Cast Your Vote for Victory!
To overcome the lust of the flesh and achieve victory, we must determine to walk in the Spirit and give the Holy Spirit a free hand in our lives.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the conflict between the flesh and the Holy Spirit, illustrating how they oppose each other and create a stalemate for Christians. He warns against trying to overcome the flesh through our own efforts, which is futile and akin to asking the Devil to defeat himself. Epp encourages believers to 'cast their vote for victory' by choosing to walk, be led, and live in the Spirit, which leads to true victory over the flesh. He concludes that allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives results in a victorious Christian life filled with peace and life.
Text
Galatians 5:13-26
The flesh and the Holy Spirit are contrary one to the other. Their aims and purposes are diametrically opposed to each other. Each one says no to the other. They checkmate each other.
This, of course, results in a stalemate for the Christian. This is why the apostle says, "Ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17).
A mistake made by many of us Christians is that we try to gain victory over the flesh by our own will and efforts. But this is the same as pitting the flesh against the flesh.
We are trying to overcome the flesh by using the flesh. We might as well assign the Devil the task of conquering the Devil.
Someone has given the following as a solution to this problem: "The Lord has voted for me; the Devil has voted against me. Whichever way I vote, so goes the election."
If we determine to walk in the Spirit, we are casting our vote in the right way. This is the choice we must make if we are to overcome the lust of the flesh.
The way of deliverance, then, is to walk in the Spirit (v. 16). We are to be led by the Spirit (v. 18). And we are to live in the Spirit (v. 25).
If we give the Holy Spirit a free hand, if we let our lives be the practical day-by-day expression of His life in us, we will be victors.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6).
Sermon Outline
- The Conflict Between the Flesh and the Holy Spirit
- The Stalemate for the Christian
- The Way of Deliverance
- Walk in the Spirit
- Be led by the Spirit
- Live in the Spirit
Key Quotes
“The Lord has voted for me; the Devil has voted against me. Whichever way I vote, so goes the election.” — Theodore Epp
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Make a conscious decision to walk in the Spirit and let the Holy Spirit guide your life.
- Give the Holy Spirit a free hand in your life and let Him lead you in your daily decisions.
- Prioritize living in the Spirit and letting His life be the practical expression of your life.