In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Romans chapter 8 and poses four important questions for believers to consider. The first question asks how God, who did not spare His own Son, would not freely give us all things. The second question challenges anyone to lay charges against God's elect, emphasizing that it is God who justifies. The third question highlights the power of Christ's death and resurrection, as He intercedes for believers. The fourth question addresses the issue of separation from the love of Christ, with the preacher listing various trials and hardships that believers may face. The sermon encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God and to crucify their sinful nature, emphasizing the need to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. The preacher concludes by reminding believers that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Father, we worship You this morning. We praise You, Lord. Father, we thank You for having had mercy upon us, Lord, in days gone by, in years gone by. Father, thank You that we're here this morning, Lord. Thank You, Father, that You've brought us to this place, Lord, in our lives, and even physically to this building today, Lord. Father, thank You that we can be here. Father, we pray in Jesus' name, Lord, that indeed Your Holy Presence, Your Holy Spirit would fall afresh upon us this morning, Lord. Father, in this assembly, Lord, upon each one of us personally, Father. For, Father, we need You, Lord. We hold up our cups to You, Lord. We lift up our lives to You, Lord. And we lay down our lives before Your Father this morning, and we pray, O God, come, Lord, and touch us, and minister to us, and mold us, and shape us, Lord. Lead us on to higher ground today, O Father. Lord, we pray for those that are listening in by telephone, Lord. Maybe they're sick, or maybe they've had a difficulty. They can't be here this morning. We ask Your blessing upon them, Father. Lord, we pray for those among us, God, that are sick, Lord. With infirmities and ailments, Lord, Father, we ask in Jesus' name that You would undergird them, Lord, and strengthen them by Your Spirit in the inner man, Lord. That their hearts may be full of faith and assurance, God. Unshaken, O God. And, Father, we pray that You would touch their lives with Your healing balm, with Your healing hand, Father. Lord, we pray for those, too, that are listening by tape, Lord. We ask God Your blessing upon them, wherever they be, in Jesus' name. Father, come now this morning, Lord, and have mercy upon Your servant, Lord. O God, give unction, give utterance, Lord. Touch our hearts, Father. Lord, we commit this service to You, each one that is here, Father. Each one that is listening, Lord. Father, would You just open our hearts to learn of You, to receive of You today. We pray in Jesus' name, Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. For Your sake and Your glory. Amen. Open your Bibles with me this morning to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8, and while you're turning there, give a little bit of the order of the service this morning. We have some testimonies to hear. Testimonies of membership and commitment to the body here. So we've chosen this morning to have the message first. And then have testimonies, and however the Lord leads, however God directs there. Romans chapter 8, and verse 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Amen. There's no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. That's glorious. It's beautiful. It doesn't stop there. It continues on. Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. This morning the title of this message is Walking After the Flesh or the Spirit. Walking After the Flesh or Walking After the Spirit. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Who walk after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Walking After the Flesh or Walking After the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. For they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. Walking After the Flesh or Walking After the Spirit. Two very different, opposing, contrary walks. Walking After the Flesh or Walking After the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. For they that are after the spirit, we could say do mind the things of the spirit. Could we not? Those that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit. Verse six, for to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. All glory. Verse five again, for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Now we drop down to verse six. For to be carnally minded is death. Now we drop down to verse seven, first part. The carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Walking After the Flesh, Walking After the Spirit. Verse nine, but ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. If so, be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. The Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If the Spirit of God dwelleth in you, if the Spirit of God abides in you, if the Spirit of God tapernacles with you, and you're tapernacling with Him, and Christ is in you, and you are in Christ, and God is in you, and Christ is in you, and the Spirit of Christ is in you, oh, then ye are not in the flesh. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If so, be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. You know, it's futility to try to walk in the Spirit. If you've not been born of the Spirit, and the Spirit of God isn't dwelling in you, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God, he's none of his. Oh, but if the Spirit of God dwell in you. Let us read on. Verse ten, and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If Christ be in you, it's your testimony that Christ is in me, and I am in Christ, and I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but now it is Christ that liveth in me. Verse eleven, if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. That is an awesome verse. If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, be in you, be in your innermost being, oh, that Spirit quickens, makes alive this old mortal body. Ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost. Know ye not that the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in ye, and that ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost? Oh, these are beautiful truths. Walking in this flesh, walking in the Spirit. If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Beautiful. Therefore, brethren, therefore, sisters, therefore, ye redeemed of the Lord, ye blood-washed saints, therefore, ye who are walking in the Spirit, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh. 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. Oh, glory. Walking in the flesh, walking in the Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Hallelujah. This morning, we want to take a look at these verses a little more in depth and allow the Lord to just speak to our hearts. I pray that God will give us practical application. You know, this is not just some theology. To believe. This is not just something to say this is great, that it speaks of this kind of spiritual life, but that it would be reality in our hearts. There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Could we say there is condemnation to those who walk in the flesh but want to hold on to these verses and say, oh, but I'm in Christ and it doesn't matter how I walk, doesn't matter how I live. And so they keep rebuking the devil because of condemnation. Oh, now wait a minute. Let us search our hearts this morning. How are we walking? Are we walking in the Spirit? Or are we walking in the flesh? Where's our heart? What are we after? He says, there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. There's no condemnation to those who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. He says it again in verse four. So we examine both of these this morning. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. To be carnally minded is death. The carnal mind is enmity against God. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. If ye live after the flesh ye shall die. Walking after the flesh takes very little effort. We just do what comes naturally, right? The natural-minded man. The natural mind of man is not subject unto God, and it can't be. The natural mind, it cannot perceive or receive the things of God. Let's just let our minds go back a little bit. Maybe even this morning, am I walking after the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit? Or am I walking after the flesh? What even transpired since I awoke this morning? Walking after the flesh. Oh, Lord, show us what that really is. Maybe it was turning that old alarm off, hitting the snooze button. First thing, I want to get up and pray and seek the Lord. Oh, but the flesh is tired. Could be, it could be. Walking after the flesh, like a door on its hinges, Proverbs says. Just turn over to the other side and fold the hands and a little more slumber, a little more sleep. I deal with that. I think we all do, if we're honest. That's flesh. Walking after the flesh, maybe it's taking that second helping. The meal's delicious, maybe it's taking that second helping. When I had enough, maybe it is. You know, the sin of gluttony is listed along with drunkenness and all kinds of other sins. Walking after the flesh, maybe it's plain down old selfishness, looking out for myself. Me, I, the me first attitude. Walking after the flesh. Let's just stop and examine ourselves. Am I walking in the spirit or am I walking in the flesh? Have I walked in the spirit this morning? One of the hymn writers said, oh, that when I lie down at night, I can have the witness of the spirit in my heart that I've walked with God today. That I've walked in the spirit today. Beautiful. Let's just let the Lord search our hearts. Since we awoke this morning, got ready, maybe had a little breakfast, whatever all we've done. Have I walked with God? Have I walked in the spirit? Maybe even getting ready. You know, flesh, frustration, running a little bit late, an unkind word, a harsh attitude. That's flesh, right? It's carnal. It's what the carnal man will do. They that are after the flesh, they mind the things of the flesh. Maybe walking after the flesh is my mind full and preoccupied with things. Things of the past days. Things of the work. Maybe things of what I need to do tomorrow at work. And my mind is filled, minding the things of the flesh. Minding the things that are temporal. Could we say it that way? The things that are temporal that are seen, carnal, temporal, fleeting. They're going to vanish away. It's my mind unduly occupied with things that are carnal, that are temporal. And I'm walking after the flesh. You know, going after that thing. You know, this can take on many forms. Am I pursuing a big bank account? Am I pursuing a bigger house? Am I pursuing a bigger business? What am I after? Am I walking after the flesh? Or am I walking after the spirit? Over in another letter to the churches, I believe it may be Ephesians, Colossians. I believe it's Colossians where he says, They mind earthly things. It's Colossians, isn't it? They mind earthly things. When I think of minding earthly things and walking after the flesh, and minding earthly things. It tells us about Lot's wife. That she looked back. The stuff in the house, you know? What am I walking after? What am I pursuing? Stuff? How many of us would think? You know, as we even consider it. We have too much stuff. You know, many times it just sort of accumulates on us. And we have stuff. We need some stuff, maybe. But, you know, stuff. If it gets in the way of the pursuit of walking in the spirit and walking after God, It can be a curse. It can be a downfall. The parable of the sower tells us, You know, the cares of life. And the lust of other things entering in. Choke out the word that it becomes unfruitful. Stuff. Carnality. Vanity. To be carnally minded, it's death. Walking after the flesh is easy to do. We just sort of relax. We just sort of cool off, you know? Just sort of sit down and do what comes naturally. It's all you have to do, right? To walk after the flesh. Walking after the flesh. Oh, instead of praying, we'll pick up the phone and gossip. Easy to walk after the flesh. Walking after the flesh. It takes on so many different forms. But I would to God that as we just consider this this morning, That the Lord would lay his finger on our hearts. For one, it may be one thing. For another, it may be something else. That sin that so easily besets walking after the flesh. That rising up of flesh. Do we know what that is? I think we do. Let us turn over to Galatians. And let's just look at the works of the flesh for just a minute. Galatians has some beautiful words to tell us concerning walking after the flesh. Or walking after the spirit. Let's begin in verse 16. This I say then, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lust is against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. And these are the contrary. The one to the other. So that ye cannot do the things that ye would. You see they're contrary. I'd like to make it very clear here this morning. The book of Romans, Galatians, he says, my brethren. We read it right there in Romans. My brethren. And I do not want to be misunderstood this morning. Every day of our life. Every moment of our life. We are choosing. Every circumstance. Every situation we are choosing to either walk in the spirit or walk in the flesh. And I don't want anyone to fall under false guilt or condemnation of the devil. This is a walk of life that we are to live and walk in Christ Jesus. And a person can make a mistake. A person can have a failure. That doesn't mean that he was never born again and you throw out everything. But it does show us that there is flesh in us that needs to die. It needs to be mortified. It needs to be crucified and put off. And that's what he's saying to the Christians. That's what he's writing to them and saying. Mortify the deeds of the body that you may live under Christ. Let's examine ourselves. Are we walking after the flesh or after the spirit? The Bible says in Galatians 5 verse 18. But if you be led of the spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. Of the which I tell you before, as I've also told you in time past, that they which do those things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Let us examine our hearts this morning. What are we after? What are we walking after? Are you walking after the spirit or are you walking after the flesh? We are called continually to choices. Isn't that right? You've made a lot of choices even this morning since you awoke. You made a lot of choices. You know we can choose to be envious, we can choose to allow jealousy, or we can choose to allow some rising of the flesh, maybe some anger, or we can choose to walk in the spirit and to mortify and to put off all of those things. The Bible is very clear. This I say then, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It seems to me the scriptures are very clear that I have to agree with God's word that when I choose to sin, I cannot be walking in the spirit and in the flesh at the same time, can I? I mean if we're walking in the spirit and are being led by the spirit, we'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. We won't do it. Oh, that we would be so full of the Holy Ghost, so in tune with God that God's spirit can just prompt us here and nudge us there, moving us, check us here, just when that flesh wants to rise up and stick up its ugly head and say a harsh word or an unkind word, or pick up the phone and gossip, or look the second time. With lust in the heart. You know, every day you and I are making choices, walking in the spirit, walking in the flesh. You know, it could be that I go to the computer when I should be going to God. Could be. It could be that I'm giving in to my flesh. Let's go check the emails. It's okay to have emails. Let's go write some emails. It's okay to write some emails. But are you walking in the flesh or in the spirit? Would God have you rather to be ministering to your children, mother? Are your children suffering while you're sitting at the computer, writing an email to somebody in California or somewhere else? Walking in the spirit, walking in the flesh. I mean, it could be as simple as just picking up that magazine instead of picking up the Bible. Walking in the flesh, walking in the spirit. It's not wrong maybe to look in that magazine at the right time. But am I walking in the flesh? Am I walking in the spirit? Is my body being brought under the subjection of the spirit? Is my desires being brought under the subjection of the spirit? And am I seeking first the kingdom of God? Or do these other things come in and just crowd out my spiritual life? Well, let me first. How many have discovered that that usually doesn't turn out too good? Let me see your hands. Let me first go do my work. Let me first go do this. Quiet time. Then I'll meet with God. How many have discovered that as the day goes along, more things keep crowding in? Right? Oh Lord, open up our eyes. That we may not just be a people who declare to have a walk with God, but that it's reality in our homes, in our lives, on our jobs, wherever we are, day to day. Walking in the flesh just comes naturally. The carnal sinful nature of man will just go that way. But that old carnal sinful nature must be crucified. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. It's the word of the Lord. They that are after the flesh, they mind the things of the flesh. Let me just ask you this morning, what are you after? Is your heart beating after God? Is your heart beating to become more like Christ? What are you after? Is the Lord your song in the night? Watch. And in the morning, watch. Is the Lord your meditation? They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. For to be carnally minded is death. The carnal mind is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Now, I believe what he's talking about here is the carnal mind. The person who has got a carnal mind and they're bent on carnality. That mindset, that person's mind, that person's life, they're at enmity. They're at odds with God. They're not subjecting themselves to the law of God. It's not possible. Can't be. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. If you live after the flesh, ye shall what? Die. Let me explain that a little bit. It's possible. It's possible to be made alive, to be born again by the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus, to have abundant eternal life within. But let us not be so deceiving ourselves that we think we now are born again. Now we're safe. Now we're in. Now we can walk after the flesh and we can please ourselves. And there isn't going to be a consequence. The Bible says that those that walk after the flesh are going to what? Die. And it's very possible to have a very slow death. There was life in Christ Jesus when I became a Christian, when I got born again and my sins were washed away. And I knew that I was saved. And I know that I have eternal life. And the testimony is clear. There's no fault there. But my brother, my sister, what are you after today? What have you been after since that time? Are you after the Spirit? And your life is going upward with Christ? Self is being crucified, put to death, the deeds of the body being mortified. Or it's the old carnal nature gaining a foothold again in my life. Walking after the Spirit, oh it's beautiful. But you know walking after the flesh takes a person down. And down and down and down. And I can't say this morning just when it happens. But it can happen. You walk after the flesh, you shall die. The Spirit of God had left Samson and he wished it not. Spirit of God had left Saul. He didn't know when it happened. But he was making wrong choices. He was walking after the flesh, making choices after the flesh. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you live after the flesh, you shall die. You might still be breathing. We may still be able to see you. But I believe it's speaking of a spiritual death. She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth, the Bible says. Now she's alive. He's alive. But he's dead. There was a church that Jesus Christ spoke about who had a testimony that they are alive. But he said they're dead. Oh how sad. Walking after the flesh, or walking after the Spirit. Let us look at walking after the Spirit. Beginning in verse, in verse 5, the last part. They that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit. They that are after the Spirit, their hearts are tuned in to the spiritual, to the eternal, to the holy. To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Spiritually minded, filled with the Spirit of God. You know, just as we looked at walking after the flesh. You know, we don't just want to have some theology. We want to have reality. Walking after the Spirit, how can you tell? Some people say, well you can tell that person's full of the Holy Ghost. Because they got it. They got what? Well some say, the evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost is speaking in tongues. Well Jesus said, if you're born again of Him, and you're in Him, you're going to speak with a new tongue. Amen. I believe it goes far deeper than blabbering something that no one can understand. If you're walking after the Spirit, and you're filled with the Spirit, oh, your life is going to be governed and dictated by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit prompts you here. The Holy Spirit moves you there. But you know, it's not just something mystical. It's not something you just say, well it's floating around up here, I don't know how to get a hold of it. Let's go back to Galatians again. Galatians 5. Walking after the Spirit has some very real outworkings in the life of the Christian. Walking after the Spirit. Oh, you can tell a person's walking after the Spirit. Verse 22 of Galatians 5. When there's love. The fruit of the Spirit is love. Am I walking in love toward my fellow men? Am I walking in love towards God? Am I walking in love towards my wife? Am I walking in love towards my children? Love. Oh, we could preach a whole sermon on love. Walking after the Spirit is walking in love. Love. Let's do it. Let's turn over to 1 Corinthians and let's look a little more. Let's let the Word of God interpret itself. 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Walking in the flesh. Oh, that's easy. Walking in the Spirit. That requires laying down our lives. Love. Greater love has no man than this. And the man laid down his life. Love. 1 Corinthians 13 verse 1. Do I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not charity or love? I am become astounding breath or a tingling cymbal. Takes more than speaking in tongues, doesn't it? Takes more than speaking in tongues of men and angels. Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. Though a person have faith to remove mountains, you mean that's nothing? Without love, that's what the Bible says. Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. All my goods? Yes. Though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Zero. Walking in the Spirit is walking in love. Oh, listen to this. Charity suffereth long, is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity wanteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. Walking in the Spirit is walking in love. This kind of love. Walking in the Spirit. Oh, when you see a person who's walking in the Spirit, they're usually not long faced and downcast, are they? Now, they may be burdened and they may weep for the sins in their own life, where they see some flesh is still wanting to crop up, or for the sins of others, but there's joy. There's joy walking after the Spirit, walking in the Spirit. Oh, the fruit of it is joy. Reminds me of the verses over there in Galatians, where, I think it's Galatians, where Paul said, where is that joy that you had, that rejoicing? What happened? That's a good indicator in our life. If joy is running low, where am I at? What's happened? And I know, there's times we're in, in trials and testings and maybe for a season, if need be, he says, if need be, there's some heaviness, you know, but it's not the mark of the Spirit-filled life. Spirit-filled life is the mark of joy. Walking in the Spirit, the fruit of it is joy. Not something artificial, not something tacked on, but reality. You know, sometimes we, as we talk about relationships and talk about families or homes, you know, how is it? Is there joy in your home? I've noticed this in my short life, that sometimes when I'm really going through something and I'm needing encouragement, that's when my wife, she's walking in that place of blessing and joy where she can come alongside and encourage me. But you know, a joyful Christian is a beautiful testimony. It's contagious. A person who's full of love, love of Christ constraining them, full of joy, those are real evidences of walking in the Spirit, walking after the Spirit. It's peace, you know, peace, freedom from agitating fears and outward circumstances may not change, but you have peace in your heart in the midst of the storm. You know, peace. Long-suffering, we read that as part of the definition of love. Gentleness, walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. Gentleness, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And now look at the next verse, beautiful, just ties right in with Romans, doesn't it? And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Verse 25, if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Hey, if you got it up here in your theology, I'm living in the Spirit, then walk in the Spirit, right? Sing, oh glory. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Now, let's go back to Romans again. I'll close here shortly. Romans, verse 11 and verse 12 and 13, 14. If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Let me say again, it is futile to try to live in the Spirit without having been born again of the Spirit of God and having His Spirit living within you. You know, we may try ever so hard, but it just doesn't come out, you know. But oh, if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal body. He shall make you alive. Oh, it's beautiful. How? By His Spirit that dwelleth in you. So, let's just stop. Let's just sort of bounce back a little bit. Do I quench the Spirit? Or does the Spirit have free course in my life? Do I stop the flow a little here? Oh, Lord, I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I mean, I want to walk in the Spirit, Lord, but not quite that much. Don't want to be so radical about it. Careful. Do I grieve the Spirit? When the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart, shows me an area where I need to die, say, no, not now, Lord. Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, if we could really get a hold of this. The Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead dwell in you, He shall quicken your mortal bodies. Wow. Why would we quench the Spirit? Why would we check in here? Oh, that God would open up our eyes. Brethren, He tells us in verse 12, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh. We are not debtors after this flesh. You see, the flesh wants to usurp the authority of Jesus Christ in dwelling in our lives and stick up his head and, you know, push forth his way. Paul said, I die daily. I crucify that old man. I bring my body in subjection and bring it under when that alarm clock goes and the Lord told me you need to get up and seek my face, I get up. When it's enough, then I say enough, pass it on. Lord, they pass seconds, that's okay. If my trucy story that I just heard would make the ears tingle if I told it, and get on the phone and tell her. No, I'm not going to do it. Because I'm bringing my body and my spirit under the obedience of Christ. By the Spirit of Christ that dwelleth in me is that same resurrection power that rose Jesus from the dead. Glory. We're debtors. Not to this old flesh. But we're debtors unto God, unto the Spirit of Christ, to dwell in us and to quicken us and to walk in the Spirit. And ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It's beautiful. When we walk in the Spirit, we'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But if you walk in the flesh, can we say it? Can't walk in the Spirit. Can you? Can you walk in the flesh going your own way, doing your own thing? And walk in the Spirit? I don't think so. I think the scriptures are rather clear on that. Oh, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. This is very practical, my friends, my brothers, sisters. How do we do it? Through the Spirit. Through the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the body. What does mortify mean? You know, it means to put to death, right? Mortify. Put to death. Render powerless. If ye through the Spirit. And again, it's nothing mystical. You know, it's not something floating around up here. We can choose to love or we can choose to hate, right? If we feel that hatred rising up in our heart, we can sense it. As a Christian, the Spirit of God dwelling in us, we can sense it. We can see it coming, right? So we can get on our knees and repent and cry out to God. Has God ever failed anyone? Is the scripture not true that God makes a way of escape with every temptation, that ye may be able to bear it? You don't have to get bitter. You don't have to get jealous. You don't have to get envious. You don't have to gossip. You don't have to take that second helping. You don't have to press the snooze button and go back to sleep. Don't have to. Bring the body in subjection. Bring it under the Spirit. Oh, it's a crucified life. It's a self-denied life. It's a walking in the Spirit life. But oh, when you taste the beauties of it and the glories of it, it's marvelous. It's wonderful. And I know that you know that. But I want to exhort us this morning to press on to higher ground. I think sometimes we get this thing turned around a little bit. I'll just share that yet, then I'll close. Paul needed to tell them, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect in the flesh? You see, being born again, being saved, being washed in the blood, being saved by grace through faith, the gift of God, not a works. It's all true. It's not a works. We're saved by grace through faith. It's a gift of God's glory. Oh, then we say, now I want to live holy, sanctified life. And we see some things in our life that are still un-Christlike. And some old habits and some old things want to stick their head back up. Well, what do we do? Do we stay in that position of saved by grace through faith, secure in Christ, and work out our salvation with fear and trembling? For it is God who worketh in you. They're willing to do this good pleasure. And we mortify those things as they come up. Maybe we need to go make restitution. All kinds of things happen, you know. But there's a danger here that while we are walking down this road of sanctification and holiness and practical everyday living, we start to do it. We start to do it. More and more. And we very slowly start moving away from faith. Faith. Through faith. By faith. They overcame. And we can fall into a place where we're under a load of condemnation. And we're trying to do it in our own strength. Oh, I need to pray more. Read my Bible more. Oh, I got upset with my wife again. You know, down, down, down, you know. Right? But when we are abiding in Christ, and we're seeking Him, and we're walking in the Spirit, then we'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. How shall we go on unto perfection? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect in the flesh? A resounding no. You're not made perfect in the flesh. My dear young people, newly converted, recommitted, don't fall away from that saving faith in Jesus Christ. The same way you have received the Lord Jesus Christ, the same way you shall walk in Him. Amen? Oh, glory. If ye through the Spirit demortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Then there's four questions we're going to read yet and answer. Then we're done. Drop down with me to verse 31. What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Question number one. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Question number two. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Question number three. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. Yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Question number four. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Then he goes down over a long list. Read it. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or pearl, or sword, as it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Oh, what a beautiful standing is ours this morning. For I am persuaded that neither death, you mean even death? Yes. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Beautiful, beautiful. Wish we had time. God bless you, my brothers and sisters, this morning. Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. God bless you.