PART II — STOP FEEDING THE FLESH AND START FEEDING THE INNER MAN

Paul commands:

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16

Notice the two directions.

Spirit.

Flesh.

Every believer must decide daily which one will influence his life.

1. The Flesh Is More Than the Physical Body

Biblically, we should not equate the physical body itself with sin.

Jesus Christ Himself truly became flesh:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”
— John 1:14

Yet Jesus was completely without sin.

Therefore the problem is not physical existence.

The problem is the fallen nature of man seeking to operate independently of God.

That is why Paul describes the works of the flesh in Galatians 5.

They include:

sexual immorality,

hatred,

jealousy,

anger,

selfish ambition,

envy,

drunkenness,

and other sins.

Carnality says:

“What do I want?”

The Spirit-filled life asks:

“What does Christ want?”

That is the battle.

2. You Can Be Religious and Still Be Carnal

Carnality does not always look worldly.

Sometimes carnality wears religious clothing.

A preacher can desire recognition.

A musician can desire applause.

A worship leader can desire attention.

A church member can desire status.

A deacon can desire authority.

A Christian can desire to be admired for his appearance.

Therefore, we must examine motives rather than merely appearances.

Paul warned:

Philippians 2:3
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit…”

Ministry is not a performance.

The sanctuary is not an entertainment venue.

Worship is not a concert.

Preaching is not a motivational theater.

We gather because Jesus Christ is worthy.

3. Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit

Paul says:

Ephesians 4:30
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”

Think about that word:

Grieve.

You cannot grieve electricity.

You cannot grieve an impersonal force.

The Holy Spirit is personal and divine.

He teaches.

He guides.

He convicts.

He comforts.

He empowers.

He sanctifies.

And Scripture says He can be grieved.

The Holy Spirit is not merely an experience we have during worship.

The Holy Spirit is God dwelling in the believer.

Jesus promised:

John 14:16–17
“He will give you another Helper… He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Therefore, Christianity is not simply:

Christ died for me.

It is also:

God now lives in me through His Spirit.

4. How Much Time Are We Giving the Inner Man?

Suppose someone spends:

hours watching sports,

hours following entertainment,

hours browsing online,

hours exercising,

hours caring for appearance,

but barely fifteen minutes seeking God.

What does that reveal?

Jesus said:

Matthew 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Time is part of our treasure.

This does not mean recreation itself is automatically sinful. Rest and legitimate recreation have their place.

But recreation becomes dangerous when it consistently displaces devotion, obedience, family responsibilities, worship, service and the work God has entrusted to us.

Especially for those entrusted with ministry, Sunday cannot merely become another day for worldly distractions.

Paul told Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:7
“exercise yourself toward godliness.”

What if Christians trained spiritually with the same seriousness as athletes train physically?

What if we prayed seriously?

Studied seriously?

Fastened our minds upon Scripture seriously?

Fought temptation seriously?

Evangelized seriously?

Served seriously?

Forgave seriously?

Pursued holiness seriously?

5. The Evidence of Spiritual Exercise

How do you know whether the inner man is becoming stronger?

Not primarily by emotional experiences.

Paul gives the evidence:

Galatians 5:22–23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Notice:

Paul doesn’t say the performance of the Spirit.

He says:

The fruit of the Spirit.

Fruit grows from life within.

The Holy Spirit begins changing:

how you speak,

how you think,

how you respond,

how you treat your spouse,

how you handle anger,

how you respond to criticism,

how you treat your enemies,

how you use money,

how you spend time,

how you dress,

how you conduct yourself,

and what you desire.

True spirituality eventually touches everything.

Because Jesus is not merely a Savior of Sunday morning.

Jesus Christ is Lord of the entire person.

6. Crucify the Flesh

Paul concludes:

Galatians 5:24
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Christianity is not decorating the flesh.

Christianity is not improving the flesh.

Christianity is not making the flesh religious.

There must be death to the rule of sinful desire.

Jesus said:

Luke 9:23
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Notice:

daily.

Yesterday’s surrender cannot replace today’s surrender.

Yesterday’s prayer cannot replace today’s prayer.

Yesterday’s Scripture cannot replace today’s Scripture.

Yesterday’s obedience cannot replace today’s obedience.

Every morning the disciple must say:

“Lord Jesus, my life belongs to You.”

Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, search us. Reveal every area where the flesh has gained influence over us. Forgive our pride, selfish ambition, vanity, jealousy, lust, anger and desire for human approval. Strengthen our inner man. Produce in us Your fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Teach us to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!