Lesson 64 November 6, 2002
Review:
4. With this verse Paul documents for us the
fact that spirituality is an absolute in that walking by the Spirit and walking
by the flesh are mutually exclusive.
5. We know that if and when we operate under the
flesh/sin nature rulership we can not please God.
6. We must recognize that it is the volition of
the soul that decides which rules, that is whether we are walking by the Spirit
or the flesh/sin nature.
7. Paul by his use of the imperative, command to
walk by the Spirit, and saying "you" Paul indicates that the
responsibility to ensure that this occurs is directed towards the believer.
8. It is
only believers with a frame of reference of truth/doctrine that possess the
capacity to habitually conquer the lusts of the sin nature in their life.
9. What
about the term lusts of the flesh, what does it refer to?
- Lust
patterns of the flesh include (this list
is not exhaustive)
A. ego lust, - an inordinate desire to be the focal point of human or Divine interest
B. power lust, - a strong passion to dominate and control others, even God
C. approbation lust, - the craving for the approval and applause of others
D. sexual lust, - the consuming desire for sexual conquest and domination of others
E. material lust, - the passionate-longing for security and/or happiness based upon possessions
F. pleasure lust (hedonism) - the inextinguishable desire for pleasure by whatever means; frantic search for happiness
10.
Implications of walking by the Spirit.
A. It means to be obedient to the truth that the
Spirit has revealed.
- He is the Spirit of truth, who will guide us
into all truth, John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13
B. More to
the point it means to allow God's Word to permeate our lives so that the Holy
Spirit is able to lead and guide us.
C.
Therefore it is the Holy Spirit who aids us in understanding of
Scripture, illuminating and appropriating its truth so that we can apply it as
it is appropriate.
D. Must
remember that the Holy Spirit never contradicts the written word of God; it is
not only wrong but dangerous to follow any "internal leading"
(emotion) if it is not tested against what the Scripture teaching.
E. The
bottom line we must understand is that we cannot in any way live the Christian
life apart from the active ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Gal. 5:17
Conflict of Interest
Here we discover the reason that our life must be
energized by the Spirit because of the ongoing battle within; battle between the 2 resident rulers.
For the flesh sets its desire
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;
Subject here is the flesh h` sa.rx how is it used?
The objectives of the sin nature are:
against the Spirit kata
and the Spirit against the flesh;
- the objectives of the Holy Spirit, dvpt, is always in opposition to the cravings of the sin
nature
The result of the inner struggle/war
so that you do not do the things
that you wish.
Summary 5:17
1. All
individuals have a sin nature (flesh)
and do so through out their life.
2. The
flesh is not a part of the soul but can influence all input to the soul for
thinking when it rules.
3. The
flesh/sin nature is not eradicated or altered at the point of salvation; but since we died to it, we are separated
from its power and it no longer has to
rule or dominate our life.
4. Need to
remember that both are resident in that they dwell in the body.
5. This
opposition is continual and fixed in that the flesh's desires are set and the
Holy Spirits desires and purposes are set.
6. Neither
will impact or change the other.
7. The
Spirit is not seeking to change the flesh/sin nature, we're separated from its
power but the Spirit does seek to influence the thinking, the mind of the believer with the truth of the Word of
God so that wise choices will be made.
8. The sin
nature seeks to return to its dominate, rulership role so that its lust
patterns can be realized through the body and therefore through the life of the
believer.
9. As we
grow and mature in the Christian life we're not changing the sin nature, its
not diminishing it in any way, the flesh
will always be the flesh seeking to express itself through the body in which
it resides.
10. The
issue in life goes back to some of the basic issues we noted in our study of
volition, and that is, which are you going to choose to respond to, the Word
and the Spirit or the desires of the flesh?
Which one influences your thinking and therefore the choices you make?