In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of living according to the flesh versus living according to the spirit. He uses the illustration of grafting to explain how our sinful nature can be transformed through faith in Jesus. By believing in Jesus, our sins are washed away by his shed blood, and our dead spirit is quickened into new life. We are born again and receive the life of God, with Christ dwelling in our new spirit. The preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing the symptoms of living according to the flesh, such as unbelief and disobedience, and the need to walk in the spirit to please God.

This sermon delves into the theme of ignorance as a hindrance to embracing Christianity, using the example of Paul's past actions and rejection of Christ due to ignorance. It emphasizes how ignorance prevents individuals from recognizing the need for salvation and the consequences of rejecting Christ, highlighting the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding to overcome ignorance and accept the truth of the Gospel.

This sermon emphasizes the importance of going to the tower, symbolizing meeting with God in prayer and seeking His guidance. It highlights the story of Habakkuk standing upon his watchtower to hear from God, encouraging listeners to write down the vision God gives, run with it, and live by faith. The sermon stresses the need to avoid living loose, in a fog, without love, worship, or discouragement by consistently going to the tower to seek God's presence and direction.

This sermon delves into the importance of recognizing when something is missing in our lives, particularly in relation to the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker emphasizes the impact of a lack of the Holy Spirit in churches and individuals, leading to lifeless sermons, stagnant faith, and a deficiency in love and compassion. The sermon highlights the need for spiritual power, love for God's Word, worship, prayer, and others, as well as the danger of a hard heart marked by unbelief, lack of compassion, sin mastery, and thriving pride. The message concludes with a call to transform a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, embracing God's unconditional love and rejecting pride and anger as tools of the enemy.

Mike Bickle emphasizes David's profound revelation of God's heart, particularly through the pivotal moment when God corrects Samuel's perception of worthiness. This revelation, found in 1 Samuel 16:7, teaches that God evaluates individuals based on their hearts rather than outward appearances or accomplishments. David's understanding of this truth shaped his identity and ministry, allowing him to see himself as beloved by God despite being overlooked by his family. Bickle highlights that this paradigm shift not only transformed David's self-view but also how he perceived others, encouraging believers to embrace their identity as God's beloved and to measure success by the condition of their hearts.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the dangers of ignorance in his sermon 'Ignorant People,' arguing that while some may believe ignorance fosters devotion, the Bible clearly states it leads to destruction. He cites Hosea 4:6 to illustrate that lack of knowledge results in ruin, and Matthew 22:29 to highlight that error stems from not knowing the Scriptures. Brooks warns that ignorance enslaves individuals to sin and makes them vulnerable to Satan's traps, ultimately leading to a life devoid of understanding and filled with misery. He concludes that ignorance not only breeds sin but also makes individuals indifferent to their actions against God and their own souls.

A.W. Tozer emphasizes that sin originates in the mind, which encompasses not just intellect but the entire personality, including will, emotions, and moral responses. He points out that the carnal mind is in opposition to God and cannot adhere to His law. Tozer references Genesis 6:5 to illustrate that the wickedness of humanity is rooted in the heart, where evil desires and intentions dwell. He urges listeners to recognize that true sin is a matter of the heart, affecting every aspect of a person's being. The sermon calls for introspection and a deeper understanding of the heart's role in our relationship with God.

Raymond Golsworthy preaches on the intricate relationship between spirit, soul, and body as outlined in the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of understanding these three separate parts of human beings and the need to maintain the spiritual order of spirit, soul, and body. Golsworthy warns against falling into a counterfeit form of Christianity rooted in the soul rather than the spirit, stressing the significance of a spiritual response to God's Gospel and the necessity of looking to Jesus for spiritual progress.

A.W. Pink emphasizes that Christ is the only way to God, bridging the gap between sinners and the divine. He argues that human efforts to reach God are futile and that true understanding and life are found only in Christ, who embodies the truth and offers spiritual life. Pink highlights the spiritual deadness of those outside of Christ and the necessity of faith in Him for eternal life. He warns against the deception of relying on human wisdom and urges believers to recognize Christ as the ultimate revelation of God. Ultimately, Pink asserts that no one can come to the Father except through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jessie Penn-Lewis emphasizes the critical distinction between the soul and spirit, arguing that many Christians lack understanding of this difference, which hinders their spiritual growth. She explains that the soul serves as a medium between the spirit and body, and that the fall of man has led to a confusion where the soul often dominates the spirit. Penn-Lewis highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in teaching believers this distinction, enabling them to experience true spiritual understanding. She warns that without this knowledge, Christians may be deceived by false imitations of spiritual life. Ultimately, she calls for a return to the biblical understanding of man's tripartite nature to restore proper order in spiritual life.

Charles Finney addresses the 'Hardness of Heart' in his sermon, emphasizing how the disciples, despite witnessing miracles, failed to understand due to their hardened hearts. He explains that hardness of heart is a voluntary state of mind, influenced by selfishness, which blinds individuals to truth and affects their feelings and judgments. Finney illustrates this with examples from scripture and personal observations, showing that a hard heart leads to misunderstanding, delusion, and a lack of genuine faith. He urges listeners to self-examine and recognize the state of their hearts, as true revival and understanding come from a softened heart open to God's truth.

John Gill expounds on the life of God, emphasizing that God's essence is life itself, distinct from all created beings. He explains that while creatures exhibit various forms of life, God's life is self-sustaining, eternal, and independent, making Him the ultimate source of life for all creation. Gill highlights that God's life is not only essential but also efficient, as He grants life to all beings, from plants to humans, and especially imparts spiritual life to the regenerated. He contrasts the living God with lifeless idols, affirming that true life is found only in God, who is eternal and immutable. Ultimately, Gill encourages believers to recognize their spiritual life as a reflection of God's divine nature, which is perfect and everlasting.

John F. Walvoord delves into the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to the unsaved world, emphasizing how the Spirit restrains sin and reveals the Gospel to those who are spiritually dead and unable to comprehend the truth of God. The Holy Spirit's ministry in restraining sin throughout history, from the Old Testament to the present age, is crucial in maintaining order in the sinful world and allowing for the preaching of the Gospel. Additionally, the Holy Spirit's work in revealing the Gospel to the unsaved is essential for enabling them to understand the message of salvation, the righteousness of God, and the judgment and victory of Christ over Satan.

Winkie Pratney delves into the intricate components of the human personality, exploring the flesh, bones, blood, soul, spirit, and heart, emphasizing the importance of free will and the ability to make moral choices. He highlights the impact of emotions, reason, volition, conscience, intuition, and devotion on one's spiritual journey, stressing the significance of the supreme choice between serving God or self. Pratney discusses the consequences of wrong choices on the personality and the essence of sin as a self-originated selfish choice contrary to God's law.

George Fox preaches about the importance of dwelling in Christ, the top-stone over all, to experience eternal life and bear fruit to God. He emphasizes the significance of walking in the name of the Lord for safety and blessings. Fox urges believers to bow at the cross of Christ, the power of God, to overcome earthly temptations and live in the fellowship of the gospel. He highlights the necessity of worshiping God in spirit and truth, praying in the spirit, and singing in the spirit for public worship. Fox also critiques false teachings on perfection and encourages believers to grow in the word of God for everlasting life and holiness.

William MacDonald addresses the theme of human folly and its consequences, emphasizing how individuals often blame God for the ruin brought upon themselves by their own sinful choices. He illustrates this with examples of those who, after falling into immorality, turn against their faith and God instead of repenting. MacDonald highlights that apostasy frequently stems from moral failure, and that the hatred of God in the human heart is often a response to the light that exposes sin. He concludes that the reluctance to accept God's truth is deeply rooted in moral issues rather than intellectual doubts.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound consequences of ignorance in his sermon 'Below the Ox and the Donkey,' using Isaiah 1:3 to illustrate that while animals recognize their owners, God's people often fail to understand their relationship with Him. He argues that ignorance is the root of all sin, leading to spiritual enslavement and a lack of awareness of one's need for salvation. Brooks warns that this ignorance not only breeds sin but also prevents individuals from recognizing the beauty of holiness, ultimately locking them in a state of spiritual blindness. He calls for a deeper understanding of sin and holiness to foster true repentance and spiritual awakening.

Joseph Philpot preaches about the rejection of Christ by His own people due to hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and worldliness, despite their outward religious practices. He emphasizes the sovereignty of God in determining who receives Christ and the instrumental causes that influence hearts. Philpot delves into the distinct classes of characters - those who receive Christ and those who do not, highlighting the happiness and privilege of those who receive Him. He explores the reasons behind the rejection of Christ, such as blindness, self-righteousness, worldliness, and unbelief, while also discussing the secret causes that lead some to receive Him, including the quickening work of God's Spirit and the manifestation of fruits of faith.

A.W. Pink addresses the profound problem of justification, emphasizing that no sinner can achieve acceptance with God through their own efforts. He explains that the dilemma of saving a sinner is one that only God's omniscience can resolve, allowing Him to declare a guilty transgressor righteous without compromising His holiness or justice. Pink highlights the necessity for individuals to recognize their sinful state and the impossibility of meeting God's perfect standards on their own. He urges believers to understand the depth of divine grace and the importance of acknowledging their need for salvation through Christ. Ultimately, he sets the stage for exploring how God can justify the ungodly in the next chapter.

The preacher delves into the concept of futility, describing it as emptiness, vanity, and purposelessness, particularly in the context of rejecting the truth about God. The futility of the mind is highlighted as a consequence of turning away from God's revelation, leading to a life devoid of true purpose and satisfaction. The sermon emphasizes the importance of having a renewed mind, focused on Christ, to avoid being trapped in fruitless pursuits and empty illusions.