THE DETERMINATE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH

MINISTER: PASTOR W. F. KUMUYI

On the one hand we have the Spirit (the Holy Ghost) and on the other hand we have the flesh (mankind). For the believer in Christ who has been saved, all the works of the flesh will be subdued. There is a conflict between the Spirit and the flesh.

POINT 1: THE DECISIVE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT OR THE FLESH, GALATIANS 5:16-18.

Both the Spirit and the flesh cannot control you at the same time.

i. Pure Walk In The Spirit Without Fleshly Pollution, Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:1-5, 12-14; 1 Peter 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:18-20.

Observe that Paul always spoke with assurance. If we are going to declare the gospel, we have to speak in a direct way by saying what we mean and meaning what we say. There is condemnation for those who are outside Christ and enjoy living in sin. Salvation brings the ceasing and stopping from sin.

ii. Prevailing Will In The Spirit Over Foolish Perversion, Galatians 5:17; John 3:6-8; Romans 8:5-9, 13; Galatians 6:7-8.

‘Lust’ here means ‘desires’. The flesh desires something against the Spirit, and the Spirit of God desires uprightness and righteousness against the flesh. The natural man will lean towards the flesh, depravity and the old creation. But when the Spirit of God is in charge of our lives, we will no longer tilt towards the leanings of the flesh. That person who has only one natural birthday (born of the flesh by father and mother), is fleshly, but when you repent of your sins and turn to the Lord completely and the Spirit of God is in control, you are born of the Spirit. Being born of the Spirit at the time of Jesus and at any other time, is the same. Our lives will become different. The carnal mind hates sound doctrine, hates the ways of the Lord and hates the narrow path that leads to heaven. Those who are in the flesh and are not born again, no matter who they are, they cannot please God. They will keep on doing things that are not approved of God because they are in the flesh. Because the Spirit of God dwells and is resident in you, He guides you so that you will not do the wrong things.

iii. Perfect Way Of The Spirit Above False Perception, Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:14-17; Psalm 143:8, 10; Psalm 18:30, 32.

The Holy Spirit will not lead you to do anything that is unholy, unrighteous, ungodly, defiling, evil or carnal. But He will lead you into doing what is holy, righteous and godly. The Holy Spirit leads us according to the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit and the Scriptures work together and align with one another. When the Holy Spirit is leading us, He will lead us according to the Word of God, whether in marriage, business or friendship. When last were you led by the Spirit? In your decisions, outfits, interactions, places you visit and choices you make, can you tell of the definite leading of the Spirit of God? If you are living your life independent of the Spirit of God, the Scriptures and Christ, how can you claim that you are a child of God? It is one thing to know the will of God, it is another thing to do the will of God.

POINT 2: THE DAMNING CATALOGUE OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH, GALATIANS 5:19-21.

Even in the New Testament, there are people who remain in the sins of the flesh. There is condemnation and damnation for them.

i. The Defiling Works And Sins Of The Flesh, Galatians 5:17-19; Mark 7:21-23; 1 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 12:15-17.

The people who are in any generation, past and present – even now, are all to be guided by the word of God because the Scriptures is timeless. A man may say, “I am a man of grace”. A woman may say, “I am a woman of prayer”. Another man may say, “I am a prayer warrior”. But if they have and practice the works of the flesh, they are defiled. If you say that your heart does not condemn you after committing a defiling thing because of your claim to be living by grace, that grace is not coming from heaven.

ii. The Destructive Ways And Stains Of The Fleshly, 1 Peter 2:11; Romans 3:12-18; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 1:12.

There is no “super-grace” doctrine which will get us to heaven if we make any allowance for the destructive ways and stains of the flesh. Those who leave the path of righteousness and go into the ways of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God.

iii. Our Diligent Watchfulness And Separation From All Filthiness, Ephesians 5:4-6; Colossians 3:8-10; James 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 7:1.

A real child of God does not gamble with his salvation. He does not play games with the devil or play games with the works of the flesh. There are people who use the slangs and language of the world. That is not the language of the Kingdom or the utterances of the righteous and heavenly-minded people. We don’t play with the instruments of the devil or play with the works of the flesh. We have to watch over our lives. Actually, if you don’t have any evil inside of you, if someone comes from the outside to tell you to do evil, your mind will not accept it because the instinct for lust, evil desires and deceitfulness is not in you. We have the promise of God to be cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God; not polluting holiness, not avoiding holiness, not trampling upon holiness, not criticising holiness and not opposing holiness.

POINT 3: THE DESIRABLE CONVERSION AND SALVATION OF ALL FLESH, GALATIANS 5:21; 2 PETER 3:9.

God desires our conversion through salvation which is available for everyone.

i. The Sinful Souls Who Will Not Inherit God’s Kingdom, Galatians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 5:5-7; Revelation 21:8, 27.

When the Bible mentions “envyings” in the plural, it is referring to people who envy others because of their position, property, the setup of their families, husbands, wives and places of work. When you envy people for what they have which you do not have, and therefore you begin a rat race to get them, that will make you to miss the Kingdom of God. There are others who kill, not only physically, but they also kill the character of others, kill the courage of others, kill the standing of others, and kill and scatter the families of other people. After hearing the word of God, the Lord does not want us to rush out of His presence because when we do so, we will not allow the grace of God – through prayer – to bring about the transforming work of God in our lives.

ii. The Saved Souls Who Inherit God’s Kingdom, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Matthew 5:3-8; Romans 10:9-13; 2 Peter 3:9.

We must be washed and cleansed from all the defilement of the flesh. The Lord so wants to purify us so that our thoughts, hearts, dispositions, plans, dressing and outfits are new. God does not want the sinner, prodigal son, prodigal preacher and those who have left their first love, to perish. God does not want anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance.

iii. The Steadfast Saints Who Have Inherited God’s Kingdom, Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-3, 14; Acts 14:22; Romans 14:17-19; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5.

To inherit God’s Kingdom, we have to be saved and remain steadfastly saved. We have to be sanctified and remain steadfastly sanctified. And we have to be obedient and remain steadfastly obedient. When your faith groweth exceedingly, you will be steady, steadfast and have assurance. Your faith will keep looking unto the Lord despite whatever comes your way, knowing that God is on the throne. Let your faith, hope, charity and everything abound in the Lord. When you are steadfast, steady and remain firm in holiness and holiness remains in you, you will get to heaven. I pray that all that we have learnt today will be affirmed in every one of our hearts in Jesus Name.