Spiritual Life & Disciplines

1. Spiritual Life & Disciplines Part 4 – The Enemy of a Believer’s Spiritual Life - continued

2. Mind • The area of thoughts & beliefs • Goal of flesh: Deception – to think and believe things that aren’t true • Eph. 4:17, 2 Cor. 10:4-5

3. Affections • The area of desires and feelings • Goal of flesh: idolatry – to set your heart on something other than Christ • James 1:14-15, 4:1-3

4. Conscience • The area of right & wrong • Goal of the flesh: to sear the conscience so that it doesn’t work properly • 1 Tim. 4:2

5. Will • The area of volition • Goal of flesh: To obey (act on) your sinful desires • Romans 6:12

6. Heart • The area that encompasses the mind, conscience, will, and affections of a person. This is your “mission control center,” the “real you” on the inside. • The heart is ultimately governed by who or what we worship: Christ or self (2 Cor. 5:15) • Proverbs 4:23, Luke 6:45

7. The Progression of Sin • “Led away” – the pull of desire • “Enticed” – to lure by deception • “by own lusts” – governing desires that demand to be met • “lust conceives” – when the will decides to obey the desire • “gives birth to sin” – sinful action based on the pursuit of desire

8. The Progression of Sin • For sin to occur: • The mind must be deceived • The conscience must be ignored (or rendered inoperable) • The affections must be captured by desire • The will must follow the affections • The disposition of the heart must be set on pleasing self, not Christ

9. The flesh • The flesh gains a foothold through deception. The mind is always the first area to be tricked (Gen. 3:13, 2 Cor. 11:3). • The flesh gains its power by promising pleasure (James 4:1) • The heart of the flesh is always autonomy (I don’t need God) and authority (I can do what I want)

10. A Battle Strategy • When a believer walks (lives) by means of the Spirit, he will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Gal 5:16) - note the desire doesn’t go away • The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to bring the believer to live by the standard of God’s Word (Eph. 5:18, Col. 3:16) - How does that work?

11. The Mind • Goal: The mind must be continually renewed and transformed so that the believer embraces and believes the truth and rejects lies and deception • Romans 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 10:5 • The Word of God informs, renews, and transforms a believer’s thought life so that it thinks on things that are true

12. The Affections • Goal: the believer’s ultimate desire must be set on Christ and godly desires. • Living by sinful desires & feelings must be rejected. • Making any desire (other than pleasing Christ) ultimate must be rejected. • The Bible both informs and enflames godly desires (Ps. 16:11, 73:25)

13. The Conscience • Goal: the conscience must be continually informed by God’ Word so that it works correctly. • The believer must stop sinning against his conscience so as not to render it ineffective. • Hebrews 5:14

14. The Will • Goal: the will needs to be trained to obey God’s Word and not consent to sinful desires (lusts). • 1 Timothy 4:7, 2 Timothy 3:17

15. The Heart • Goal: the heart must be set on honoring and pleasing Christ above all • 2 Cor. 5:9, 15 • The heart needs to be guarded continually (Prov. 4:23)

16. Training Procedure • Preemptive Strikes - Anti-flesh tactics/ Christ-promoting strategies • Make no provision for flesh • Don’t love the world or it’s stuff • Don’t be conformed to the world • Throw off every encumbrance • Set your minds on things above • Present yourself as a living sacrifice to God • Renew your mind and transform your thinking

17. Training Procedure • Battle Plan • Examine your heart regularly • Be mindful of your own flesh’s strategy • Never let your guard down. Fight! • Repent completely when you fail • Remember the balance of Phil 2:12-13

18. CONSCIENCE MIND AFFECTIONS WILL ??? SPIRIT FLESH Worship Allegiance