Jeff Schreve - The Battle Within

August 17, 2025 | S1 E4153 | 28:40

From His Heart is the teaching ministry of Dr. Jeff Schreve. We exist to speak real truth, real love and real hope from the loving heart of God to a lost and hurting world.

#inActive #Struggle #Sin #Overcoming #RelationshipwithGod #ArmorofGod #TrustGod

Closed captions

Show Timecode

From His Heart: Jeff Schreve | Jeff Schreve - The Battle Within | August 17, 2025

...
00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.335
Pastor jeff schreve: in the christian life, we're in an
00:00:04.673 --> 00:00:06.608
External war with the devil and an internal battle with the
00:00:06.608 --> 00:00:10.913
Desires of the flesh.
00:00:10.913 --> 00:00:12.714
Do you understand the inner battle that takes place between
00:00:12.714 --> 00:00:15.684
The flesh and the spirit?
00:00:15.684 --> 00:00:17.519
Today, we'll learn three truths about our fallen human nature
00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:20.889
And how to find victory in "the battle within."
00:00:20.889 --> 00:00:24.493
♪♪♪
00:00:24.493 --> 00:00:54.289
Jeff: can the devil make you do anything?
00:00:34.503 --> 00:00:57.693
No, the devil is the tempter.
00:00:57.693 --> 00:00:59.895
He can tempt you to do.
00:00:59.895 --> 00:01:02.764
He can't make you do anything.
00:01:02.764 --> 00:01:06.201
But it's nice when you say, "well, the devil made me do it,
00:01:06.201 --> 00:01:09.171
So that leaves me out of the equation."
00:01:09.171 --> 00:01:12.374
You know, when adam and eve sinned, they had an excuse.
00:01:12.374 --> 00:01:16.378
"what have you done, adam?"
00:01:16.378 --> 00:01:17.746
"well, the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of
00:01:17.746 --> 00:01:20.048
The tree, and i ate.
00:01:20.048 --> 00:01:21.416
It's not my fault. it's the woman's fault.
00:01:21.416 --> 00:01:22.784
It's your fault for giving me the woman."
00:01:22.784 --> 00:01:24.119
He says to eve, "what is this that you have done?"
00:01:24.119 --> 00:01:26.788
"the serpent deceived me, and i ate.
00:01:26.788 --> 00:01:28.657
The devil made me do it."
00:01:28.657 --> 00:01:31.426
Well, god wasn't buying that.
00:01:31.426 --> 00:01:33.262
They did it. they sinned.
00:01:33.262 --> 00:01:34.596
They ate of the fruit, and it was on them.
00:01:34.596 --> 00:01:38.300
So when adam and eve sinned, they died just as god told them,
00:01:38.300 --> 00:01:42.704
"in the day you eat of it, you will die."
00:01:42.704 --> 00:01:45.541
And they did die.
00:01:45.541 --> 00:01:46.909
They died that day.
00:01:46.909 --> 00:01:48.243
But they didn't die in their body, they didn't die in their
00:01:48.243 --> 00:01:50.712
Soul that day.
00:01:50.712 --> 00:01:52.047
They died in their spirit.
00:01:52.047 --> 00:01:53.415
They died in that connection with god.
00:01:53.415 --> 00:01:55.350
And then they had children, and all the children of adam and eve
00:01:55.350 --> 00:02:01.423
And the grandchildren and the great-great grandchildren, we're
00:02:01.423 --> 00:02:03.892
All related to adam and eve.
00:02:03.892 --> 00:02:06.261
Adam passed on a dead spirit, and that's what we're born with.
00:02:06.261 --> 00:02:10.132
We're born in adam.
00:02:10.132 --> 00:02:11.500
"as in adam all die, so as in christ all shall be made alive."
00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:14.803
That's why we need to be born again, because we're born
00:02:14.803 --> 00:02:18.774
In adam.
00:02:18.774 --> 00:02:20.642
And when you become a christian, things change, but there's still
00:02:20.642 --> 00:02:25.714
A problem with this--the residual of the old nature.
00:02:25.714 --> 00:02:31.453
And we wanna talk about that today as we discuss "the
00:02:31.453 --> 00:02:35.123
Battle within."
00:02:35.123 --> 00:02:37.993
You know, if the devil were to be obliterated, if god just
00:02:37.993 --> 00:02:40.829
Said, "i'm gonna take the devil out.
00:02:40.829 --> 00:02:42.331
He's going to cease to be.
00:02:42.331 --> 00:02:43.699
I'm gonna incarcerate him in the lake of fire forever and ever
00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:47.035
And ever.
00:02:47.035 --> 00:02:48.403
You're never gonna see him again," you're still gonna
00:02:48.403 --> 00:02:49.738
Struggle with sin because sin's an inside job.
00:02:49.738 --> 00:02:53.942
And paul talks about this in romans chapter 7.
00:02:53.942 --> 00:02:58.080
Romans 6, 7, and 8 are three really key chapters because, as
00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:03.518
We're gonna learn today, romans 6 tells us we're dead to sin.
00:03:03.518 --> 00:03:06.521
Romans 7 says we still struggle with sin, with the flesh.
00:03:06.521 --> 00:03:10.592
And romans 8 tells us there's victory in the holy spirit.
00:03:10.592 --> 00:03:14.663
So this is what paul says in romans 7, beginning in verse 14.
00:03:14.663 --> 00:03:18.934
"for we know that the law is spiritual."
00:03:18.934 --> 00:03:22.104
The law is good, it's spiritual.
00:03:22.104 --> 00:03:23.672
"but i am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
00:03:23.672 --> 00:03:27.809
For what i am doing, i do not understand; for i am not
00:03:27.809 --> 00:03:31.980
Practicing what i would like to do, but i'm doing the very thing
00:03:31.980 --> 00:03:36.251
I hate."
00:03:36.251 --> 00:03:37.586
And he's not talking about being a non-christian.
00:03:37.586 --> 00:03:39.488
He's talking about being a christian here desiring to
00:03:39.488 --> 00:03:42.190
Please god and serve god.
00:03:42.190 --> 00:03:43.859
He said, "but what is going on?
00:03:43.859 --> 00:03:46.128
I'm not doing what i want to do.
00:03:46.128 --> 00:03:48.297
I'm practicing what i don't want to do."
00:03:48.297 --> 00:03:50.465
Verse 16, "but if i do the very thing i do not want to do, i
00:03:50.465 --> 00:03:53.735
Agree with the law, confessing that the law is good.
00:03:53.735 --> 00:03:57.372
So now, no longer am i the one doing it, but sin which dwells
00:03:57.372 --> 00:04:01.076
In me.
00:04:01.076 --> 00:04:02.411
For i know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my
00:04:02.411 --> 00:04:06.381
Flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of
00:04:06.381 --> 00:04:09.851
The good is not."
00:04:09.851 --> 00:04:11.186
Now, when he talks about the flesh, he's not talking about
00:04:11.186 --> 00:04:12.888
Your hide and hair, your skin and bones.
00:04:12.888 --> 00:04:14.790
He's not talking about your physical body.
00:04:14.790 --> 00:04:16.458
He's talking about this residual from the adamic nature.
00:04:16.458 --> 00:04:20.362
That's the flesh.
00:04:20.362 --> 00:04:22.531
"for the good that i want, i do not do, but i practice the very
00:04:22.531 --> 00:04:25.233
Evil that i do not want.
00:04:25.233 --> 00:04:27.169
But if i'm doing the very thing i do not want, i am no longer
00:04:27.169 --> 00:04:31.006
The one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
00:04:31.006 --> 00:04:34.609
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one
00:04:34.609 --> 00:04:40.282
Who wants to do good.
00:04:40.282 --> 00:04:42.684
For i joyfully concur with the law of god and the inner man,
00:04:42.684 --> 00:04:46.988
But i see a different law in the members of my body, waging war
00:04:46.988 --> 00:04:51.693
Against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law
00:04:51.693 --> 00:04:54.663
Of sin which is in my members.
00:04:54.663 --> 00:04:57.165
Wretched man that i am!
00:04:57.165 --> 00:04:58.900
Who will set me free from the body of this death?
00:04:58.900 --> 00:05:04.106
Thanks be to god through jesus christ our lord!
00:05:04.106 --> 00:05:07.476
So then, on the one hand i myself with my mind, am serving
00:05:07.476 --> 00:05:11.546
The law of god, but on the other, with my flesh the law
00:05:11.546 --> 00:05:14.649
Of sin."
00:05:14.649 --> 00:05:17.052
Now, the bible doesn't tell us we have two natures.
00:05:17.052 --> 00:05:20.188
The old nature is--has been crucified, but the old nature--
00:05:20.188 --> 00:05:25.327
The residual effects of the old nature are still there.
00:05:25.327 --> 00:05:28.663
And every christian can relate to romans chapter 7 when paul
00:05:28.663 --> 00:05:32.501
Gives his biographical sketch of this struggle that goes on
00:05:32.501 --> 00:05:35.904
Inside of him.
00:05:35.904 --> 00:05:37.239
It's exactly what he says also in galatians chapter 5.
00:05:37.239 --> 00:05:39.641
"but i say, walk by the spirit, and you will not carry
00:05:39.641 --> 00:05:42.411
Out the desires of the flesh.
00:05:42.411 --> 00:05:45.280
For the flesh sets its desires against the spirit, and the
00:05:45.280 --> 00:05:49.484
Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one
00:05:49.484 --> 00:05:52.587
Another so that you may not do the things that you please."
00:05:52.587 --> 00:05:57.426
And every christian knows about this battle, and we're at war
00:05:57.426 --> 00:06:02.931
With the world.
00:06:02.931 --> 00:06:04.299
We're at war with the devil, the world's system--not the world
00:06:04.299 --> 00:06:06.902
Of people, but this anti-god system.
00:06:06.902 --> 00:06:09.671
And we're at war with the devil, and we're at war, an internal
00:06:09.671 --> 00:06:12.374
Battle, with the flesh.
00:06:12.374 --> 00:06:15.243
And so, here's our question for today: do you understand the
00:06:15.243 --> 00:06:19.181
Inner battle of every true christian?
00:06:19.181 --> 00:06:22.617
Non-christians don't have this battle.
00:06:22.617 --> 00:06:24.586
This is a battle that is true for a christian.
00:06:24.586 --> 00:06:28.924
So, three truths for today.
00:06:28.924 --> 00:06:31.026
Truth number one: every christian is dead to sin and
00:06:31.026 --> 00:06:34.362
Alive to god.
00:06:34.362 --> 00:06:37.365
That's the truth.
00:06:37.365 --> 00:06:38.733
If you're a believer in jesus christ, if you've given your
00:06:38.733 --> 00:06:40.836
Heart and life to him, you are dead to sin, and you're made
00:06:40.836 --> 00:06:44.306
Alive to god.
00:06:44.306 --> 00:06:46.274
So this is what paul says in romans chapter 5 as he finishes
00:06:46.274 --> 00:06:50.312
Up romans 5, he said, "the law came in so that the
00:06:50.312 --> 00:06:55.083
Transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace
00:06:55.083 --> 00:06:59.521
Abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so
00:06:59.521 --> 00:07:04.392
Grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life
00:07:04.392 --> 00:07:07.596
Through jesus christ our lord."
00:07:07.596 --> 00:07:09.331
We're all in sin, but god's grace is greater.
00:07:09.331 --> 00:07:12.801
Now, paul knew that his readers, the roman audience, would say,
00:07:12.801 --> 00:07:19.941
"oh, well, you know, if we sin and that gets more grace, then
00:07:19.941 --> 00:07:25.247
We need to just continue in sin because where sin abounds, grace
00:07:25.247 --> 00:07:30.085
Does much more abound."
00:07:30.085 --> 00:07:31.453
And so this is what he says in chapter 6: "what shall we
00:07:31.453 --> 00:07:34.322
Say then?
00:07:34.322 --> 00:07:35.690
Are we to continue in sin that grace might abound, grace
00:07:35.690 --> 00:07:38.860
May increase?
00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:40.195
May it never be, god forbid!"
00:07:40.195 --> 00:07:42.397
Or some translations say, "what a ghastly thought!"
00:07:42.397 --> 00:07:45.634
"how shall we who died to sin still live in it?
00:07:45.634 --> 00:07:50.038
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into
00:07:50.038 --> 00:07:53.675
Christ jesus have been baptized into his death?"
00:07:53.675 --> 00:07:58.079
Now, he's not talking about water baptism.
00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.448
He's talking about the moment that you received christ.
00:08:00.448 --> 00:08:03.351
You were--we do baptisms-- immersion baptism, which is the
00:08:03.351 --> 00:08:08.390
Only baptism talked about in the bible.
00:08:08.390 --> 00:08:11.293
And that's a picture--a visible picture that we can all see of
00:08:11.293 --> 00:08:15.297
An invisible truth, and that invisible truth is when you come
00:08:15.297 --> 00:08:19.467
To christ, you die to your old way of life, and you have a
00:08:19.467 --> 00:08:21.937
Brand-new life in jesus.
00:08:21.937 --> 00:08:23.572
That's why you can't picture that with taking a couple of
00:08:23.572 --> 00:08:26.141
Spoonfuls of water and pouring it over somebody's head.
00:08:26.141 --> 00:08:28.877
You go down into the water, buried with christ through
00:08:28.877 --> 00:08:32.180
Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.
00:08:32.180 --> 00:08:35.183
Now, that's a physical, visible picture of an invisible reality,
00:08:35.183 --> 00:08:40.755
And that's what he's talking about in verse 3.
00:08:40.755 --> 00:08:42.324
It's an invisible reality.
00:08:42.324 --> 00:08:44.225
"or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into
00:08:44.225 --> 00:08:46.761
Christ jesus have been baptized into his death?
00:08:46.761 --> 00:08:49.764
Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into
00:08:49.764 --> 00:08:53.935
Death, so that as christ was raised from the dead through the
00:08:53.935 --> 00:08:56.538
Glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
00:08:56.538 --> 00:09:01.142
You go down under the water, as we picture it in baptism, you
00:09:01.142 --> 00:09:04.346
Come right back up, raised to walk in newness of life.
00:09:04.346 --> 00:09:08.883
"for if we have become united with him in the likeness of his
00:09:08.883 --> 00:09:11.186
Death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his
00:09:11.186 --> 00:09:15.056
Resurrection, knowing this, that our old self," our old man, that
00:09:15.056 --> 00:09:21.596
Adamic nature, "was crucified with him, in order that our body
00:09:21.596 --> 00:09:26.801
Of sin might be done away with," might be rendered inoperative,
00:09:26.801 --> 00:09:33.174
"so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has
00:09:33.174 --> 00:09:35.910
Died is freed from sin.
00:09:35.910 --> 00:09:37.912
Now if we have died with christ, we believe that we shall also
00:09:37.912 --> 00:09:40.415
Live with him, knowing that christ, having been raised from
00:09:40.415 --> 00:09:42.651
The dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master
00:09:42.651 --> 00:09:46.588
Over him.
00:09:46.588 --> 00:09:47.922
For the death that he died, he died to sin once for all; but
00:09:47.922 --> 00:09:52.427
The life that he lives, he lives to god."
00:09:52.427 --> 00:09:54.896
And then it says this: "even so consider yourselves to be dead
00:09:54.896 --> 00:09:59.334
To sin, but alive to god in christ jesus."
00:09:59.334 --> 00:10:04.139
Now, every christian-- true christian.
00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:06.741
I'm not talking about a make-believer.
00:10:06.741 --> 00:10:08.109
I'm talking about a true believer.
00:10:08.109 --> 00:10:09.544
Every true christian is dead to sin and alive to god.
00:10:09.544 --> 00:10:14.015
That transformation has taken place.
00:10:14.015 --> 00:10:18.286
And you ask yourself, "well, when does that happen?"
00:10:18.286 --> 00:10:20.989
It happens the moment we repent and believe.
00:10:20.989 --> 00:10:24.292
The moment we turn from sin and turn to the savior, boom, that
00:10:24.292 --> 00:10:29.030
There's a transaction that takes place.
00:10:29.030 --> 00:10:30.865
So i was a 17-year-old high school senior, january of 1980.
00:10:30.865 --> 00:10:35.203
I was convicted about my sin.
00:10:35.203 --> 00:10:37.138
I saw that i needed jesus, and i saw that if i died right then, i
00:10:37.138 --> 00:10:40.842
Would go to hell because i had no basis to go to heaven.
00:10:40.842 --> 00:10:43.645
And i said, "jesus, would you save me?"
00:10:43.645 --> 00:10:46.314
And i didn't understand all the ramifications of that.
00:10:46.314 --> 00:10:48.983
I didn't understand theologically what was
00:10:48.983 --> 00:10:50.819
Taking place.
00:10:50.819 --> 00:10:52.187
I just gave my life to him, and he gave his life to me.
00:10:52.187 --> 00:10:58.426
And in that moment in time, i died in my old way of life and
00:10:58.426 --> 00:11:01.863
Had a brand-new life in jesus.
00:11:01.863 --> 00:11:05.100
2 corinthians chapter 5, verse 17 says this: "therefore if
00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:08.603
Anyone is in christ, he's a new creature; the old things passed
00:11:08.603 --> 00:11:11.940
Away; behold, new things have come."
00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:14.442
Every christian is a twice-born person.
00:11:14.442 --> 00:11:17.545
You're born once physically, and then you're born again.
00:11:17.545 --> 00:11:21.516
And your old man is crucified, your old self, that adamic
00:11:21.516 --> 00:11:24.819
Nature, is crucified with christ, as paul said in
00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:27.255
Galatians 2:20: "i've been crucified with christ, and it is
00:11:27.255 --> 00:11:31.192
No longer i who live, but christ lives in me."
00:11:31.192 --> 00:11:34.796
That's the transformation that takes place.
00:11:34.796 --> 00:11:38.733
And so we are dead to sin, we're alive to god, and this is a
00:11:38.733 --> 00:11:43.371
Truth that we must remember daily.
00:11:43.371 --> 00:11:47.242
You have to constantly remind yourself, "i'm dead to sin.
00:11:47.242 --> 00:11:52.080
I'm alive to god."
00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.448
As it says in romans 6:11, "even so consider yourselves to be
00:11:53.448 --> 00:11:58.953
Dead to sin, but alive to god in christ jesus."
00:11:58.953 --> 00:12:01.890
You have to consider it.
00:12:01.890 --> 00:12:03.224
You have to keep putting it down on paper, putting it down in
00:12:03.224 --> 00:12:06.461
Your mind.
00:12:06.461 --> 00:12:07.796
You take what's true on paper, what's a theological truth, true
00:12:07.796 --> 00:12:11.032
In heaven, and you say, "okay, how do i make that true on
00:12:11.032 --> 00:12:14.702
Earth, true in practice?"
00:12:14.702 --> 00:12:17.238
Because what's true on paper doesn't mean it's true
00:12:17.238 --> 00:12:20.942
In practice.
00:12:20.942 --> 00:12:22.844
And we have to constantly remind ourselves of that because, truth
00:12:22.844 --> 00:12:27.916
Number two, every christian feels the internal pull of sin.
00:12:27.916 --> 00:12:34.422
And if you don't feel the internal pull of sin and you
00:12:34.422 --> 00:12:38.159
Truly are a christian, then you're a liar because every
00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:42.130
Christian feels that.
00:12:42.130 --> 00:12:44.465
And the feeling is the big operative word that we feel.
00:12:44.465 --> 00:12:48.770
So the lord says, "you're dead to sin, you're alive to god, but
00:12:48.770 --> 00:12:52.073
Hey, you know what?
00:12:52.073 --> 00:12:53.641
You and i don't feel dead to sin."
00:12:53.641 --> 00:12:58.112
But truth is not what you think.
00:12:58.112 --> 00:12:59.781
It's not what you feel.
00:12:59.781 --> 00:13:01.216
Truth is what god says.
00:13:01.216 --> 00:13:02.684
So if god says you're dead to sin and alive to him and raised
00:13:02.684 --> 00:13:06.087
To walk in newness of life, then that's true, even though i don't
00:13:06.087 --> 00:13:10.859
Feel like it.
00:13:10.859 --> 00:13:14.295
See, we don't feel dead to sin.
00:13:14.295 --> 00:13:15.997
We still feel the desires of the flesh because you still have
00:13:15.997 --> 00:13:22.904
This flesh that is dead, but it's not gone.
00:13:22.904 --> 00:13:30.144
It's still there.
00:13:30.144 --> 00:13:31.713
It's been rendered powerless, but it has not been
00:13:31.713 --> 00:13:34.983
Rendered voiceless.
00:13:34.983 --> 00:13:37.318
And it still barks out commands to you and me to respond.
00:13:37.318 --> 00:13:42.023
And we don't feel dead to sin, we still feel the desires of
00:13:42.023 --> 00:13:46.527
The flesh.
00:13:46.527 --> 00:13:48.696
Just because god says it's true and it is true doesn't mean that
00:13:48.696 --> 00:13:52.800
Immediately causes you to say, "oh, well, then i'm dead to all
00:13:52.800 --> 00:13:56.838
Those things."
00:13:56.838 --> 00:13:58.206
No, because your flesh is working against you, as paul
00:13:58.206 --> 00:14:00.942
Said, "the good that i do, i don't do.
00:14:00.942 --> 00:14:03.044
And the evil that i don't wanna do, i find myself doing that.
00:14:03.044 --> 00:14:06.047
What is going on here?
00:14:06.047 --> 00:14:07.382
I got this pull in me to do evil."
00:14:07.382 --> 00:14:12.387
Every christian knows what that's like.
00:14:12.387 --> 00:14:14.822
And so we still struggle with our old, crucified self.
00:14:14.822 --> 00:14:21.229
Now, romans 6, verse 6, "our old self," our old man, "was
00:14:21.229 --> 00:14:27.902
Crucified with him, in order that our body of sin might be
00:14:27.902 --> 00:14:33.174
Done away with."
00:14:33.174 --> 00:14:34.509
King james says "destroyed," but the body of sin is
00:14:34.509 --> 00:14:36.844
Not destroyed.
00:14:36.844 --> 00:14:38.212
It's rendered inoperative.
00:14:38.212 --> 00:14:40.682
It's rendered powerless so that we would no longer be slaves
00:14:40.682 --> 00:14:44.352
To sin.
00:14:44.352 --> 00:14:45.720
The greatest illustration i've ever heard about this, this man
00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.957
Said, "well, suppose that you're on this ship, and the captain of
00:14:48.957 --> 00:14:52.927
The ship is the worst, meanest, cruelest captain you've ever
00:14:52.927 --> 00:14:57.532
Seen in your life.
00:14:57.532 --> 00:14:58.900
He does terrible, horrible things.
00:14:58.900 --> 00:15:00.802
And you can't stand it, but that's what you're
00:15:00.802 --> 00:15:05.006
Living under."
00:15:05.006 --> 00:15:06.441
And he said, "one day, there's a mutiny on the ship.
00:15:06.441 --> 00:15:09.444
And the captain is overthrown, and he's no longer captain
00:15:09.444 --> 00:15:13.047
Anymore, and they tie him up, and they hoist him up to the top
00:15:13.047 --> 00:15:16.484
Of the mast.
00:15:16.484 --> 00:15:18.619
And he is there, he is rendered powerless.
00:15:18.619 --> 00:15:22.957
No more power over you, and now you have a new captain who is
00:15:22.957 --> 00:15:25.727
Wonderful, who loves you, who wants what's best for you.
00:15:25.727 --> 00:15:28.696
But here's the problem with the old captain: the old captain was
00:15:28.696 --> 00:15:33.234
Not gagged.
00:15:33.234 --> 00:15:35.136
He's taken out of the way, but he still has a voice, and he
00:15:35.136 --> 00:15:38.573
Still barks out commands, and you're so used to obeying that
00:15:38.573 --> 00:15:42.043
Old captain that you jump when he says jump.
00:15:42.043 --> 00:15:46.514
You just say, 'ah, you know, i'm so used to doing what you say,'"
00:15:46.514 --> 00:15:49.951
And that impulse comes."
00:15:49.951 --> 00:15:51.819
And that's a picture of the flesh.
00:15:51.819 --> 00:15:53.588
The flesh is rendered powerless over us, but it still has
00:15:53.588 --> 00:15:58.659
A voice.
00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:00.094
You know, just because you become a christian doesn't mean
00:16:00.094 --> 00:16:03.498
That you're not still gonna battle with sin, and the devil
00:16:03.498 --> 00:16:07.301
Will appeal to your flesh, and the world appeals to your flesh,
00:16:07.301 --> 00:16:11.272
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful
00:16:11.272 --> 00:16:14.409
Pride of life.
00:16:14.409 --> 00:16:16.577
Romans 7:22, look at it again.
00:16:16.577 --> 00:16:21.849
Paul says, "for i joyfully concur with the law of god in
00:16:21.849 --> 00:16:25.653
The inner man, but i see a different law in the members of
00:16:25.653 --> 00:16:28.356
My body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a
00:16:28.356 --> 00:16:32.693
Prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
00:16:32.693 --> 00:16:35.763
Wretched man that i am!
00:16:35.763 --> 00:16:37.865
Who will set me free from this body of death?"
00:16:37.865 --> 00:16:43.471
So every christian feels the internal pull of sin.
00:16:43.471 --> 00:16:46.674
And truth number three: every christian can experience victory
00:16:46.674 --> 00:16:51.746
Only in the holy spirit.
00:16:51.746 --> 00:16:55.083
So romans 6, we're dead to sin, alive to god.
00:16:55.083 --> 00:16:59.020
Romans 7, "yeah, but i struggle with sin."
00:16:59.020 --> 00:17:01.622
Yeah, that's right.
00:17:01.622 --> 00:17:02.990
Paul did, too.
00:17:02.990 --> 00:17:04.325
He uses first person, "i, me, my," 36 times in romans 7:14-25.
00:17:04.325 --> 00:17:10.364
He's not talking about his life before christ.
00:17:10.364 --> 00:17:12.233
He's talking about his life as a christian.
00:17:12.233 --> 00:17:14.135
Then romans 8, he says, "who will set me free from the body
00:17:14.135 --> 00:17:16.571
Of this death?
00:17:16.571 --> 00:17:17.905
Thanks be to god because he's given me his holy spirit, and i
00:17:17.905 --> 00:17:21.142
Can live the christian life, not in my own strength, because i
00:17:21.142 --> 00:17:24.645
Don't have any.
00:17:24.645 --> 00:17:26.013
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
00:17:26.013 --> 00:17:27.982
I can live it in the power of the holy spirit."
00:17:27.982 --> 00:17:31.752
And every christian can do that.
00:17:31.752 --> 00:17:33.454
We can yield ourselves to the lord.
00:17:33.454 --> 00:17:35.857
Now, how do we do that?
00:17:35.857 --> 00:17:37.191
The three musts.
00:17:37.191 --> 00:17:38.559
Number one, we must walk in the power of the holy spirit.
00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:41.462
You can't do it without the holy spirit, without yielding
00:17:41.462 --> 00:17:46.200
Yourself to the holy spirit.
00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:49.270
Galatians 5:16 again, "but i say, walk by the spirit, and you
00:17:49.270 --> 00:17:54.075
Will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
00:17:54.075 --> 00:17:55.776
For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit, and the
00:17:55.776 --> 00:17:59.213
Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one
00:17:59.213 --> 00:18:02.483
Another, so that you may not do the things that you please."
00:18:02.483 --> 00:18:06.888
And it goes on to list 15 things about, "the deeds of the flesh
00:18:06.888 --> 00:18:11.259
Are evident: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:15.563
Sorcery, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissension,
00:18:15.563 --> 00:18:20.501
Factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like
00:18:20.501 --> 00:18:23.404
These, of which i forewarned you, just as i have also
00:18:23.404 --> 00:18:25.506
Forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not
00:18:25.506 --> 00:18:29.076
Inherit the kingdom of god."
00:18:29.076 --> 00:18:30.745
Because if the practice of your life is the flesh, guess what?
00:18:30.745 --> 00:18:34.815
News flash: you've never been saved.
00:18:34.815 --> 00:18:38.252
And so we have to yield--as christians, we have to yield
00:18:38.252 --> 00:18:41.522
Ourselves to the holy spirit.
00:18:41.522 --> 00:18:42.857
And when we do, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:18:42.857 --> 00:18:47.328
Patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
00:18:47.328 --> 00:18:49.463
Faithfulness, self-control.
00:18:49.463 --> 00:18:51.465
Against such things there is no law.
00:18:51.465 --> 00:18:53.868
Now we vacillate between walking by the spirit and walking in the
00:18:53.868 --> 00:18:58.406
Flesh because we don't--nobody wins this battle 100% of
00:18:58.406 --> 00:19:02.076
The time.
00:19:02.076 --> 00:19:03.444
Paul didn't, and he's probably the greatest christian who has
00:19:03.444 --> 00:19:06.414
Ever lived.
00:19:06.414 --> 00:19:07.815
He still struggled.
00:19:07.815 --> 00:19:09.684
He says, "don't offer your members, the members of your
00:19:09.684 --> 00:19:13.254
Body, your eyes and ears and your hands and your feet and
00:19:13.254 --> 00:19:16.891
Your heart and your mind, don't offer those to sin."
00:19:16.891 --> 00:19:21.963
He said, "use your members, offer those to god, as
00:19:21.963 --> 00:19:25.700
Instruments of righteousness to god."
00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:29.237
And we've all had the experience as christians of offering
00:19:29.237 --> 00:19:32.406
Ourselves over to sin.
00:19:32.406 --> 00:19:34.308
And he said, "don't you know that if you do that, you become
00:19:34.308 --> 00:19:37.445
The slave of sin?"
00:19:37.445 --> 00:19:38.946
And you're not the slave of sin on paper, but you become that
00:19:38.946 --> 00:19:42.883
In practice.
00:19:42.883 --> 00:19:44.785
So offer yourselves as slaves to god.
00:19:44.785 --> 00:19:48.823
Romans chapter 12, "i urge you, therefore, brethren, by the
00:19:48.823 --> 00:19:51.259
Mercies of god, to present your bodies a living and holy
00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:54.962
Sacrifice, acceptable to god, which is your spiritual service
00:19:54.962 --> 00:19:58.532
Of worship."
00:19:58.532 --> 00:19:59.867
Lord, my hands belong to you.
00:19:59.867 --> 00:20:01.602
Lord, my mind belongs to you.
00:20:01.602 --> 00:20:02.970
I wanna think things.
00:20:02.970 --> 00:20:04.305
I wanna set my mind on the things above, not on the things
00:20:04.305 --> 00:20:06.540
That are on earth.
00:20:06.540 --> 00:20:07.975
Lord, i want to make a covenant, as job said, with my eyes so i
00:20:07.975 --> 00:20:13.080
Don't look upon a maid, so i don't lust after some
00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:17.652
Other person.
00:20:17.652 --> 00:20:19.654
My mouth, the things that come out of my mouth, the ears, the
00:20:19.654 --> 00:20:22.556
Things that i'm allowed to hear, lord, i'm surrendering all that
00:20:22.556 --> 00:20:25.660
To you.
00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.994
And how often do we do that?
00:20:26.994 --> 00:20:28.362
We do that every single day.
00:20:28.362 --> 00:20:29.697
It's not getting saved again.
00:20:29.697 --> 00:20:31.165
It's just re-upping all the time, saying, "lord, i belong
00:20:31.165 --> 00:20:33.901
To you.
00:20:33.901 --> 00:20:35.236
I've been bought with a price.
00:20:35.236 --> 00:20:36.604
Therefore, glorify--let me glorify you in my body."
00:20:36.604 --> 00:20:40.941
And so that's a daily struggle, a daily battle, that we would
00:20:40.941 --> 00:20:44.712
Walk in the power of the holy spirit.
00:20:44.712 --> 00:20:47.548
And then second must: we must deprive the flesh of
00:20:47.548 --> 00:20:51.218
Its provision.
00:20:51.218 --> 00:20:54.322
Romans chapter 13.
00:20:54.322 --> 00:20:59.493
Romans 13 says this, beginning in verse 12: "therefore let us
00:20:59.493 --> 00:21:03.764
Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
00:21:03.764 --> 00:21:08.469
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
00:21:08.469 --> 00:21:11.972
Drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not
00:21:11.972 --> 00:21:16.610
In strife and jealousy.
00:21:16.610 --> 00:21:19.246
But put on the lord jesus christ, and make no provision
00:21:19.246 --> 00:21:23.384
For the flesh in regard to its lusts."
00:21:23.384 --> 00:21:27.488
Don't give the flesh a supply of provision.
00:21:27.488 --> 00:21:33.427
So that's why as christians we would be sinning against god if
00:21:33.427 --> 00:21:37.631
We went to the bars, to the boats, to the gentlemen's club,
00:21:37.631 --> 00:21:41.235
Because you just give provision for the flesh.
00:21:41.235 --> 00:21:43.671
You just set yourself up for failure.
00:21:43.671 --> 00:21:46.273
"so if anyone thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall."
00:21:46.273 --> 00:21:49.343
Don't go right to the edge and say, "well, let me see how close
00:21:49.343 --> 00:21:52.913
I can get without falling."
00:21:52.913 --> 00:21:54.382
You're gonna fall over.
00:21:54.382 --> 00:21:55.750
It's a slippery slope.
00:21:55.750 --> 00:21:58.886
And then, lastly, the last must: we must never give up in
00:21:58.886 --> 00:22:04.725
The battle.
00:22:04.725 --> 00:22:06.293
Never give up in the battle.
00:22:06.293 --> 00:22:09.697
So what do you do when you fall, when you fail?
00:22:09.697 --> 00:22:13.401
"a righteous man falls seven times," proverbs 24:16 says.
00:22:13.401 --> 00:22:18.105
A righteous man--not a bum, not a scum, not a loser, a
00:22:18.105 --> 00:22:21.108
Righteous man.
00:22:21.108 --> 00:22:22.777
He falls seven times, and he rises again.
00:22:22.777 --> 00:22:25.946
He keeps getting back up.
00:22:25.946 --> 00:22:29.417
And if you've fallen to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
00:22:29.417 --> 00:22:33.454
Eyes, and the boastful pride of life, if you've given yourself
00:22:33.454 --> 00:22:36.323
Over to sexual immorality or drugs or alcohol or whatever,
00:22:36.323 --> 00:22:39.693
And you say, "i've sinned too greatly," you don't ever quit in
00:22:39.693 --> 00:22:45.533
Your battle against the flesh.
00:22:45.533 --> 00:22:47.802
You don't just give in.
00:22:47.802 --> 00:22:50.304
And if sin knocks you down, and if you offer your--the members
00:22:50.304 --> 00:22:54.175
Of your body as slaves to sin, as romans 6 says, and you've
00:22:54.175 --> 00:22:59.146
Blown it, you confess your sin to god, and you get right with
00:22:59.146 --> 00:23:03.083
Him, and you start fighting again, and you make no provision
00:23:03.083 --> 00:23:05.820
For the flesh with regard to its lust.
00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:07.655
You just know that "this is a battle i'm gonna face until the
00:23:07.655 --> 00:23:10.958
Lord comes and takes away this old, adamic nature from me, this
00:23:10.958 --> 00:23:14.962
Residual of the adamic nature, and i have a glorified body."
00:23:14.962 --> 00:23:18.098
Then sin will not have any more pull on you and me.
00:23:18.098 --> 00:23:23.504
A righteous man falls seven times, and he rises again.
00:23:23.504 --> 00:23:29.477
And he says, "here i am, lord.
00:23:29.477 --> 00:23:31.912
I offer myself as a living sacrifice.
00:23:31.912 --> 00:23:34.381
I have sinned, but i ask you to cleanse me of this sin.
00:23:34.381 --> 00:23:37.151
I wanna walk in your ways, and i'll make whatever changes are
00:23:37.151 --> 00:23:41.622
Necessary so i don't keep falling in that area."
00:23:41.622 --> 00:23:45.493
Jesus said, "if your right arm offends you, cut it off.
00:23:45.493 --> 00:23:50.664
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out."
00:23:50.664 --> 00:23:54.502
Now, he was speaking in hyperbole.
00:23:54.502 --> 00:23:56.103
He doesn't want us to maim ourselves.
00:23:56.103 --> 00:23:57.771
But he's saying, "listen, you need to get serious about
00:23:57.771 --> 00:24:00.808
Fighting sin and the sin within, because it's not your friend.
00:24:00.808 --> 00:24:07.815
And if you sow to the flesh, you will from the flesh
00:24:07.815 --> 00:24:10.384
Reap corruption.
00:24:10.384 --> 00:24:11.719
But if you sow to the spirit, you will from the spirit reap
00:24:11.719 --> 00:24:16.323
Eternal life."
00:24:16.323 --> 00:24:18.959
Have you fallen?
00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:21.462
Are you on the ground?
00:24:21.462 --> 00:24:24.732
God still loves you, still has a plan for you.
00:24:24.732 --> 00:24:27.635
You can be like the prodigal, come to your senses, leave the
00:24:27.635 --> 00:24:30.104
Pigsty, and get right with him, and that can start today.
00:24:30.104 --> 00:24:34.041
Jeff: every single day, people around the world are
00:24:37.444 --> 00:24:40.114
Battling powerful enemies they can't even see: temptation,
00:24:40.114 --> 00:24:45.019
Fear, shame, confusion, addiction.
00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:48.622
Families are under pressure, kids and teens are bombarded
00:24:48.622 --> 00:24:52.159
With lies, marriages are strained, and the faith of many
00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:56.530
Is weakening.
00:24:56.530 --> 00:24:57.865
It is spiritual warfare, and it's raging all around us.
00:24:57.865 --> 00:25:02.002
That's why this month on "from his heart" we're airing my new
00:25:02.002 --> 00:25:04.672
Six-message series "this is war: overcoming the world, the flesh,
00:25:04.672 --> 00:25:09.977
And the devil."
00:25:09.977 --> 00:25:11.312
Now, in this series, you'll discover how to break free from
00:25:11.312 --> 00:25:13.781
Destructive patterns, how to tear down strongholds, and fight
00:25:13.781 --> 00:25:18.352
The good fight of faith all the way to the finish line.
00:25:18.352 --> 00:25:22.356
This resource is my gift of thanks for your support of any
00:25:22.356 --> 00:25:25.426
Amount this month.
00:25:25.426 --> 00:25:26.760
Through your giving, people can learn how to walk in victory and
00:25:26.760 --> 00:25:30.331
Not defeat.
00:25:30.331 --> 00:25:31.665
You can get your copy in the format of your choice when you
00:25:31.665 --> 00:25:34.168
Call or go online.
00:25:34.168 --> 00:25:35.703
If you need to be assured of god's faithful promises or if
00:25:35.703 --> 00:25:39.206
You want to help us reach more people with these vital truths,
00:25:39.206 --> 00:25:43.010
Make that gift today, and we'll be happy to send you the series
00:25:43.010 --> 00:25:46.680
"this is war."
00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:48.082
Hey, together, we'll keep fighting to proclaim real truth
00:25:48.082 --> 00:25:51.452
And real hope from the loving heart of god.
00:25:51.452 --> 00:25:55.122
Male announcer: this new six-lesson series, "this is war:
00:25:55.122 --> 00:25:58.392
Overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil," is our gift of
00:25:58.392 --> 00:26:01.662
Thanks to you in the format of your choice for your support to
00:26:01.662 --> 00:26:04.999
"from his heart" of any amount this month.
00:26:04.999 --> 00:26:07.735
Just call 877-777-6171 or go online to fromhisheart.org.
00:26:07.735 --> 00:26:15.309
Request this series for you or someone you know who will be
00:26:15.309 --> 00:26:18.345
Blessed by it.
00:26:18.345 --> 00:26:19.780
Thank you for supporting this outreach to the world.
00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:23.951
Jeff: and we come to the most important question of all:
00:26:23.951 --> 00:26:26.654
Have you turned from sin and selfishness and given your heart
00:26:26.654 --> 00:26:30.391
And life to jesus?
00:26:30.391 --> 00:26:32.059
If not, today is the day for you.
00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:34.461
Just pray this prayer from your heart: "lord jesus, i need you.
00:26:34.461 --> 00:26:39.133
I know that i'm a sinner, and i can't save myself, but jesus, i
00:26:39.133 --> 00:26:43.370
Believe that you are god in the flesh.
00:26:43.370 --> 00:26:45.506
I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose again from
00:26:45.506 --> 00:26:48.208
The dead.
00:26:48.208 --> 00:26:49.576
And right now, jesus, i turn from my sin.
00:26:49.576 --> 00:26:53.047
I ask you to forgive me and save me and make me the person you
00:26:53.047 --> 00:26:56.850
Want me to be.
00:26:56.850 --> 00:26:58.185
I surrender my life, my all, to you, and promise to follow you
00:26:58.185 --> 00:27:02.489
All the days i have left."
00:27:02.489 --> 00:27:04.725
Now, listen, if you'll pray that kind of prayer and mean it, the
00:27:04.725 --> 00:27:08.529
Lord will come into your life and change you forever.
00:27:08.529 --> 00:27:12.166
I would love to hear from you.
00:27:12.166 --> 00:27:13.834
Please contact me, share with me what's going on in your life, so
00:27:13.834 --> 00:27:16.770
That we can pray for you.
00:27:16.770 --> 00:27:18.472
You really are important to god, and you're important to us, and
00:27:18.472 --> 00:27:22.409
We're here for you.
00:27:22.409 --> 00:27:23.744
♪♪♪
00:27:23.744 --> 00:27:23.744

Jeff Schreve - The Battle Within

August 17, 2025 | S1 E4153 | 28:40

Closed captions

Share