The Battle Within | Flesh Vs Spirit | Galatians

The Battle Within | Flesh Vs Spirit | Galatians 5:16-26 | Shine Thomas | City Harvest AG Church

Sermon Transcript: https://cityharvestag.com/sermons/the...

This sermon explores the transformative power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and within the church community. By examining the Holy Spirit as both the agent of creation and the empowering force behind Jesus' ministry, the message highlights how the Spirit now indwells Jesus' followers, guiding them into a new creation life.

Recap
The Holy Spirit is portrayed as the life-giving breath (Ruach) of God, evident in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays a central role in Jesus' conception, anointing, and ministry. The Spirit is Jesus’ promise to his people, convicting the world of sin and empowering the church at Pentecost to live out the new creation life. Through the Spirit, believers are transformed and empowered to love God and others, pointing them to Jesus.

Present Reality
The sermon emphasizes that Christ redeemed believers so they might receive the promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). The Holy Spirit affirms their identity as children of God (Galatians 4:6-7, Romans 8:14-17), calling out “Abba, Father.” This relationship invites believers to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, which represents the anti-God impulse within humanity (Galatians 5:16-18).

The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
The inner conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is described as a battle within each believer (Romans 7:21-25, 1 Peter 2:11). Paul acknowledges the ongoing struggle between these two influences, urging believers to choose the Spirit, which leads to life and fruitfulness, over the flesh, which leads to destruction (Galatians 5:19-21, Romans 8:13).

Fruit of the Spirit
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh—sexual immorality, idolatry, and relational sins—with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These fruits are the outward evidence of a life transformed by the Spirit, reflecting Christ’s character in our relationships and daily choices.

Practical Application
Believers are called to garden their lives by keeping in step with the Spirit, crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24-25). This involves making conscious choices to align with the Spirit, nurturing a relationship with Jesus, and de-weeding anything that draws them back into the world’s influence. The sermon also encourages self-reflection within the church community, questioning whether they are producing the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh.

Conclusion
The work of the Holy Spirit is not only individual but also corporate, as the Spirit indwells the church, making it God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The church, as a Spirit-led body, continues the work of Jesus, establishing God's Kingdom on earth. The message concludes by urging the church to reflect on its role in bearing the fruit of the Spirit and living out the Kingdom lifestyle.

This sermon serves as both an invitation and a challenge to believers and the church community to fully embrace the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, allowing it to produce life-giving fruit in every aspect of life.

The Battle Within | Flesh Vs Spirit | Galatians 5:16-26 | Shine Thomas | City Harvest AG Church

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