Sunday Service|| Living by the Spirit || Dr. Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

Jul 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Trading Eternal Treasure for Temporary Appetites

The story of Esau selling his birthright for stew reveals how easily eternal promises are exchanged for fleeting cravings. Hunger, exhaustion, or desperation can blind us to the weight of what we surrender. Like Esau, we often dismiss sacred inheritances—prayer, integrity, worship—as negotiable when immediate needs press in. Yet Scripture warns that careless choices on ordinary days shape irreversible futures. What seems insignificant today may haunt us tomorrow. [28:51]

“Then Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright now.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’” (Genesis 25:31-32, ESV)

Reflection: What “bowl of stew” have you been tempted to prioritize over your spiritual inheritance? How might today’s small choices protect—or erode—your eternal treasures?

Day 2: Identity Anchored in Christ, Not Performance

Carnality thrives when we define ourselves by achievements, approval, or self-reliance rather than Christ’s finished work. The cure isn’t trying harder but resting in the truth: “I am crucified with Christ.” Our worth isn’t earned through spiritual checklists but received as those hidden in Him. Walking by the Spirit begins not with discipline but surrender—trusting His life over our striving. [48:38]

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you still seek validation through performance? How might embracing your identity in Christ free you from the pressure to prove yourself?

Day 3: Choosing the Spirit’s Path Over Gravity’s Pull

Carnality feels natural—like gravity pulling a plane earthward. Resisting it demands intentional reliance on the Spirit’s upward thrust. Just as pilots throttle engines to defy descent, believers must daily engage Scripture, prayer, and obedience to rise above fleshly instincts. The battle isn’t won in grand gestures but in mundane moments where we yield to His lift. [44:28]

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What “gravity” of old habits or thoughts still tugs at you? What practical step will you take today to throttle the Spirit’s power against that pull?

Day 4: Consequences Bloom in the Soil of Careless Choices

Esau’s tears came too late—the birthright was gone. Delayed consequences deceive us into thinking compromises are costless. Yet every choice plants seeds: bitterness tolerated today becomes a forest of resentment tomorrow; small compromises erode spiritual discernment. Living by the Spirit requires seeing beyond the moment to the harvest our actions will reap. [31:25]

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God…that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.” (Hebrews 12:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What seemingly small compromise have you excused? How might surrendering it now prevent future regret?

Day 5: Eyes Fixed Above, Not on Earthly Bowls

Carnality flourishes when we fixate on earthly appetites—approval, comfort, control. Paul urges believers to “set your minds on things above,” recalibrating desires to eternal realities. Like a bird refusing to nest where it briefly flies, we must let transient thoughts pass without dwelling. What we feed grows; what we starve dies. [02:31]

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly “bowl” consumes your focus? What eternal truth can you meditate on to recalibrate your heart’s cravings?

Sermon Summary

Living by the Spirit stands as the call, and Galatians 2:20 gives the identity that makes it possible: “I am crucified with Christ.” Identity in Christ, not effort, makes a person spiritual. Romans 8:1 locates the believer’s home “in Christ,” not in church membership or denominational tags. The text insists, “There is therefore now no condemnation,” and that security becomes the ground for walking “not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The contrast sharpens when Esau walks onto the scene. Genesis 25 paints the carnal man as skillful, gifted, calculating, yet ruled by appetite. A single bowl of stew feels urgent, so the birthright looks disposable. Nothing explodes on the day of the trade; the consequence comes later. Hebrews 12 shows Esau seeking what he sold “with tears,” but finding no way back. The image lands hard: the carnal man loses treasure on ordinary Tuesdays by casual choices.

Romans 8 names the root. The carnal mind is enmity against God and “cannot please God.” First Corinthians 3 calls carnal Christians “babes,” stuck on milk, raised on “feel good” promises, unable to stand when God does not open the door on schedule. The contrast between flesh and Spirit turns on worship and authority: Cain demands God accept what Cain prefers; Abel yields what God desires. The carnal self trusts human wisdom above revelation, bows to appetite, resists submission, and will not walk by faith. Carnality is common because it is easy—like gravity. It matches the Adamic bent, blends with worldly currents, and offers a sweet but deadly false security.

The cure rises where the cross stands. Identity in Christ frees from condemnation and from self-justifying religion: “In Christ, not in church.” Choice then follows identity. Galatians 5:16 and Romans 8:4 command a walk—daily, practical, Spirit-led. The line cuts clean: “It is easier to die for Christ than to live for Christ,” because living means dying to self every day—turning the other cheek, mastering power, answering insult with restraint. Romans 8:14 names sonship as leading: those led by the Spirit belong to God. Galatians 2:20 supplies the posture—crucified with Christ—and Colossians 3 sets the gaze—affections above. Thoughts will fly like birds; the mind must refuse them a nest. The warning is Esau; the promise is sonship. A bowl of stew is too small. The birthright in Christ is too great to trade.

Key Takeaways

1. In Christ, not in church Identity in Christ, not attendance or labels, makes a person new. Denominational doors do not open heaven; the blood of Jesus does. Security from condemnation belongs to those “in Christ,” and that security empowers holiness. Religion without regeneration cannot carry a soul through temptation. [111:28]
2. A bowl of stew is too small Appetite makes urgent things look ultimate, but trades like Esau’s always collect later. The soul bleeds slowly when treasure is sold cheaply on ordinary days. The Spirit trains desire to wait, to prize the unseen inheritance, and to say no when the stew smells strongest. [124:56]
3. The carnal man cannot please God Flesh resists God’s law, trusts its own wisdom, and demands worship on its terms. That posture cannot be patched; it must be crucified with Christ. Only a Spirit-led mind can submit, believe, and offer what God actually wants, not what self prefers. [94:05]
4. It is easier to die than live Martyrdom happens once; self-denial happens daily. The Spirit teaches strength under control, the turned cheek, and the held tongue when a cutting word is ready. Real power is meekness that chooses the cross in the moment that pride wants the throne. [116:24]
5. Set your mind on things above Affection must be aimed, or stray thoughts will build nests. The Spirit redirects meditation toward what is true, honorable, and eternal, so impulses lose their grip. Attention becomes warfare, and hope grows where the gaze is fixed on Christ. [122:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[75:23] - Living by the Spirit begins
[78:33] - Galatians 5 and Galatians 2:20
[79:37] - “The spiritual man is insane”
[80:07] - Noah, Abraham, Moses misunderstood
[81:48] - The carnal versus the spiritual
[82:40] - Esau introduced as example
[84:35] - The smell of stew and hunger
[86:47] - The weight of the birthright
[90:24] - Hebrews 12 and Esau’s tears
[93:47] - Romans 8 and inability of flesh
[95:10] - Babes on milk in 1 Corinthians 3
[98:24] - Cain and Abel: worship on God’s terms
[102:47] - Why carnality is common
[106:34] - The cure begins: no condemnation
[109:16] - Identity: in Christ, not in church
[115:09] - Choose to walk in the Spirit
[116:24] - Easier to die than to live
[118:27] - Led by the Spirit as sons
[119:12] - Crucified with Christ, practical holiness
[122:31] - Set affections on things above
[124:56] - Do not sell the birthright
[129:42] - Prayer to live by the Spirit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
- Romans 8:1 (ESV): "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
- Hebrews 12:16-17 (ESV): "See to it that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears."

Observation Questions

According to Galatians 2:20, what is the relationship between our identity and Christ’s work on the cross?
What does Romans 8:1 declare about the status of those who are "in Christ"?
How does Hebrews 12:16-17 describe Esau’s decision and its consequences?

Interpretation Questions

Why does the carnal mind struggle to submit to God’s authority, and how does this relate to the idea of being "in Christ" (Romans 8:7-8)?
How does Esau’s story illustrate the danger of prioritizing immediate desires over eternal blessings (Genesis 25:29-34)?
What does it mean practically to "walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) in contrast to living by human effort or appetite?

Application Questions

What "bowl of stew" (temptation to trade spiritual treasure for temporary satisfaction) have you faced recently, and how can you guard against undervaluing your identity in Christ? [02:04:56]
In what ordinary moments (like an "inconsequential Tuesday") do you find it hardest to choose obedience to God? How can you cultivate awareness of these moments?
The sermon states, "It is easier to die for Christ than to live for Christ." What daily choices require "dying to self" in your relationships, work, or habits? [01:56:24]
How can you intentionally "set your mind on things above" (Colossians 3:2) when distractions or worldly pressures feel urgent?
Have you ever experienced regret over a decision made in haste or appetite, like Esau? What steps can you take to seek God’s restoration in that area?
What practical habit (e.g., prayer, Scripture meditation, accountability) could help you rely more on the Spirit’s leading rather than human wisdom? [02:02:31]

Sermon Clips

31s

#OnlyJesusSaves

“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, not necessarily for those who are in a church. The church is good and belong to a church for crying out loud, but the church does not save you. The church does not make you a new person. The church cannot wash your sins. The church cannot give you power to live as a child of God. The church cannot heal you from sicknesses. The church cannot protect you from demons. It is only Jesus Christ who can do that.”

58s

#DontBeLikeEsau

“So that's why when you read Hebrew chapter 12, when it takes us back to Genesis chapter 25, he said, don't be like Esau who was a profane person. What Esau did that day by eating the pot and selling away his his birthright, it was not just a one off thing. It was a symptom of the state of his heart. So just when this the and, you know, the devil is so patient. He will wait for you. He listen. The devil will do what? Wait for you. So what Esau did that, there was not a one off thing. He said, don't be like him. He's a carnal man. Don't be like him. Today, I pray by God that you will make up your mind that you will not be like Esau in the name of Jesus Christ. You'll not sell your birthright. You'll not give away what is valuable because someday you will need it.”

53s

#DailyDieToSelf

“``I'm going to say a sentence that I want each one of you to listen to. If you didn't hear anything today, want you to hear this sentence. It is easier to die for Christ than to live for Christ. Should I say that again? It is easier to die for Christ than to live for Christ. Because to live for Christ requires you every single day to die to yourself. You die to yourself. When the bible said that if somebody slaps you on the right cheek and you turn the left cheek, what does that mean? Die to yourself. Because meekness is not the absence of power. Meekness is the control of power. You have power, then you control it.”

74s

#ProtectYourTreasure

“And I want you to hear this. He ate the meal. The bible said that he got up and he went away. The canal man does not lose his treasure on the battlefield. The canal man does not lose his treasure on a day when he has to fight for his life. You lose your treasure on ordinary days, inconsequential Tuesdays, inconsequential Fridays, when you make heavy consequential decisions with a lousy, detached, careless attitude. And you know the irony? The day Esau ate the stew, nothing happens. When you make those major decisions where you give away the treasures that have been deposited in your soul, you give away the blessings and the benefit that God through the death of Christ, bequitted to you. When you give them away carelessly, nothing may happen in the moment.”

78s

#ChooseSpirituality

“He sought it. In the moment your canality, your choices that reflect the state of your canal heart may appear inconsequential. But the consequences are coming in the future. They're coming. And I pray by God that you will not have to seek for your treasure with tears. I pray by God. So what is your own bowl of steel? I wanna ask you today. What is that stew that has been offered to you by the devil? Offered to you by your family? Offered to you in your office? Offered to you by your girlfriend? What is that bowl of stew that you are willing to trade away your spirituality for a moment? Because you think that, well, this is the thing that matters here and now. Yes. For you, you may think that's what matters here and now, but God has made you more than conqueror. What you resist today, God will bless you in the future.”

42s

#IdentityInChrist

“I am spiritual not because I'm trying to do more, because I'm trying to sin less, because I'm trying to pray more, because I I need to make an improvement on my personality. I am spiritual because I recognize my identity, and my identity is where? In Christ. Look at somebody and say you are in Christ. That's if you're born again. That's if you are born again. If you are not born again, only God knows where you are. If you are born again, you are in Christ.”

40s

#GuardYourMind

“You know why? Because thoughts will always come through your mind, but there are things you must resolve that you're not going to spend your mind thinking on. Colossians four eight is that whatever is holy, whatever is virtuous, whatever is honorable, think on these things. Thoughts will come through your mind. Let me give you an illustration. You cannot stop a bird from flying over your head, can you? You see a bird flying over your head. You say, I'm catching it. No. You can't. But you can stop a bird from building a nest over your head. When a bird wants to build a nest over your head, no. No. No. No. I'm not gonna let this happen.”

72s

#GiveGodHisBest

“So the carnal man cannot please God, not because God is impossible to please, but because you don't want to please him. You want to satisfy God with your own currency. You wanna satisfy God with your own dictates. It is is what I will give you. Cain and Abel, Abel gave God a a sacrifice that was pleasing to God. Cain says, God, you have to accept what I give you. You have to accept it. Lord, you know I have come today. I have nothing to give you, but since I can't give you anything, I'll give you myself. And I tell them drop yourself on the altar if you want to give God yourself. Not because God cannot be pleased, but because you have chosen to give God what you want. The carnal man exalts himself above God even when he is singing songs of worship.”

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Sunday Service|| Living by the Spirit || Dr. Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

Devotional

Day 1: Trading Eternal Treasure for Temporary Appetites

Day 2: Identity Anchored in Christ, Not Performance

Day 3: Choosing the Spirit’s Path Over Gravity’s Pull

Day 4: Consequences Bloom in the Soil of Careless Choices

Day 5: Eyes Fixed Above, Not on Earthly Bowls

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Sunday Service|| Living by the Spirit || Dr. Joe Tarkon || City Of David Atlanta

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