He getstothepointwhereheiswalkingverywell,butmaytripandfallevery onceinawhile. The devil will try to putobstacles in our path in an effortto cause usto trip. But as we continue to walk with the Lord, using 1 John 1:9 when necessary, we should be entangled less and less by the tactics of the enemy.

V.

The Carnal Christian

1Corinthians3:1:

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, evenasuntobabesinChrist. MostdenominationstodaycannotputthewordscarnalandChristian together in the same sentence. But carnal Christians exist in the body of ChristandtheBibleisfullofexamplesaboutcarnalbelievers. Many Christians today, even those in the ministry, cannot comprehend how someone can be born again and yet commit sin. But the carnal Christian is one who simply either has not had their mind renewed with the Word of God or they have allowed the world to influence and dominatetheirthinkingratherthanGodsWord. Romans12:12: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of yourmind,thatyemayprovewhatisthatgood,andacceptable,andperfect,will ofGod. God wants you to present your body as a living sacrifice to Him. His desireisforyoutogrowtoapointwhereyourbodyisnotdictatingtoyou fromtheoutsiderather,thatyourspiritisdictatingtoyoufromtheinside andyourbodyisjustfollowingalong. PaulsaysagaintotheCorinthians,AndI,brethren,couldnotspeakunto youasuntospiritual,butasuntocarnal The word carnal means meaty, fleshly. In other words, when a Christianiscarnal,hisfleshiscontrollinghim. 1Corinthians3:23: Ihavefedyouwithmilk,andnotwithmeat:forhithertoyewerenotabletobear it,neitheryetnowareyeable. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,areyenotcarnal,andwalkasmen? CarnalChristianscannottakemeat.WhenaChristianbecomescarnal,he begins to regress. In the Christian life, we are never stationary. We are eitheradvancingorregressinginourwalkwiththeLord.Whenwearein fellowshipwiththeLordandtakinginHisWord,wearemovingforward.

Butwhenweareoutoffellowship,thedevilmaydeceiveusintothinking weareprogressing,butweareinfact,regressing. Verse 3 says again, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? The Amplifiedversesays,andwalkasmere(unchanged)men? There is no difference between a carnal Christian and a sinner from outwardappearances.Infact,manytimesitiseasiertodealwithasinner thanacarnalChristian.Paulmakesclearthatyoucanbecarnalandstillbe aChristianbycallingthecarnalCorinthiansbrethren. Thewordwalkinverse3isadescriptionoftemporaltruth.Paulwasin essencesaying,Inthenatural,yourwalkisjustlikethatofasinner. When we walk in carnality, there is no way to distinguish us from the sinners walking in the world. Sin prevents us from operating spiritually. Your ability to hear the Holy Spirit is blocked when you are walking in carnality. Psalm66:18: IfIregardiniquity(sin)inmyheart,the Lordwillnothearme. Notice,thisperson knowsthattheyhavesinintheirheart.

VI.

Two Areas of the Flesh

Whenyouarecarnal,youareunderthecontroloftheflesh.Thetwoareas from which your flesh can produce are the areas of strength and of weakness.Outoftheareaofstrength,youproducegoodworksorhuman good.Butoutoftheareaofweakness,youproducesin.Thefleshisnever neutral.Whenincontrol,iteitherproducessinoritproduceshumangood. Allsinnersarecontrolledbytheirflesh.

Ephesians2:13: Andyouhathhequickened,whoweredeadintrespassesandsins Whereinintimepastyewalkedaccordingtothecourseofthisworld,according totheprinceofthepoweroftheair,thespiritthatnow worksinthechildrenof disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the childrenofwrath,evenasothers.

Asasinner,youwereunderthecontrolofthepassionsofyourfleshand mind.Yourmindactuallyteamedupwiththefleshandbecausetherewas nonew natureonthe inside, you had nothingelseto listentoexceptthe dictatesoftheflesh.

VII. A.

The Moral Sinner Versus the Carnal Christian The Moral Sinner
Therearemanymoralsinnersintheworld.Youmayevenlivenextdoor tothem.Theyaregoodpeople.Theyarefaithfultotheirspouses.They arewonderfulparentswhoareinvolvedinthelivesoftheirchildren.They would never think of stealing. Even if the sinner were committing adultery, stealing and being an unfaithful spouse and parent, this would not send them to hell. What sends any person to hell is the rejection of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is the only decision that separatesthebeliever fromtheunbeliever.Again,thesinner isunderthe control of his flesh and is either living in outright sin or is a very moral person.Itisasadfactthathellwillbefilledwithmoralpeople.

B.

The Carnal Christian

When a Christian commits a sin, he becomes carnal. While he is in carnality,heisnolongerunderthecontroloftheHolySpirit.Hissoulis not in agreement with his inward man. For the moment, his soul is in cooperation with the flesh. And his condition puts him into the same positionasasinner.Eventhoughthedifferencebetweenheandasinneris thathe is bornagain, he isthesame inthathe isbeingcontrolled by his flesh.Inthesamewayasasinner,theChristianwhoiscontrolledbyhis fleshwillgooneoftwodirections.Hewilleithercontinueinsinorhewill suddenlybecomeverymoralorreligious. TherearemanycarnalChristianstodaywhodonotknowhowtogetback intofellowshipbecausenoonehaseverexplainedtothemthatconfessing 1John1:9willrestorethemtofellowship.ManyChristiansaretrappedin aseeminglyneverendingcycle.First,theycommitasin.Next,theywill begin performing many good workshuman good. They will attend church, give large offerings they may even have an increase in their prayer life. But after awhile, they cannot keep up the faade and will commit sin again. They will get under condemnation and to soothe their guilttheywillgetbackintochurch.Maybetheywilljointhechoir,work in the nursery, want to teach a Sunday school class all in an attempt to coverupthebadthingstheyhavedone.

They begin thinking just like a sinner. If I can just do enough good works, God will be pleased with me and will forget about all of the bad thingsIhavedone. ButasaChristian, youare accumulatingwood,hay,and stubble in your life(1Corinthians3:12).Thecarnalbelievermaygivealargeofferingbut his works are producing wood, hay, and stubble. Whereas the Christian who is in fellowship with the Lord is controlled by the Spirit. When he gives an offering that may even be less than what the carnal Christian gave, his works are producing gold, silver, and precious stones. I would muchratherhaveanickelsworthofgold,silver,andpreciousstonesthan athousanddollarsworthofwood,hay,andstubble! The most miserable people on the face of the earth are not sinners they areChristianswhoareoutoffellowshipwithGod.

VIII. The Key to Freedom

The key to freedom from carnality is knowledge. We need to make the carnalChristianawarethatiftheywilljustconfesstheirsinstotheLord, Hewillforgivetheirsins,cleansethemfromallunrighteousnessandthey will once again be controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than their flesh. Oncetheyarebackinfellowship,alloftheirSpiritledgivingandserving inthechurchwillbringeternalrewardstotheirlives. Often, a carnal believer will come into my office and say, I just dont understand. I am just miserable! I come to church. I sing in the choir. I give in the offering. I go through all of the motions and it just doesnt work.WhydoIseeothersaroundmedoingthesamethingsbuttheyseem tobesohappy!ButChristianityisnotdoing.Christianityisbeing beinginfellowshipwithGodandbeingledbytheHolySpirit. ManyChristianshaveaconstantconflictontheinside.WhyisitIwant todorightbutcantseemtodoit?Nothingmakesmehappy.Igetupin themorningmiserableandIgotobedmiserable.Ifeelmiserableallday long!Whatiswrongwithme? God has said that it is for a lack of knowledge of Gods Word that His peoplearedestroyed.A lackofknowledgewillkeepus boundup inour lives. Galatians5:16: ThisIsaythen,WalkintheSpirit,andyeshallnotfulfilthelustoftheflesh.

When you confess your sins, you are in fellowship with God and controlled by the Holy Spirit. But if you do not confess your sins and remainincarnality,verse17explainstheresult.

IX.

The Spirit and the Flesh are Antagonistic

Galatians5:17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these arecontrarytheonetotheother:sothatyecannotdothethingsthatyewould. Thewordcontrary meansantagonistic.TheSpiritandthe fleshare antagonistic toward each other. Many read this verse and say, Well, I guess there is just no victory in the Christian life. It is just a constant warfare,theSpiritagainsttheflesh.Butthisthinkingisinaccurate.This verseistrueonlywhenabelieverisnotwalkingbytheSpiritandisbeing controlledbythefleshbecauseofcarnality.Themoreabelieverincreases in the knowledge of Gods Word and walks according to the Spirit, the lesscontrolthefleshwillhaveovertheirlife. Two basic categories of people often have extreme problems with their flesh.The firstarebabyChristianswhoare justbeginningtheprocessof having their minds renewed with the Word of God. Their knowledge of GodsWordissolimitedthatthefleshisstilldominatingtheirlives.The othergroupiscarnalChristianswhohavebeenwalkingincarnalityforso long that they have difficulty distinguishing between the Spirit and the flesh. They have difficulty recognizing one from the other. They start believingthatGodhasforsakenthem,whichisnottrue. When a believer remains in fellowship with the Lord and continues to pursueGodsWord,theywillbecomeproficientatrecognizingthevoice ofthefleshandwilllearntosaynototheflesh.

X.

Prepare for the Test

There are basically three different types of students you can observe duringcollegeexams.Thefirstisthestudentwhodoesntprepareinany wayfortheexam.Theyarethestudentswhoarechewingontheirerasers, staringattheceiling,andwrackingtheirbrains aboutwhatthe instructor taught in class. When the test is over, they talk about how hard the test wasandtrytoputtheblameeverywherebutonthemselves. Thesecondtypeofstudentistheonewhotriestocramlastminuteforthe exam.Theyareconfusedabouthowtoanswermanyofthequestionsand itishitandmissinmakingthecorrectchoicesontheexam.

Finally,thereisthestudentwhohasmethodicallypreparedfortheexam. They have consistently studied the course materials, day after day, week afterweekandwhenitcomestimefortheexam,theyarepreparedforthe testandpasswithflyingcolors! Satanhastestspreparedforeverbeliever.Whenyoustaycurrentwiththe WordofGod,youwillcomethrougheachtestvictorious!Buttherewill beothersbesideyouwhowillbecrying,Oh,thetrialsoflife!IthinkGod hasforsakenme!Thesadthingisthatitwastheirownfault.Theydidnt study.Theywerenotproperlypreparedforthetestbeforeitcamealong. ItisimportanttorealizethatifyouwillwalkintheSpirit,Godwilllead youlongbeforethetestarrivesandyouwillbepreparedwhenithitsyou.

XI.

The Longer the Carnality, the Greater the Warfare

WhenthespiritisantagonistictowardtheSpiritandtheSpirittowardthe flesh and when there is a warfare going on in the inside of you, you are walking in carnality. The longer you remain in a state of carnality, the greaterwillbethewarfareyouarefacing.ThereasonacarnalChristianis more miserable than a sinner is because the sinner doesnt have the warfaregoingonintheinside.Thereisnorecreatedspiritontheinsideof thesinnertofightagainsttheflesh.Butwhenapersonisbornagain,their recreated spirit is saying, Hey! Dont do that! It is not your nature to participate in that activity! Your recreated spirit will war against your flesh. Often, if yourun intoacarnal Christianandask howtheyaredoingand mentionthatyouhaventseentheminchurchinawhile,theywillrespond defensively and usually make excuses as to why they havent been in church.

XII.

Imitators
Whena believer is in fellowshipwiththeLord,they are imitatingJesus. ButwhenabelieverisoutoffellowshipwiththeLord,theyareimitating theunbeliever.

Ephesians5:1: BeyethereforefollowersofGod,asdearchildren The word followers is the Greek word mimetes and actually means tomimicortoimitate.WearenotJesuswalkingintheearth,butweare to be imitators of Him. By walking in fellowship with the Lord and

walkinginlinewithHisWord,webecomeimitatorsofChrist.Butwhen we are out of fellowship, we are led by our flesh, and the flesh can do nothingbutimitatetheworld. This verse could read, Be ye therefore mimics, or imitators, of God, as dearchildren. The Greek word for children in this verse is teknon. It refers to a child between the ages of approximately two to seven years. Children youngerthanthisagearecalledpaidionintheGreek.Olderchildrenare referredtoashuiosintheGreeklanguage. Itisinterestingthatthewordteknonisusedinthisversebecauseyoung children typically enjoy playing Follow the Leader and Simon Says. Theyenjoyimitatingthethingsotherssayordo.

XIII. Awake From Your Sleep

Ephesians5:8: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as childrenoflight. Ephesians5:11: Andhavenofellowshipwiththeunfruitfulworksofdarkness,butratherreprove them. Ephesians5:14: Whereforehesaith,Awakethouthatsleepest,andarisefromthedead,andChrist shallgivetheelight. Verse14isaquotefromIsaiah60,verse1andisprobablyoneofthemost fascinatingcomparisonsofthecarnalChristiantothesinnerfoundinthe WordofGod. ThisverseisactuallysayingthatacarnalChristianisasleepamongdead people.Thinkaboutit.Ifyouwereinaroomfilledwithdeadpeople,you wouldhaveaverydifficulttimefindingtheonewhoisasleep.Youwould havetogetrightuptothatpersontoseeifhewerebreathing. It is the same with a carnal Christian. They look just like the world but instead ofbeing dead, they are asleep. When a Christian is carnal, he is asleepamongdeadpeople.

Verse 14 doesnt say, Resurrect, you that are sleeping. It says, Awake! ThefirsthalfofRomans,chapter7Pauliswritingofatimewhenhewas deadandunderthelaw,butbeginninginverse15hewritesaboutwhenhe wascarnal.

XIV. The Thing I Want to Do, I Cannot Do

Romans7:15: ForthatwhichIdoIallownot:forwhatIwould,thatdoInotbutwhatIhate, thatdo I. Unfortunately, this is one of the poorest translations found in the King JamesVersion, butwe must lookattheGreektodeterminewhatPaul is actuallysayingintheseverses. Theword wouldmeansIdontwantto. Fromverse15throughverse21,wehavethreedifferentGreekwordsall translatedasdo. Themeaningofeachwordisslightlydifferent. The first word is katergozomai and means something inside working out. The second word is prasso and means to practice as a way of life.Thelastwordispoieoandmeanstodoorcommit. Again,beginninginverse15throughtheendofRomans7,Pauliscarnal anddoesnotunderstandhimself.Inthischapter,Paulbeginstodefinethe enemy. His trouble is in trying to gain victory over the fleshthe sin nature. Paul begins, For that which I do The word for do in this case is katergozomaiandmeanssomethinginsideworkingout. Paulcontinues,forwhatIwould,thatdoInot.Thewordfordoin thisinstanceisprassoandmeanstopracticeasawayoflife. Paul concludes, but what I hate, that do I. In this case, do is the Greekwordpoieoandmeanstodoorcommit. This verse would more accurately be translated, For that which is workingoutofmeIdontunderstand:forwhatIwanttodo,thatIcannot evenpractice.Iwanttopracticethespiritualwayoflife.ButwhatIhate, thatiswhatIcommit.

Romans7:16: IfthenIdo(definition3:doorcommit)thatwhichIwouldnot,Iconsent(show) untothelawthatitisgood (correct). Paulissaying,WhenIamdoingwhatIdonotwanttodo,Iamproving thatthe law is correct. I knowthe law is for sinners, but I am under the samecontrolasanunbeliever.Iamactuallyprovingthatthelawexposes thesinnaturebydoingthethingIdonotwanttodo. Romans7:17: NowthenitisnomoreIthat do it,butsin (theflesh)thatdwellsinme. Thewordfordointhis instance isdefinition numberone,something workinginsideout. Thisverseliterallyreads,Nowthen,itisnomoreIwhoworksitout,but thesinthatdwellsinme.Paulissayingthatthesinnatureisworkingout alloftheseevildeeds. When you are out of fellowship with God, the sin nature is controlling you.Youarenolongerunder itsdominion if you arebornagain,butfor the moment, you are under its control. It is controlling you and bringing thingsoutofyouthatyoudidntwantexposed. Romans7:18: ForIknowthatinme(inmyflesh,)dwellethnogoodthing:fortowillispresent withmebuthowtoperformthatwhichisgoodIfindnot. The word perform is the first Greek definition for do, meaning somethinginsideworkingout. Paulissaying,Iknowthatinmyfleshdwellsnogoodthingforthedesire todogoodispresentwithme,buthowtoworkthatwhichisgoodout,I dontknowhow. Paulisproducingsinthathedoesnotwanttoproduce.Hehasthedesire to produce good, but he doesnt have the way to pull that good out of himselfandactuallydoit! Hesbasicallysaying,Iamtrapped!Ikeepgoingaroundandaroundand around the same problem. I keep doing what I dont want to do and I reallywanttodowhatsright,butjustcantseemtodoit!

Romans7:19: ForthegoodthatIwouldIdonot:buttheevilwhichIwouldnot,thatIdo. Paul is literally saying, For the good I desire to do, I dont do. The Greek word for do in the phrase I do not, is poieo. Again, this meanstodoorcommit. The Greek word for do in the phrase that I do, is prasso and again,meanstopracticeasawayoflife. Paulissaying,IamdoingwhatIdonotwanttodoasawayoflife.Iam continuallydoingiteventhoughIdonotwantto. Maybeyouaremarriedtoacarnalspouse.Theywanttodotherightthing but are constantly upset about something. They are touchy and irritable andyettheyaretryingtodorightandwanttodoright,butjustcantseem todoit.

XV. Knowing Proceeds Doing

Whatistherealproblem?Therealproblemisalackofknowledge. Romans6:13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your membersasinstrumentsofrighteousnessuntoGod.

Paul says that we are to yield ourselves to God. This is written in the imperativemoodandisacommand.Buthow doweyield? Verse3says,Know yenotVerse6says,KnowingthisVerse9 says,KnowingVerse11says,Likewisereckon You cannot yield until you know, know, know and learn to reckon yourselfaliveuntotheLordJesusChrist.Itisimpossibletoyieldwithout firstacquiringknowledge.Yieldednessisaresultofactingonknowledge. Whenyouhaveacteduponwhatyouknow,youaretheninapositionto yieldyourselftoGod. In chapter 7 of Romans, Paul was in a position where he did not know howtoyield.

XVI. The Key

Romans7:20: NowifIdothatIwouldnot,itisnomoreIthatdoit,butsinthatdwellsinme. WhenweareoutoffellowshipwiththeLord,weareunderthecontrolof thesinnature.Wearenotdictatingtoititisdictatingtous.Whenweare infellowshipwiththeLord,wedictatetothefleshandthefleshbecomes ourslave.Theslavecannottellthemasterwhathemustdo.Butwhenwe arenotwalkinginfellowship,authorityandsubmissionarereversed,our fleshtakesthedominionandwebecomeslavestoit. Romans7:21: Ifindthenalaw,thatwhenIwoulddogood,evilispresentwithme. The word do is again, the Greek word poieo and means to do or commit.Paulsays,WhenItrytocommitgood,eviliswithme. Evil is always present, but we have a choice as to whether or not we exercisetheauthoritywe have beengiventhrough JesusChristoverevil orwealloweviltoexerciseauthorityoverourlives. Whetherwelikeitornot,thedevilwillbehereuntilJesusreturns.Wecan pray all day for God to remove Satans influence over our lives but He will not do it because He has already given us authorityover him in the nameofJesus.Thesame istrueoftheflesh.Itwouldbenicetocastthe flesh out, but we will contend with the flesh until we either die or are raptured.Untilthen,Godhasgivenusauthorityovertheflesh. The Holy Spirit does not live in your flesh He lives in your recreated spirit.Whenwelearntolistenandyieldtothespiritmanontheinside,we willbegintowalkinvictoryovertheflesh.

XVI. The Outward and Inward Man

Romans7:22: ForIdelightinthelawofGodaftertheinwardman: The inward man consists of the spirit and the soul. The inward man is housedinyourphysicalbody.Whenwedie,itistheinwardmanthatgoes tobewiththeLord.Wearebothatwofoldandathreefoldcreation.We

aretwofoldinthatweconsistofaninwardandoutwardman.Butweare threefoldinthatwearespirit,soul,andbody. In verse 22, Paul is saying that when the spirit man and the soul are in agreement,heisdelightinginthelaw. Romans7:23: ButIseeanotherlawinmymembers, warringagainstthelawofmymind,and bringingmeintocaptivitytothelawofsinwhichisinmymembers. Whenwecometotherealizationthatwearecomprisedofboththeinward andtheoutwardman,weshouldalsobegintorealizethatourinwardman hasbeengivendominionoverouroutwardman. Theoutwardmanthefleshisstrivingforyourmind.Itcannotstrivefor thespiritmanbecauseourhumanspiritiscontrolledbytheHolySpirit. Some believe that a Christian can be demon possessed. But a Christian cannot be demon possessed because their human spirit was born of the SpiritofGodatthenewbirth.Lightanddarknesscannotdwelltogetheror dominateinapersonslifeatthesametime.AChristian,however,canbe mentallyorphysicallyoppressedbythedevil.ButSatanwillstriveforthe mindofboththebelieverandtheunbeliever.Hedesirestoblindthemind oftheunbelieversothattheywillnotacceptJesusChristastheirLordand Savior.Andhedesirestoblindthemindofthebelieversotheywillnever becomespirituallymatureintheirwalkwiththeLord. There are so many scriptures dealing with the inward man being in dominionovertheoutwardman. Philippians4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,whatsoeverthingsareofgoodreportiftherebeanyvirtue,andiftherebe anypraise,thinkonthesethings. 2Corinthians10:5: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledgeofGod,andbringingintocaptivityeverythoughttotheobedienceof Christ Isaiah26:3:

Thou wiltkeephiminperfectpeace,whosemindisstayedonthee:becausehe trustethinthee. Psalm103:1: BlesstheLord,Omysoul.OLordmyGod,thouartverygreatthouartclothed withhonourandmajesty. Youmusttakecontroloverwhatyourmindisthinkingon.Therearetimes when you have to tell your soul to bless the Lord. You spirit is always willing to bless the Lord but it is your soulyour mind, will, and emotionsthatchallengesyou. Renewing of your mind with the Word of God is vital to your spiritual growth. Romans12:12: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of yourmind,thatyemayprovewhatisthatgood,andacceptable,andperfect,will ofGod.

XVII. Growing in Gods Will

RealspiritualgrowthoccursasthemindisrenewedtotheWordofGod. Asourmindsarerenewed,theybegintocomemoreandmoreinlinewith therecreatedhumanspirit. ThegoalofthefleshisreflectedinRomans7:23,whichagainsays,ButI seeanotherlawinmymembers,warringagainstthelawofmymind,and bringingmeintocaptivitytothelawofsinwhichisinmymembers. Romans7:24:

OwretchedmanthatIam!Whoshalldelivermefromthebodyofthisdeath? Paul is not actually wretched he just believes that he is. He is out of fellowship.Heisexperiencingwarfarebetweenhisfleshandhisspirit.He is torn between the two. They are antagonistic to one another. Paul is carnalandisnotwalkingbytheSpirit.Heiswalkingbytheflesh.

The only way to be delivered from our body of death is through Jesus Christ. The way you are set free is through the living Word! The Word willmakeyoufree!ThemoreoftheWordyouknowandapply,themore freeyouwillbecome.Knowledgebringsfreedom. The way that we are delivered from being the wretched man or woman that we are is the same way we were delivered from death. We were deliveredfromboththroughJesusChrist! Galatians3:1begins,OfoolishGalatians,whohathbewitchedyou,that yeshouldnotobeythetruth Verse3continues,Areyesofoolish?HavingbegunintheSpirit,areye nowmadeperfectbytheflesh? Ifyouareoutof fellowshipwithGodandlookingtothefleshtomakeyou spiritualohfoolishmanorwomanwhohasbewitchedyou?Youbegan intheSpirit,sostayintheSpirit.Youbeganinfaith,sostayinfaith.You began in the Word, so stay in the Word. You began with Jesus, so stay withJesus. Romans7:24: IthankGodthroughJesusChristourLord.SothenwiththemindImyselfserve thelawofGodbutwiththefleshthelawofsin. The mind isthekeypoint.The mind inagreementwiththeSpiritcauses ustoservetheLord.Butwhenthemindisinagreementwiththeflesh,it causesustoservethelawofsin.Themindisthehingingpoint.Iteither swingsthedirectionofthefleshoritswingsinthedirectionoftheSpirit. If it swings toward the flesh, you are carnal and the spirit must follow along.Butif itswingstowardSpiritofGodand His Word,the flesh has no alternative than to just go along. When the inward man lines up with the Word of God, the body must cooperate and that is Gods desire. He wantsourbodiestobelivingsacrificesuntoHim,holyandacceptableto Himourreasonableservice!