Spirit vs Flesh
Spirit vs. Flesh
Walking in Victory Through Romans 8
Main Text: Romans 8
Theme: Every Christian faces a daily battle between the flesh and the Spirit. Victory comes not through willpower, but by surrendering to the Holy Spirit.
Introduction
Every believer knows this struggle.
You love God…But sometimes you still struggle with anger.Temptation.Lust.Pride.Fear.Bitterness.
You ask yourself,
“Why do I still struggle if I’m saved?”
Romans 8 answers that question.
Paul teaches us there are two ways to live.
Living according to the flesh.
Living according to the Spirit.
One leads to death.
The other leads to life.
I. The Flesh Always Pulls You Away From God
Romans 8:5
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
The flesh is more than your physical body.
It is your sinful nature.
It says:
“I want what I want.”
The flesh loves…
Sin
Selfishness
Pride
Revenge
Gossip
Laziness
Sexual immorality
Greed
The flesh never says,
“I want to obey God.”
Instead it says,
“I don’t care what God says.”
Example
Imagine two dogs.
One is strong.
One is weak.
Which one wins the fight?
The one you feed.
The same is true spiritually.
If you feed your flesh with sinful entertainment, ungodly friendships, pornography, gossip, and worldly thinking…
Your flesh becomes stronger.
If you feed your spirit with Scripture, prayer, worship, and obedience…
Your spirit becomes stronger.
II. The Mind Determines the Direction
Romans 8:6
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Notice Paul starts with the mind.
Sin begins in the mind before it reaches the hands.
The battlefield is your thoughts.
What you think about…becomes what you desire.
What you desire…becomes what you do.
What you repeatedly do…becomes who you are.
Ask yourself:
What fills your mind?
Netflix?
TikTok?
Facebook drama?
Pornography?
Money?
Or…
God’s Word?
Whatever controls your thoughts eventually controls your life.
III. The Flesh Cannot Please God
Romans 8:8
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Notice Paul doesn’t say…
“They struggle to please God.”
He says…
“They cannot.”
The flesh is completely opposed to God.
Religion cannot fix it.
Good works cannot fix it.
Church attendance cannot fix it.
Only Jesus can.
IV. The Holy Spirit Lives Inside Every Believer
Romans 8:9
“If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
The moment you’re saved…
God doesn’t simply forgive you.
He moves in.
The Holy Spirit lives inside you.
You are never alone.
Every day…
The Spirit speaks.
The flesh speaks.
Which voice will you obey?
Illustration
Imagine driving a car.
The flesh grabs the steering wheel.
The Spirit says,
“Let Me drive.”
Many Christians ask Jesus into the car…
But they never let Him drive.
V. Through the Spirit We Put Sin to Death
Romans 8:13
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Notice Paul doesn’t say…
Ignore sin.
Manage sin.
Hide sin.
He says…
Put it to death.
Kill it before it kills you.
Many Christians play with sin.
They keep it as a pet.
God says…
Kill it.
Don’t flirt with temptation.
Run.
Delete it.
Block it.
Walk away.
Repent.
VI. Sons and Daughters of God
Romans 8:14
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
Christians don’t simply believe in Jesus.
They follow Him.
The Holy Spirit leads.
We follow.
Sometimes He says…
Forgive.
Serve.
Give.
Love.
Witness.
Apologize.
Repent.
Obey.
The question isn’t,
“Did I hear God?”
The question is,
“Will I obey?”
VII. No Condemnation
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”
This may be the greatest verse in Romans.
The devil says,
“You failed.”
God says,
“Come back.”
The devil says,
“You’re finished.”
Jesus says,
“My grace is enough.”
The devil reminds you of your past.
Jesus reminds you of the cross.
There is a huge difference between condemnation and conviction.
Condemnation pushes you away from God.
Conviction pulls you toward God.
One comes from Satan.
The other comes from the Holy Spirit.
VIII. More Than Conquerors
Romans 8:37
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Paul doesn’t say Christians never struggle.
He says Christians overcome.
Victory isn’t because we’re strong.
Victory is because Christ is strong.
Practical Application
Every morning ask yourself…
Which one will I feed today?
The flesh?
Or the Spirit?
Feed your spirit by:
Reading the Bible daily.
Spending time in prayer.
Worshiping God.
Serving others.
Sharing your faith.
Being faithful to church.
Confessing sin quickly.
Surrounding yourself with godly people.
Starve the flesh by:
Removing sinful habits.
Guarding your eyes and ears.
Limiting worldly influences.
Avoiding tempting situations.
Choosing obedience over feelings.
Invitation
Every day you make a choice.
The flesh…
or
the Spirit.
One brings guilt.
The other brings peace.
One brings slavery.
The other brings freedom.
One leads to death.
The other leads to life.
Jesus has already won the victory through His death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit gives believers the power to live differently, but that power is experienced as we daily surrender to Him.
Today, ask yourself:
Am I feeding my flesh or my spirit?
Is there a sin I have been managing instead of putting to death?
Am I listening to the Holy Spirit or ignoring His voice?
Have I truly surrendered every area of my life to Christ?
If you’ve never trusted Jesus as your Savior, today is the day to receive Him. If you are a believer who has drifted, come back to Him. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, but there is an invitation to walk in the freedom and victory of the Spirit.
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