(Jay talked about the importance of having a word recorded, because the person giving the word will not remember it, and because it is beneficial for the receiver to listen to it over and over.)
Sermon message: Text: Galatians 5:16-26. We have to live over our flesh. When you fast, some things manifest, and some things of the flesh come out.
When we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians5:16). The flesh is your will. Most people get verse 16 backward. They think if they control the flesh, then they will get closer to God. We need God’s power to live above the flesh. The flesh and the Spirit conflict with each other (Galatians 5:17). If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:18). We are under the law if we try to make something happen and by trying to work it out. Galatians 5:19-21 tell about those things that are the works of the flesh. Not inheriting the kingdom of God does not mean that they are going to hell. You are only responsible for the light that you have been given, and you are to seek more light.
Those who are Christ’s crucify the flesh. Galatians 5:24 says that those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh. Take an honest look at your life. What is coming out of you? Is it the work of the Spirit or the work of the flesh? You may find areas you need to work on, when you answer that question. The book of James says that we are not to deceive ourselves. Not everything that you deal with is a demon or from the devil. Sometimes it is just our flesh.
Walk in the Spirit, and you will not do the works of the flesh. Choose to walk in the Spirit. Whatever you are feeding on, is what you will get- the Spirit or the flesh.
What do you do when you sin? Do you keep focusing on the sin, or do you repent immediately? Look to Jesus and what He did rather than focusing on your mess-up. We are made worthy through Christ Jesus. Do not beat yourself up with what you have done.
If we are born-again, we are crucified and resurrected with Christ. Our flesh died at the cross. We see flesh everyday. We are reminded of it by what we do and do not do. It will tell you that it is not crucified, but our flesh is crucified by Jesus. We have to believe by faith that our flesh is crucified.
We can choose how we will react to other people. We are crucified and resurrected with Christ. Focus on walking in the Spirit and some of those flesh things will take care of themselves. We have been trained to put the flesh under. We are not to bear our cross. Jesus told His Old Covenant men to bear their crosses, but nothing of that is mentioned in the New Testament after that. We do not have to bear our crosses. Believe by faith that you are dead.
Romans 8:14 says that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Romans 6:4 states that we are buried with Him through baptism. Romans 7 is about Paul’s struggle in himself, but do not let that define you. That is about what he used to be. It is about the law, but is followed by chapter 8, which is about the Christ who delivers us. We do not have to dress up (fix up) the flesh because it is dead. We must consider that we are dead because of what we believe. Fasting may clarify things, but there must be a balance in that, so we do not get into a ditch on the other side of it. Focus of the fact that we have been crucified and resurrected with Him.