Feeding the Spirit: Navigating Competing Desires

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound concept of desire and how it shapes our lives. We began by reflecting on Quentin's transformation, a testament to how God can change our desires and redirect our lives. This led us to the central theme: the nature of desire. We all have desires, some big, some small, and often, they compete with one another. The challenge lies in discerning which desires to pursue, as the strongest desire often wins, not necessarily the smartest or most popular one.

We delved into the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who categorized desires into two main groups: the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. The desires of the flesh are self-centered and disregard God's ways, while the desires of the spirit align with God's will and are given to us at salvation. This internal conflict is a reality for every believer, as both sets of desires coexist within us.

To illustrate this, we used the analogy of two plants: an apple tree representing the spirit and poison ivy symbolizing the flesh. The plant we choose to feed will grow, and its fruits will manifest in our lives. Feeding the spirit leads to love, joy, and peace, while feeding the flesh results in destruction and regret. The key is to focus on what we are feeding rather than what we are feeling.

We acknowledged that the results of feeding these desires are not immediate but are always later and greater. This means that consistent, small acts of obedience and faithfulness will eventually yield the fruits of the spirit. Conversely, indulging in sinful desires may not have immediate consequences, but they will eventually lead to greater regret and destruction.

Ultimately, the message is about making intentional choices to feed the spirit and starve the flesh. It's about recognizing the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives and taking practical steps to align our desires with God's will. By doing so, we can experience the abundant life that God promises, filled with love, joy, and peace.

Key Takeaways:

1. Competing Desires: We all have competing desires within us, and the strongest desire often wins. However, the strongest desire is not always the smartest or most beneficial. It's crucial to discern which desires align with God's will and pursue those. [29:18]

2. Desires of the Flesh vs. Spirit: The Apostle Paul teaches that our desires can be categorized into the flesh and the spirit. The desires of the flesh are self-centered and lead to destruction, while the desires of the spirit align with God's will and lead to life. [34:58]

3. Feeding the Right Plant: Using the analogy of an apple tree and poison ivy, we learn that the desires we feed will grow. Feeding the spirit leads to the fruits of love, joy, and peace, while feeding the flesh results in regret and destruction. [41:42]

4. Delayed Consequences: The results of feeding our desires are not immediate but are always later and greater. Consistent, small acts of obedience will eventually yield the fruits of the spirit, while indulging in sinful desires will lead to greater regret. [53:58]

5. Intentional Choices: We must make intentional choices to feed the spirit and starve the flesh. This involves recognizing the Holy Spirit's guidance and taking practical steps to align our desires with God's will, leading to an abundant life. [59:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [29:18] - Introduction to Desire
- [30:06] - Competing Desires
- [31:26] - The Strongest Desire Wins
- [32:09] - Justifying Desires
- [33:27] - Regret from Strong Desires
- [34:04] - Kingdom Order of Desires
- [34:58] - Spirit vs. Flesh
- [36:03] - Desires Given at Salvation
- [37:01] - Good and Evil in the Heart
- [39:01] - Plant Analogy: Spirit and Flesh
- [41:42] - Feeding the Right Plant
- [46:20] - Consequences of Sin
- [49:32] - Fruits of the Spirit
- [53:58] - Delayed Consequences
- [59:22] - Intentional Choices

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Galatians 5:16-25
- Romans 8:5-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two categories of desires that the Apostle Paul discusses, and how are they defined in the sermon? [34:58]

2. How does the analogy of the apple tree and poison ivy illustrate the concept of feeding desires? [39:01]

3. According to the sermon, what are the consequences of feeding the desires of the flesh versus the desires of the spirit? [46:56]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the timing of the consequences of our actions, whether they are good or bad? [53:58]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the internal conflict between the desires of the flesh and the spirit manifest in a believer's life, according to the sermon? [37:41]

2. Why might the strongest desire not always be the best one to follow, and how does this relate to the concept of regret discussed in the sermon? [33:27]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that small, consistent acts of obedience can lead to spiritual growth and the fruits of the spirit? [56:33]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers align their desires with God's will? [36:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you followed a strong desire that led to regret. How can you use this experience to make better choices in the future? [33:27]

2. Identify a specific desire of the flesh that you struggle with. What practical steps can you take this week to starve this desire and feed the spirit instead? [59:22]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of intentional choices. What is one intentional choice you can make this week to align your desires with God's will? [59:22]

4. Consider the analogy of the apple tree and poison ivy. What are some "apple tree" activities you can incorporate into your daily routine to nurture your spiritual growth? [49:32]

5. How can you involve your small group or accountability partner in helping you feed the spirit and starve the flesh? What specific support do you need from them? [48:31]

6. The sermon mentions that the results of feeding our desires are always later and greater. How can this understanding impact your approach to spiritual disciplines and resisting temptation? [53:58]

7. Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you become more attuned to the Spirit's guidance in your daily decisions and desires? [36:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment in Desires
In our lives, we are constantly faced with competing desires. Some are strong and compelling, while others are subtle and wise. The challenge is to discern which desires align with God's will and which do not. Often, the strongest desire is not the most beneficial or aligned with God's purpose for us. It is crucial to develop the ability to recognize and pursue desires that lead us closer to God, even if they are not the most popular or immediately gratifying. This requires a deep understanding of God's word and a commitment to seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. [29:18]

"For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster." (Proverbs 1:32-33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one desire in your life that seems strong but may not align with God's will? How can you seek God's guidance to discern and pursue the right desires today?

Day 2: Flesh vs. Spirit
The Apostle Paul teaches us about the internal conflict between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit. The desires of the flesh are self-centered and often lead to destruction, while the desires of the spirit align with God's will and lead to life. This conflict is a reality for every believer, as both sets of desires coexist within us. Understanding this distinction is vital for spiritual growth. By recognizing the desires of the spirit, we can align our lives with God's purpose and experience the fullness of life He promises. [34:58]

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent decision where you felt torn between the desires of the flesh and the spirit. How can you set your mind on the things of the Spirit in similar situations moving forward?

Day 3: Nurturing the Spirit
The analogy of an apple tree and poison ivy illustrates the importance of nurturing the right desires. Just as the plant we choose to feed will grow, the desires we nurture will manifest in our lives. Feeding the spirit leads to the fruits of love, joy, and peace, while feeding the flesh results in regret and destruction. It is essential to focus on what we are feeding rather than what we are feeling. By intentionally nurturing the spirit, we can cultivate a life that reflects God's love and grace. [41:42]

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can feed your spirit today? Consider one specific action you can take to nurture the fruits of the spirit in your life.

Day 4: The Power of Consistency
The results of feeding our desires are not immediate but are always later and greater. Consistent, small acts of obedience and faithfulness will eventually yield the fruits of the spirit. Conversely, indulging in sinful desires may not have immediate consequences, but they will eventually lead to greater regret and destruction. Understanding the power of consistency helps us remain steadfast in our spiritual journey, trusting that God will bring about His promises in due time. [53:58]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you need to practice more consistency in obedience. What small, consistent actions can you commit to this week to align with God's will?

Day 5: Intentional Living
Living intentionally means making conscious choices to feed the spirit and starve the flesh. It involves recognizing the Holy Spirit's guidance and taking practical steps to align our desires with God's will. By doing so, we can experience the abundant life that God promises, filled with love, joy, and peace. Intentional living requires a commitment to seeking God's presence daily and allowing His Spirit to transform our desires and actions. [59:22]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can be more intentional in aligning your desires with God's will? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this area today?

Quotes

1) "We all have competing desires. Desires for the opposite thing. In other words, I have, you know, you and I might have desires to stay at work late. Or, the desire to spend more time with our kids. Competing desires. You might have a desire to get a good grade. But, you also have a desire to hang out with friends. Or, maybe you have a desire to wake up early and go to church. Or, a desire to sleep in and watch from home. What's up, 12th St. Online? Okay. Listen, I get it. We all, right? We all have competing desires. And, with all these desires going on in us, the question is, how do you decide which desire you lean into? Well, for most of us, the strongest desire wins. And, more specifically, the strongest desire in the moment." [31:26] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "The problem is, sometimes, the strongest desires lead to the biggest regrets. We've all experienced that before. Right? Where, like, you really want something. Man, you felt the urge in the moment. And, so, you lean in to that desire. But, then, after it's all over and the dust settles. You wish you could go back and do it different. It's like, you thought that leaning in to that desire would make you feel so good. And, make you feel happy. But, after you lean in to the desire, you don't feel better. You feel worse. And, you're left with regret. Because, sometimes, again, not all the time. But, sometimes, the strongest desires lead to the biggest regrets." [33:27] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "The moment you surrender your life to Jesus, God actually gives you His Holy Spirit. It's incredible. The very spirit that lived inside of Jesus, actually lives inside of you, if you're a follower of Jesus. Which means, you don't just want what the flesh wants, you actually start wanting the things that God wants. And so, this is what these two competing desires looks like. Okay? The desire to put yourself first, versus the desire to put God first. The desire to use people, versus the desire to love people. The desire to do what feels good, versus the desire to do what is good. The desire to live jealous, versus the desire to live grateful. Or, to harbor the hurt, versus forgive the hurt." [36:03] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Whatever I feed. Grows. Whether it's the sinful nature. Or, the godly desire. Whichever one I feed. Actually grows. So, when I feed a plant. A desire. When I give in to that desire. What happens is. I begin to desire that desire. More. Not less. Because, whatever you feed. Actually grows. So, these are the two plants in our heart. Only in our heart. It looks a little bit different than this. Because, these two plants are about the same size. But, that's not actually how it goes for us. Because, I want you to think back to the moment you surrendered your life to Jesus." [42:27] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The result of leaning in to a relationship with Jesus. The result of spending time with Jesus. The result of trusting Jesus more and more. The result of reading Scripture. And, leaning into accountability. And, you know, hanging out with your small group. The result of that is love. Joy. Peace. And, some of you, man. You could quote this whole verse. You, like, memorized it when you were eight years old at VBS. You know. It's like, you know. Like, you remember the poster with the bananas and the grapes. And, it's the fruit of the Spirit. You know. It's like, you know this verse. But, just pause for a second. Because, think about this. The result. The fruit of the Spirit." [50:04] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "The only way that we get love, joy, and peace is from the spirit that God put inside of you. Not from any sin that you and I can chase. That's where love, joy, peace comes from. But I've got to add one more thing, okay? So let me ask this question. The moment that I feed this plant, do I immediately get apples? No. And you may not know this about poison ivy, but the second that you rub poison ivy on you, which I'm not going to do, by the way, because I love you, but not that much, okay? The second that you rub poison ivy on you, you don't immediately start itching." [53:58] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "You can't stop the feeling, but you can stop the feeding. Amen. Okay, some of y'all started singing that song just now. Can't stop the feeling. Yeah. Cam's going to come out later and sing that song for us. So, I'm just kidding. It's true. You can't stop the feeling. Which means you and I are always going to feel like sinning. We're always going to want to sin. We'll always have the desire to sin. Which means if you just wait until the desire goes away, then you'll keep feeding the very desire you're trying to get rid of. So, you can't stop the feeling of wanting to sin. But, but, and this is huge. You can stop the feeding." [57:58] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "The backwards order of the kingdom, the question is not, what am I feeling? The question is, what am I feeding? Because we are going to have big old desires to do the things that we know God is not calling us to do. But the question is not, what am I feeling in the moment? The question is, what am I feeding in the moment? Because listen, poison ivy is a stubborn plant. It will not go away quietly. It takes more than just one day of saying, I'm not going to feed it for it to go away. And sin is the exact same way. Sin will not go away quietly." [59:22] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?