Living in the Spirit – just thoughts

Gal 5:16-25 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (NAU)

To be a Christian one must first be born again. This is to be born from above…God’s Spirit living in you and making you alive to the reality of God’s kingdom. Our life is no longer based on the biomechanics of flesh and blood, but that of the spirit.

Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (NAU)

Since our life is hid in Him to life we now live has to be lived by faith in Him and not in the principles and dictates of this world.

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (NAU)

Col 3:1-2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NAU)

2Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (NAU)

2Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-- (NAU)

While the pseudo-spiritual gurus of this world speak words that have a resemblance to the truths of the Bible they lack the power of real change—God Himself—behind them. They offer nothing which delivers or controls the lusts and dictates of the carnal man.

Gal 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (NAU)

Even if the outward motions are not actively engaged in these things, the inward heart is consumed with thoughts, ideas, and schemes along these lines. The “imagination” of man is evil continually. Even “good” men battle with these things and realize with despair the helplessness of their condition to improve the nature of men.

Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

I believe this is the natural condition of every unregenerated man because he lives under the law of God. Even if he is unaware of God’s law, that law is the standard of the universe. It is the measure by which every man will be judged fit or not before the bar of His universal court. By that standard none are righteous, not even one.

To argue for fairness and justice is to argue in the face of divine judgment and retribution, because since all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, all have earned the judgment of God. All are living under the law of sin and death. Although the law is righteous and holy, its power is in revealing not in delivering. Thus we are made aware of our sin but not delivered from it. Enlightenment by the truth exposes our inability or perhaps unwillingness to keep the truth consistently. (There is a debate raging about the nature of man with regard to the term depravity which I may touch on but will not resolve to the satisfaction of anyone.)

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (NAU)

Rom 8:1-2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (NAU)

By sincerity, humility, and a love for the truth man becomes accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ. I say this because the modern idea of “accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior” generally lacks conviction and repentance as component parts of the process. Thus Christianity becomes cultural or psychological or philosophical rather than spiritual (reality is lost in the mazes of human understanding).

Fish out of Water 2

John 3:3-6 ^{3 (AMP)} Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

You are spiritual if you are born again. If you are not born again, then you are bound in the realm of the flesh and the physical limitations of this world. Those born again are born to function and live in the realm of God’s kingdom which is primarily spiritual in nature.

His kingdom includes all the universe and beyond but it is the realm of the Spirit that rules the physical world.

So what is the significance? Paul writes about the frustration of the natural man under the law and the carnal man (born again but living under the law):

Rom 7:14-25 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (NKJ)

There are two applications we can make from these verses:

1) This is the natural man “under the law”. Every person is born the first time “of the flesh”. He’s subject to the laws of the flesh. He’s physical. Now the physical itself is not wicked or evil but the physical is subject to corruption because of sin. He knows what is right but can’t faithfully do it. He knows what is wrong but can’t consistently stop himself from doing it. He has no power over anything in this realm.

2) A second application is that of the man born of God but living “in the flesh”. He’s indulging his carnal nature and wondering why he’s bound by sin and death. Simple, he’s a “fish out of water”. He’s a spiritual being living in a foreign element—the flesh. He’s designed, and equipped to live “in the spirit” by faith. He can’t survive very long “out of water”.

A. Here’s the dilemma many find themselves living in!

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. (NKJ)

You can delight in the law of God after the mind but the law in your members will bring you into captivity. You can acknowledge that the law of God is good and right and of great value but the law gives you no power or ability to keep it. It shows you the right and wrong but delivers from nothing. That is a real delusion—to acknowledge the good of something but unable to appropriate any of the promises.

The first reaction of a person when confronted with his flesh is to deny it. “I’m a good person.” “I don’t hurt anyone.” Etc. But that’s not the issue! The issue is the world they’re living in.

The world of sin, darkness, death, disease does not lead to life and never will no matter how good a person is. And there are lots of good people living in that world. It takes a death and a birth to change worlds.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, (NKJ)

Sin is condemned in the flesh and the law cannot deliver through the flesh. You can’t “try harder” to serve God. That is the way of the Pharisee, the lawyer, the legalist. To walk “in the flesh”; “after the law” is to walk in the midst of sin’s strength.

1Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (NKJ)

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (NKJ)

Till a law is given no wrong can be done. Till the law is declared by an authority it has not power to condemn.

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (NKJ)

Rom 7:8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

The law is spiritual and holy but without power to control the flesh! All it can do is condemn. The flesh is at enmity (hatred, antagonism, hostile) with the law and not subject to the law. The mind that serves the flesh is not subject to the law of God.

Rom 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJ)

Rom 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

So because Jesus died in our place, He satisfied the demands of justice from the law and we are, therefore, no longer bound by it.

II. Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (NKJ)

If you refuse to believe then you are under the law and not under grace. You will die in your sins because you’ve rejected the only payment for them—Jesus Christ. Your life is doomed to frustration, etc.

This event took place long before you and I were born and is the real condition of all men since the cross. For a man or woman NOT to believe that—is to bring the wrath of God on them.

A fish out of water!

James 1:12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12-15 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (NKJ)

A popular buzz word found in Christian circles today is the word “happy”. All of us want to be happy. And to seek happiness is not a sin or a bad thing. Parents want their children to be happy and God as our Father wants us to be happy. However, we should never trade holiness for happiness, nor righteousness for happiness.

James says that happiness comes by enduring the temptations and trials that come your way. After the test, we receive the crown of life—eternal life as a reward for standing and staying.

I want to encourage you tonight on overcoming temptations… on living a spiritual life…on understanding the realm of godly happiness. I can’t finish tonight so we’ll continue this same subject on Wednesday. No cutesy story tonight only this dead fish because he was removed from his environment! He was not equipped to handle a world without water.

Mt 24:11-13 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (NKJ)

I want to walk through some spiritual realities that will help us survive the enemy, even overcome him in the days to come.

2Tim 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (NKJ)

2 Timothy 3:1 BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

WE live in the microwave generation and have a hard time with the marathon—the long term—the endurance and yet that is essential to see the end of our faith—our salvation.

Gal 5:16-25 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. …22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (NKJ)

It is clear that sin enters through temptation. Temptation is an enticement to meet an illicit desire or a legitimate desire in an illicit manner. Temptations are not outside of us, but inside. It’s not our circumstances but our heart that is the issue. By heart we mean the inner man, both emotion and intellect directed by our will.

Walking in the Spirit is being led by the Spirit and not our carnal mind—a mind given to making decisions on information gleaned from the world—senses, emotions, opinions, ideas derived from the darkness of this world.

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJ)

This means walking in spiritual understanding and knowledge! This is opposed to mere physical input.

Col 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (NKJ)

The secret to walking “worthy of the Lord” is being filled with spiritual knowledge and understanding. This is received only by those whose minds have been renewed to the reality of the spiritual world around them. A world that supersedes the physical world of the flesh.

One must be born again to enter this world.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (NKJ)

Once the new birth takes place we are to renew our mind to the rules, customs, standards, behaviors that are consistent with God’s kingdom not the kingdom of darkness. We are ruined for carnal life because we can’t unlearn what we know to be true.

We either comply or are miserable. We’re like a “fish out of water”. We’re spiritual in nature and will die if we continue to live in the carnal (Rom 8:1-9).

This renewal requires a new way of thinking, speaking, seeing, and living.

Col 3:9-11 “… put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (NKJ)

Col 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJ)

Ephesians 4:22-24 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. 23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. 24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.

Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. NLT

Thought about the issue of "one person on the whole planet". Since the Bible says that Jesus died for the whole world, then if there was only one person on the world then he would have died for them. My reaction to the individualistic "personal savior" mentality probably extends over the top a bit because I believe it stems from the "gooey grace" idea. I believe in grace, more now than when I first got saved. The longer I live, the more I know, the more I need His grace because the more I think I don't need Him. I have a tendency to rely on my strength, try harder not to sin, keep the rules, etc. and Paul says these things have a semblance of godliness but are not good in controlling the flesh.

Question: How much pressure was Jesus under as he was walking about Israel with 12 guys when thousands were going to hell?

I've been examining the peace of God exhibited through Jesus. I believe we take too much on ourselves and labor under a false premise sometime. Not in a Calvinistic way but God saves those who want to be saved, draws those who draw near to him...ala Cornelius. I can't be held responsible for those who don't respond or who don't want to know. I'm responsible to tell them, and teach those who are teachable. I've spent too much energy chasing down dead people, taking blame for messed up families, etc.

"If I was a better pastor..."; "Why did they leave? What did I do wrong?"

I've been an unwitting pawn of the enemy..."If you were a better Christian..." "...or a disciple" "or a real believer." While I've not preached such things it sometimes comes across as a subtle attitude. In our zeal do you think we miss God's moving?

He's not willing that any perish but some are. Jesus didn't heal everyone, save everyone, feed everyone. He said the poor you'd always have. His priorities seemed at odds with His church at times.

Just some ideas to banter about.