Walking in the Spirit in the Age of Grace

📖 Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

In the Dispensational understanding, believers are saved by grace through faith, but the Christian life still involves a daily conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.

The flesh represents the sinful nature inherited from Adam, while the Spirit represents the new life given through Christ.

📖 Galatians 5:17
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh…”
Victory in the Christian life comes when believers allow the Spirit of God to rule instead of the sinful nature.

📖 INTRODUCTION

Every believer experiences an internal battle.
The flesh desires:
• sin
• pride
• selfishness
• rebellion

But the Spirit produces:
• holiness
• righteousness
• peace
• obedience

📖 Romans 8:6
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
The Christian life is a daily decision:
Will the flesh rule, or will the Spirit rule?

1️⃣ F — FLESHLY DESIRES LEAD TO DESTRUCTION
📖 Romans 8:8
The flesh cannot please God.

Subpoints
• Fleshly lusts fight against the soul
📖 1 Peter 2:11
• Fleshly thinking produces spiritual death
📖 Romans 8:6
• Fleshly works reveal sinful nature
📖 Galatians 5:19
• Fleshly pride blinds the heart
📖 Proverbs 16:18
👉 The flesh always pulls the believer away from God.

2️⃣ L — LUSTS OF THE FLESH MUST BE REJECTED
📖 Galatians 5:24
Believers must resist sinful desires.

Subpoints
• Lay aside sinful habits
📖 Colossians 3:8
• Leave behind the old nature
📖 Ephesians 4:22
• Limit worldly influences
📖 1 John 2:15
• Look toward spiritual righteousness
📖 Matthew 6:33
👉 Spiritual victory requires rejecting the desires of the flesh.

3️⃣ E — EMBRACE THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
📖 2 Corinthians 5:17
Salvation creates a new identity.

Subpoints
• Embrace your new identity in Christ
📖 Ephesians 2:6
• Enjoy freedom from condemnation
📖 Romans 8:1
• Express righteousness in daily living
📖 Titus 2:12
• Exhibit the character of Christ
📖 Philippians 2:5
👉 The believer is no longer controlled by the old life.

4️⃣ S — SUBMIT TO THE SPIRIT’S LEADING
📖 Romans 8:14
The Holy Spirit guides believers.

Subpoints
• Submit to God’s authority
📖 James 4:7
• Seek the Spirit’s guidance daily
📖 John 16:13
• Surrender personal desires to God
📖 Romans 12:1
• Stand firm against temptation
📖 1 Corinthians 10:13
👉 A surrendered life allows the Spirit to lead.

5️⃣ H — HOLINESS GROWS THROUGH THE SPIRIT
📖 Galatians 5:22
The Spirit produces godly character.

Subpoints
• Holiness replaces sinful habits
📖 1 Peter 1:15
• Humility replaces pride
📖 Philippians 2:3
• Hope replaces despair
📖 Romans 15:13
• Harmony replaces conflict
📖 Ephesians 4:3
👉 The Spirit produces the fruit of righteousness.

6️⃣ R — RENEW THE MIND DAILY
📖 Romans 12:2
Spiritual transformation begins in the mind.

Subpoints
• Renew thinking through Scripture
📖 Colossians 3:16
• Reject worldly patterns
📖 1 John 2:16
• Reflect on God’s truth
📖 Psalm 119:11
• Refocus on eternal things
📖 Colossians 3:2
👉 A renewed mind strengthens spiritual victory.

7️⃣ U — UNDERSTAND YOUR UNION WITH CHRIST
📖 Galatians 2:20
Believers live through Christ’s power.

Subpoints
• United with Christ in death to sin
📖 Romans 6:6
• Uplifted by grace through faith
📖 Ephesians 2:8
• Upheld by God’s sustaining power
📖 Philippians 1:6
• Unshaken in spiritual identity
📖 Colossians 2:10
👉 Our victory comes through our union with Christ.

✨ CONCLUSION

The Christian life is not about perfection—it is about who controls the heart.
If the flesh rules, the result is:
• sin
• defeat
• spiritual weakness

But when the Spirit rules, the result is:
• victory
• peace
• spiritual growth
📖 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.”

📣 CALL TO ACTION

Ask yourself today:
❓ Is the flesh controlling my life?
❓ Am I walking in the Spirit?
❓ Am I living in the power of Christ?
Everything begins with believing the gospel.

📖 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
✔ Christ died for our sins
✔ He was buried
✔ He rose again the third day
🙏 Trust in Christ and begin walking in the Spirit today.
📖 Galatians 5:25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

🔥 FINAL THOUGHTS

1️⃣ Fleshly desires lead to destruction.
2️⃣ Lusts of the flesh must be rejected.
3️⃣ Embrace the new life in Christ.
4️⃣ Submit to the Spirit’s leading.
5️⃣ Holiness grows through the Spirit.
6️⃣ Renew the mind daily.
7️⃣ Understand your union with Christ.
⚔️ The flesh must die so the Spirit can rule. ✝️