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?