Two Life Styles
…who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (NIV) Romans 8:4
TWO WALKS
We can live according to the flesh and Spirit (v.4). This represents two kinds of lifestyles.
Life according to the flesh reflects:
- Self reigns over everything.
- Trying to perform and do many things to get God’s/men’s approval.
- Insecurity in many ways.
- Produces the fruit of the flesh.
- Struggles to live in forgiveness.
- Living like a spiritual orphan.
- Gives greater priority to self-gratification over spiritual matters.
Life according to the Spirit reflects:
- The Spirit reigns over everything.
- Totally driven by our original identity as children of God.
- Knowing that God accepts and loves us.
- Filled with love.
- Experiencing the habitation of God.
- Produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
TWO MINDSETS (Rom. 8:5):
A Spirit-filled mindset sees everything in life through the eyes of God (the way God sees things) and through our identity as a child of God, whereas the mindset of the flesh sees everything through self and strives to achieve everything to become somebody.The mindset of the Spirit will be filled with spiritual desires, whereas the mindset of the flesh will be filled with the desires of the flesh.
TWO RESULTS (Rom. 8:6-8):
A Spirit-guided life will have peace and life, but a flesh-guided life cannot submit to God. A flesh-guided life has enmity with God and cannot please God. It leads one to death.As a child of God, you are called to live according to the Spirit and the mindset of the Holy Spirit. Overcome the flesh and live in the Spirit.