Live as Spirit-Led Children of God

Devotional

Day 1: The Daily Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

Every believer faces a real and ongoing struggle between their old sinful nature and the new life given by the Holy Spirit. This internal war is evidence of the Spirit’s presence, as the flesh constantly tries to pull us back into old habits and ways of thinking, while the Spirit calls us to live as God’s children. If you feel this tension, take heart—it means you are alive in Christ and not alone in the fight. The key is to remember your true identity: you are no longer defined by your past, your failures, or even your accomplishments, but by being a beloved child of God, led by His Spirit. [03:22]

Romans 8:12-14 (ESV)
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most feel the pull of your old nature, and how can you remind yourself today that your true identity is as a Spirit-led child of God?

Day 2: The Deadly Consequences of Living by the Flesh

Living according to the flesh isn’t just about occasional mistakes—it’s about a lifestyle dominated by sinful desires and habits. Paul warns that such a life leads to spiritual death and separation from God, even for believers, as it breaks fellowship and robs us of peace and joy. The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, jealousy, anger, and more. Even small compromises, grudges, or secret sins can poison our souls if left unchecked. The seriousness of sin is not to be underestimated; tolerating it brings destruction, not just in eternity, but in our daily lives and relationships. [10:15]

Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Reflection: Is there a “pet sin” or small compromise you’ve been justifying in your life? What would it look like to take it seriously and bring it into the light today?

Day 3: The Power to Kill Sin Comes from the Holy Spirit

Victory over sin is not achieved by sheer willpower or self-discipline alone. The power to put to death the deeds of the flesh comes from the Holy Spirit living within you. Just as a power tool needs electricity to function, you need the Spirit’s strength to fight sin. Your role is to actively participate—grabbing the “shovel” and striking at sin—but it is God’s Spirit who provides the muscle and the victory. This partnership means you are not passive, nor are you alone; you must choose to act, but always in dependence on the Spirit’s power. [32:06]

Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Reflection: When you face temptation today, what would it look like to pause and ask the Holy Spirit for strength before you respond?

Day 4: Actively Putting Sin to Death—Not Just Talking About It

God calls you to a ruthless, intentional attitude toward sin—not to coddle it, excuse it, or merely talk about it, but to put it to death. This means breaking old habits, retraining your mind and body, and refusing to let even “small” sins linger. Just as you wouldn’t let a poisonous snake live in your house, you must not let sin remain in your life. This is a daily discipline, requiring both God’s power and your active participation. Even the hidden or “acceptable” sins must be confronted, because a little compromise can spread and take over your whole life. [38:27]

Romans 6:13 (ESV)
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to “put to death” a specific sinful habit or pattern in your life?

Day 5: Hope and Assurance—God Provides the Way Out

Though the battle with sin is fierce, God never leaves you without hope. He promises that, through Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit, you have the power and the way out of every temptation. Even when you stumble, there is no condemnation for those in Christ, and nothing can separate you from God’s love. The Spirit not only convicts and empowers, but also assures you of your identity and victory in Christ. Your role is to depend on Him, step out in faith, and trust that He is working in you both to will and to act according to His good purpose. [36:54]

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Reflection: The next time you feel overwhelmed by temptation, how can you intentionally look for and take the “way out” that God promises to provide?

Sermon Summary

Romans 8:12-14 reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are no longer debtors to our old sinful nature, but are called to live by the Spirit as beloved children of God. The daily struggle between flesh and Spirit is real for every believer; if there is no struggle, it may be a sign that the Spirit is not present. Our identity is at the heart of this battle—too often, we define ourselves by our jobs, our families, our past, or our failures, rather than by our new identity in Christ. Paul urges us to remember that the old self died with Christ, and we are now led by the Spirit, empowered to put to death the deeds of the flesh.

Living according to the flesh leads to spiritual death—a separation from God, loss of peace, joy, and even broken relationships. Paul is not speaking of losing salvation with every sin, but warns that a lifestyle dominated by the flesh, without repentance or conviction, reveals a heart that may never have truly been born again. Even for true believers, tolerating sin disrupts fellowship with God and invites His loving discipline. Sin is not something to be coddled or justified; it is as dangerous as a poisonous snake in your home, and must be dealt with ruthlessly.

Yet, God does not leave us without hope. The power to overcome sin does not come from our own willpower, but from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Sanctification is a partnership: we must actively choose to fight sin, but it is the Spirit who supplies the strength. Like wielding a power tool, we direct the effort, but the Spirit is the power that accomplishes the work. This means intentionally retraining our habits, refusing to let even small compromises take root, and daily depending on the Spirit to say no to temptation.

Ultimately, the call is to put to death the deeds of the body—not to hate our physical selves, but to refuse to let the flesh rule. This is a daily discipline, not a passive hope that God will simply remove our struggles. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead empowers us to walk in newness of life, to experience true freedom, peace, and fellowship with God. The battle is real, but so is the victory promised to those who walk by the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Identity in Christ is Foundational: The root of our struggle with sin often lies in a misplaced identity. When we define ourselves by our past, our failures, or even our roles, we remain vulnerable to the flesh. True transformation begins when we embrace our identity as Spirit-led children of God, remembering that the old self died with Christ and no longer has authority over us. [04:03]
2. The Danger of Tolerating Sin: Sin is not a pet to be coddled or justified; it is a deadly enemy. Even small compromises, secret habits, or seemingly minor indulgences can poison our spiritual lives, disrupt our fellowship with God, and lead to destructive consequences. The call is to deal ruthlessly with sin, refusing to let it take root in any area of our lives. [24:18]
3. Sanctification is a Partnership: Overcoming sin is not a matter of sheer willpower or passivity. The Holy Spirit provides the power, but we must actively participate—choosing daily to put to death the deeds of the flesh. This partnership requires both dependence on God and intentional effort, much like wielding a power tool: we guide the action, but the Spirit supplies the strength. [32:24]
4. Spiritual Death and Broken Fellowship: For believers, living according to the flesh does not mean losing salvation, but it does mean experiencing a kind of spiritual death—loss of peace, joy, and intimacy with God. Broken fellowship with God inevitably leads to brokenness in other relationships and invites the loving discipline of our Father, who desires our restoration. [20:34]
5. Daily Discipline and Dependence: Killing sin is not a one-time event, but a daily discipline. It requires retraining our habits, refusing to let even the smallest compromise remain, and continually calling on the Spirit’s power in moments of temptation. The victory is not in our perfection, but in our ongoing dependence on the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead and now lives in us. [36:34]
** [36:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Cooking for the Community: Everyday Service
[01:15] - Romans 8: The Struggle with the Flesh
[02:22] - Real-Life Reactions: Testing Our Patience
[03:22] - Identity and the Battle Within
[04:59] - Remembering Who You Are in Christ
[06:06] - No Condemnation, No Obligation to the Flesh
[08:02] - The Wide and Narrow Roads: Choices and Consequences
[10:00] - What Living by the Flesh Looks Like
[12:07] - Modern Idolatry and the Self
[14:06] - Sorcery, Jealousy, and the Subtle Sins
[16:34] - The Deadly Consequences of Sin
[19:20] - Can a Christian Lose Salvation?
[20:34] - Broken Fellowship and God’s Discipline
[24:18] - The Snake in the Shower: Sin’s Danger
[28:28] - The Way Out: Hope in the Spirit
[30:08] - By the Spirit: The Power to Kill Sin
[32:24] - Our Role: Active Participation in Sanctification
[36:34] - Daily Dependence and the Call to Action
[38:27] - Ruthless Attitude Toward Sin
[40:06] - Retraining Habits and Spiritual Growth
[42:01] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 8:12-14 (ESV) — > So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV) — > Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8:12-14, what does Paul say is the result of living according to the flesh versus living by the Spirit?
In Galatians 5:19-21, what are some of the specific “works of the flesh” that Paul lists?
The sermon mentions that the struggle between flesh and Spirit is a sign of the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life. What does it mean if someone feels no struggle at all? [[02:56]]
What illustration did the pastor use to describe the danger of tolerating sin in our lives? [[24:18]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says our identity is at the heart of the battle with sin. Why does defining ourselves by our past, failures, or roles make us more vulnerable to the flesh? [[04:03]]
Paul warns that a lifestyle dominated by the flesh, without repentance or conviction, may reveal a heart that was never truly born again. How does this challenge the way we think about “occasional” versus “habitual” sin? [[19:20]]
The pastor compared fighting sin to wielding a power tool: we guide the action, but the Spirit supplies the strength. What does this partnership look like in real life? [[32:24]]
The sermon says that tolerating even “small” sins can poison our spiritual lives. Why do you think small compromises are so dangerous? [[41:45]]

Application Questions

The pastor said that if there’s no struggle between your old sinful nature and the Spirit, “then there probably is no Spirit.” Have you noticed this struggle in your own life? What does it look like for you day to day? [[02:56]]
Think about the ways you define yourself—by your job, family, past, or failures. How might embracing your identity as a child of God change the way you respond to temptation or failure? [[04:03]]
The sermon compared sin to a poisonous snake in your home. Are there any “pet sins” or small compromises in your life that you’ve been tolerating? What would it look like to deal with them ruthlessly this week? [[24:18]]
The pastor said, “Sin is not something to be coddled or justified.” What excuses or justifications do you find yourself making for certain behaviors? How can you confront those honestly? [[25:05]]
The sermon emphasized that sanctification is a partnership: “You fight, but the Spirit fuels you.” What is one practical step you can take this week to actively fight sin, while depending on the Spirit’s power? [[32:24]]
The pastor talked about retraining habits and refusing to let even small compromises remain. Is there a habit or pattern you sense God calling you to retrain or surrender? What support or accountability might you need? [[40:06]]
When you experience broken fellowship with God—loss of peace, joy, or intimacy—how do you usually respond? What could you do differently to restore that fellowship quickly? [[20:34]]

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