A Battle Worth Waging

TITLE : A BATTLE WORTH WAGING

TEXT: GALATIANS 5: 16-25

THEME: WAGING THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH

Would you open your bible and turn with me to the fifth chapter of the book of Galatians? Galatians, the fifth chapter, and we will began in the sixteenth verse.

Please rise in reverence for the reading of the Word of God.

Galatians 5: 16-25

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For

the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are

contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if

ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are

manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,

heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I

tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such

there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the

affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we ask you for direction and guidance in your word today.

Help us understand and gain courage from the battles that we face. Give us wisdom

as we examine your Holy and true word today In Jesus name , Amen

Introduction:

We read in the old testament of many battles that were waged. Battles that

involved Abraham rescuing his nephew Lot from a Mesopotamian king. We see

Israel engaged in a great number of battles with the Amalekites ,Amorites, and the

Midianites as they journeyed to Canaan. As Israel began its conquest of the

promised land, many more battles ensued at Jericho ,Ai ,Libnah, Gezer ,Eglon and

numerous others. Battles and conflicts continued to be waged under the judges,

such as Gideons battle with the Midianites and Samsons battle with the Philistines.

The Battles under King David were numerous and courageous, especially the one

that the young David waged against his formidable foe, the giant Goliath. Even in

the new testament era, we discover the conflicts and difficulties faced by the

disciples. Conflicts that often cost them their lives, for example, John the Baptist,

and Stephen. Since the dawn of man, battles and conflicts have continued in this

world which is ravished by sin. We`ve had through out our history battles involving

independence, slavery , equal rights and civil rights. Our most recent wars include

the war on terror and the battles we face against those that support abortion,

homosexuality, same sex marriage and the overall bias liberal agenda. These are

struggles that we must be ready to undertake or otherwise this country will see the

demise of its moral and ethical foundation. Although these conflicts and battles

were and are worth waging, there have been many battles that weren’t worth

waging . Many that were useless, futile, and senseless in their objective and

outcome. However today we are confronted each and every day by the greatest battle we will ever encounter. What

is this great and intensive battle that we encounter each day you may ask. It’s a

battle that each and every one of us face each and every day. A conflict you are not

exempt from. It’s the battle between the Spirit and the flesh, and it my friend is

A Battle Worth Waging.

As we survey these scriptures we can observe four aspects of this daily battle

First of all : (1) The Direction of the Spirit

Secondly : (2) The Dissension of the Spirit

Thirdly : (3) The Distinction of the Spirit

Finally : (4) The Dominion of the Spirit

Let us consider first of all this morning

I. THE DIRECTION OF THE SPIRIT verse 16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh..

(Galatians 5:16)

It is obvious to the christian who the person behind our justification is . None

other than the Lord Jesus Christ . For the bible clearly declares in Romans 5:1

(Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus

Christ) . Notice we are justified (declared Just, free ,righteous), forgiven and

given a free pardon from the eternal penalty of sin. Notice also, this pardon came

"through" our Lord Jesus. Acts 4:12b (for there is none other name under heaven

given among men, whereby we must be saved). So therefore we are justified by and "through" our Lord Jesus. The life of a christian doesn’t end at justification as many are misled in believing . Being justified is essential in becoming a christian. Likewise the christian life is unfinished without the continual process of sanctification, a life of seperation from sin. Just as our Lord signifies our justification the Holy Spirit signifies our separation, or our sanctification. The effectual, continual working of the Holy spirit enables us to achieve separation from sin, satan, and self.