Topic: How to Gain Victory over the Flesh
Reading: Romans 8:9-17
Introduction and Overview
In the previous lesson we saw how it is important to overcome the deeds of the flesh. It is the flesh that leads us to death. But the Spirit leads us to life and to peace. Learning to walk in the Spirit is critical. A large part of that is what we set our minds upon.
When our minds are set on the things of the flesh, we are hostile to God. As the scripture says, to set the mind on the flesh is death. But when we set our minds on the things of the Spirit, we have life and peace.
But how do we set our minds on the Spirit? How do we gain victory over the flesh through setting our minds on the Spirit? This is the basis of what this next section of scripture tells us and what we will look at today.
Key points from reading:
- We need to receive the Holy Spirit if we are to walk in the Spirit to gain victory over the flesh.
- We have to use the power of the Spirit when we are in need or tempted by the flesh, to gain victory over the flesh.
- The Spirit stands with us and when we decide to use his power, the Spirit helps us gain victory over the flesh.
Discussion:
- Scripture: Romans 8:9
- The first thing to understand is that when we receive the Holy Spirit we are no longer in the flesh. That does not mean we have victory over the flesh, but when we receive the Spirit we have the ability to gain victory over the flesh.
- The starting point is to receive the Holy Spirit. I have written much about this process elsewhere and will not cover it here. If you want to learn how to receive the Holy Spirit, and especially the gift of tongues which comes with the Spirit, then this link with help.
- To walk in the Spirit we must first receive the Holy Spirit. To gain victory over the flesh we must use the gifts of the Spirit, especially speaking in tongues. We can use the gift of tongues to overcome the passions of the flesh. It is one of the primary reasons why God gives this gift to all who receive the Holy Spirit.
- As we live and walk by the Spirit, we are being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. This is shown in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. And as we are transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, we receive the Spirit of Christ in us. We grow the fruits of the Spirit and become more and more Christ-like as Christ is formed in us. And this is essential. As the scripture says, “Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” And we all want to belong to Christ!
- Scripture: Romans 8:10-11
- Here we see an important matter raised. Your bodies are dead because of sin. The physical body we live in will die. We suffer all of the problems, sicknesses, and conditions of the flesh as anyone else does. Our flesh is weak and it will eventually pass away.
- But in Christ, our spirits are alive because of the righteousness we have been given by God. Our spirits are living and growing as we walk with Christ and His life is being built into us. As we walk with Christ and this life becomes manifest in us, we gain victory over the flesh. The flesh is weak and suffers all of the passions and desires of humanity. But when we receive the Holy Spirit and begin being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, our spirits are strengthened to gain victory over the passion of the flesh. We learn how to combat and defeat the weaknesses that drive us to sinfulness. And we gain victory over the flesh in Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- But first the Holy Spirit must dwell in us. We must receive the Holy Spirit as an indwelling Spirit of truth and power and transformation. This is what this verse is telling us. And if the Holy Spirit sent by God dwells within us and we use the power of the Spirit to overcome the flesh, then God will give us life.
- Scripture: Romans 8:12-13
- We owe nothing to the flesh. We are not debtors to the flesh because all that the flesh gives us is pain. It is through the flesh that temptations to sin come. It is the weaknesses of the flesh that lead people to death. Our aim is to overcome and gain victory over the flesh so that we can have life in the freedom given by Jesus Christ. So, we are not in debt to the flesh as it owes us nothing.
- This scripture tells us that if we live according to the flesh, we will die. This is not talking simply about the death of the body. It is talking about the death of our spirits. If we choose to live according to the flesh, which is a life of sin that is driven by the passions, lusts and desires of the flesh, then we will die.
- But if we want to live, we need to put to death the deeds and the desires of the flesh. We need to gain victory over the flesh. And we do this by using the power of the Spirit. We need to be led by the Spirit rather than following the passions of the flesh. But how do we do this?
- The passions of the flesh will rise up in us from time to time to tempt us to do wrong. And the devil will use those passions to tempt and inflame our passions to do what is evil. That is why this verse says, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.”
- Note that the Spirit will not do this himself. It is up to us to make the decision to use the power of the Spirit to overcome the deeds of the flesh. We are the ones who must initiate the power of the Spirit to gain victory over the flesh. And we do this by speaking in tongues any time we are being tempted or the passions of the flesh rise up within us. As we feel our passions raise or evil thoughts come into our mind, we need to pray and then speak in tongues and they will cease and subside. The Spirit gives us the power to quash the evil thoughts and remove the temptations that would lead us to sinfulness.
- When we speak in tongues we are using the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to speak directly to the Father on our behalf to take away whatever is bothering us. Anything that is causing us problems or tempting us will be removed. Speaking in tongues is the Holy Spirit praying to God on our behalf to intercede for us and bring the power of God to bear against the passions, desires, weaknesses, temptations, or attacks of the devil, so that we gain victory over the flesh. And every time we do this, we get stronger in the spirit.
- Scripture: Romans 8:14-15
- But, as mentioned, the onus is on us. We must initiate the process by first recognising the problem as it occurs, and then using the power of the Spirit to speak in tongues to gain victory over the flesh. The Holy Spirit will not do this of his own accord. He does not take us over or force us to do anything. It is always our decision to make.
- As the scripture says here, we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. It is the demonic spirits of the devil that are the spirits of slavery. The Holy Spirit of God is a spirit of freedom. And the Holy Spirit is not going to enslave us to do anything. You and I have to initiate the work of the Spirit and hand the problem to him to act on our behalf.
- When we do hand it over to the Holy Spirit and use the gift of tongues, the Spirit is bearing witness with our own spirit and speaking to the Father on our behalf. He is confirming that we are the children of God and speaking to the Father for our help and benefit.
- It is by this process that we are being led by the Spirit rather than following the desires of the flesh. When we are being led by the Spirit, then we are the sons of God and His children whom He will protect and strengthen.
- Scripture: Romans 8:16-17
- Finally we see in this verse that when we speak in tongues using the power of the Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. The Holy Spirit is working in us to gain victory over the flesh so that we can live and walk in the Spirit as the children of God.
- Jesus said that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (See John 4:24) By using the power of the Holy Spirit and the working of tongues we are worshipping God in the Spirit and by the Spirit of truth.
- And if we are the children of God, we are heirs in and of the kingdom of God with Jesus Christ. We shall inherit God’s kingdom to live forever with Him and His Son who saved us through His death and resurrection. And it is by the death and resurrection of Jesus that all of this is possible, especially being able to gain victory over the flesh.
Key Takeaways:
- We need to learn to use the power of the Holy Spirit, especially speaking in tongues, to gain victory over the flesh. And that means we must first receive the Holy Spirit and have the Spirit indwelling within us.
- The Holy Spirit will not force us to do anything. But He will give us the power to gin victory over the flesh when we use the power of the Spirit.
- Gaining victory over the flesh is important to live in the Spirit and to receive the promises of God.
Prayer Points
- Pray and ask the Lord to give you the Holy Spirit and the gift of speaking in tongues so that you can use the power of the Spirit to gain victory over the flesh. If you are able, seek a church or a spirit filled person to lay hands on you to receive the Holy Spirit and pray that the Lord will bring these things about.
- Pray for understanding of these things, especially regarding the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues as there is much confusion in the church over these matters.
- Pray that you can and will be led by the Spirit in your life so that you can gain victory over the flesh.