Growing In The Spirit

c. ?For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.

i. If the Spirit of God dwells in you it doesn?t automatically mean that the flesh is put to death.

1. There is a constant conflict.

a. Paul wrote, ?For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.?

b. Remember from my opening statements about Iraq, the people resort to what is natural for them?

c. Our human nature ? the flesh - operates in much the same way.

i. If we are not constantly aware of the prompting of the Spirit in our lives, we will automatically begin to move back to what is natural.

1. What is that?

a. The flesh.

d. For some reason there are some Christians who tend to think you can have it both ways.

e. Look again what Paul says in Romans 8:5-6, ?For those who live according to the flesh (even Christians) set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.?

ii. Because there is a constant battle we must be in a continual state of spiritual awareness. We must be listening for the Spirit?s voice to lead us where we should go.

1. Look out for the caution lights.

d. ?But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

i. What does the Law have to do with anything?

1. Paul is saying that you have a choice. You can either be justified by faith, which brings eternal life, or, you can attempt (even as a Christian) to be justified by the Law, which brings condemnation.

2. If you are led by the Spirit.

a. Saved by grace through faith

3. You don?t have to work for your salvation.

a. I?m not saying you don?t have to do good works.

i. It?s just that those works don?t save you.

ii. If you continue to try to earn your salvation after you have been saved by grace then you make the cross of no effect.

1. Galatians 5:3-4, ?And I testify to every man who becomes circumcised (attempts to be saved by the Law) that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.?

ii. Following the law is in the flesh and is contrary to the Spirit.

II. Works of the Flesh.

a. Paul gives us a list of sins.

i. Verse 19 ? sexual sins

ii. Verse 20 (first two) ? Sins and pagan religion.

iii. Next nine ? sins of temper

iv. Last two sins of drunkenness

b. Not only these sins but also those like them.

c. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

i. If you attempt to walk according to the law and not by the Spirit it is a guarantee that you will fall back to your old nature.

III. If you live by the Spirit fruit will be present in your life.

a. Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is mentioned in contrast to the works of the flesh.

i. Works come by working.

ii. Fruit comes by faith.

1. Also notice that when Paul talks about works of the flesh He uses the plural ? ?works?

2. When he speaks of fruit it is singular.

a. Unlike works of the flesh, each one of which can bring death, the believer is expected to exhibit all the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.