What a great message today! If you weren't there, you really missed out!
Speaker: Major Andy Kelly
Scripture: Romans 7:21-8:6
"Spirit or Flesh?"
We have a battle within ourselves
v. 21-23 As long as we are trying to do what God wants us to do, the devil works all the harder to bring us down. If we want to do something good - the flesh brings us down. We by ourselves do not have the capacity to fight against sin.
The law of the flesh is contrary to the law of The Spirit. They fight one another. 4:1 From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? SELFISH DESIRES CAUSE STRIFE!
2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; FLESH WARS AGAINST THE SOUL!
v. 24 Who will deliver me?
v. 25 Jesus Christ our Lord! He conquered sin for us. Accept His gift of salvation, forgiveness, and The Holy Spirit. That is how we overcome the flesh.
He's always ready to forgive us. He's given us a helper - The Holy Spirit - to help us overcome.
4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. DAILY RENEWAL - do not be discouraged, we can be refreshed and renewed each day. 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
How do we get strengthened? Our strength comes from the Lord. We must read His Word, really study and meditate upon it. Not just one verse and ok, my work's done for the day. We must pray, and call upon the Lord daily for the renewing of our minds.
We will then know the truth about the Lord - we will know and not be deceived by the enemy.
3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
The hidden man of the heart is The Holy Spirit of God.
Romans 8:1 There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We are no longer sentenced to death - we are no longer slaves to sin - we are empowered by the Spirit to live by the Spirit.
Daily put on the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
v. 2 freedom from bondage to sin which leads to death - but freedom to live in the Spirit.
v. 4 the requirement of the law was fulfilled by the blood sacrifice of Christ.
v. 5 those who live according to the flesh have their minds on things of the flesh, always thinking selfishly - looking out for themselves only.
BUT those who live according to the Spirit, have their minds set on things of the Spirit, seeking the will of God in all things. Self is last.
v. 6 we have PEACE when we are spiritually minded. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
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