Out of Survival, Into the Spirit: The Invisible Battle Ground
Gal 5:16-26, 6:1-5 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
6 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. NLT
The sinful nature (flesh) is very deceitful.
It can be so camouflaged that its roots are hard to detect.
Ultimately, the battle between the flesh and the Spirit is a journey from a survival mode to a life of transformation.
What is the sin-nature (flesh)?
The sinful nature are beliefs, perceptions and behavior patterns apart from the truth of God’s Word
Beliefs are formed when emotions are attached to an experience, usually by observation
These experiences may be minor but are formed (Trauma) and shifts how the brain processes reality to keep that person safe from perceived treats
Some of these traits are generational bondage!
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
The Invisible Battle Ground: most of the time our biggest spiritual battles are camouflaged in our mental make up
Amygdala Hijack: The brain's alarm system stays on high alert. It constantly scans your environment for anything resembling the original trauma.
Hypervigilance: Your nervous system remains trapped in a fight, flight, or freeze state. This makes you perceive threat even in safe situations.
Examples: The Response: Picking fights, crying excessively, or threatening to leave first just to see if the other person will chase them
The Trigger: The death of a parent, divorce, parental infidelity, or abuse deeply damages a child’s sense of emotional safety and stability.
The Response: Snapping angrily at your mate over a minor scheduling change.
The Trigger: A chaotic childhood environment where sudden changes meant danger.
The Response: Suddenly quitting a job or ending a relationship when things get stressful.
The Trigger: An urge to run away before getting rejected or hurt.
The Response: Zoning out, staring blankly, or feeling unable to speak during a mild argument.
The Trigger: A childhood history where staying quiet and invisible was the safest option.
The Response: Texting a partner dozens of times if they do not reply within ten minutes.
The Trigger: A past betrayal or inconsistent caregiver, making silence feel like immediate abandonment.
When these continue to occur in our lives, we will not inherit the things of the Kingdom, that God has provided!
The Shift: By understanding how past trauma programs the brain to defend itself, believers can cooperate with the Holy Spirit to dismantle deep-seated strongholds and renew their minds.
2 Cor 10:4-6 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. KJV
Imaginations: the contemplation of actions as a result of the verdict of conscience (Sin-nature)
If my mind has been programmed by traumatic experiences, it can be reprogrammed by the renewing of my mind!
The Holy Spirit is the conveyer of truth!
John 16:13-14 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. KJV Guide: To show the way
He will guide you into truth!
He is not out to hurt you, He’s out to show you what needs to be healed in you!
He will bring glory to the finished work of Christ!
Shifting the focus from hurt (imagination) to healing (Christ), changes how believers experience God.
By understanding how past trauma programs the brain to defend itself, believers can cooperate with the Holy Spirit to dismantle deep-seated strongholds and renew their minds.
As we heal, we will be able to help others
Gal 6:1-5 6 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. NLT
Every believer’s responsibility!
You who are godly (spiritual)
That have overcome the lies of the enemy
1. Help Restore
Overcome: to overtake or caught unaware Some sin (fault): a false step, a blunder, a failure to achieve.
These internal belief patterns often strikes before we realize our survival system was triggered.
Right path (restore): to repair, to restore to a former good condition, to prepare, to fit out, to equip.
It’s the word we get for setting a fractured bone!
What does a wounded dog do?
Fixing you is killing me: have you ever tried to help someone and before you know it, you are acting crazy?
2. Guard yourself
3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. NLT
Avoid the Trap: If you help someone without humility, you run the risk of getting dragged into the exact same temptation or trauma response.
Conclusion: True transformation happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to heal our past trauma, renew our minds, and empower us to gently restore others in love.
