Dominion Over The Flesh Nick Bowlin | River Church Frankfurt

Dominion Over the Flesh: Rule It or It Will Rule You

• As believers, we are called to live not by the flesh but by the Spirit (Romans 8:1-14).

• Understanding our triune nature—spirit, soul, and body—is crucial to walking in victory over sin.

• The battle between the flesh and the spirit is ongoing, but through the Holy Spirit, we can have dominion over our flesh.

I. Man’s Creation in God’s Image

• Genesis 1:26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)

• John 4:24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

We are a three-part being:

• Spirit: The eternal part of us that connects with God.

• Soul: Our mind, will, and emotions.

• Body: The physical vessel we inhabit.

Our dominion starts with understanding our God-given nature.

II. The Fall and Its Impact on the Spirit

• When Adam sinned, his spirit died, bringing separation from God.

• Jesus came as the second Adam, living in human flesh yet without sin.

• Romans 6:6: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (KJV)

• John 3:3-6: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... (KJV)

• 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

• Through Christ, our spirits are reborn, and we regain dominion over sin.

III. The Law of the Spirit of Life vs. The Law of Sin and Death

• Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV)

• Ezekiel 36:26-27: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you... (KJV)

• The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die... (KJV))

The Holy Spirit is the key to living above the flesh.

IV. The Daily Decision to Walk by the Spirit

• We must choose daily to allow our spirit, not our flesh, to govern our lives.

• Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice... (KJV)

• Galatians 5:16-24:

• 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

• 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

• 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

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• Start the day with prayer and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

• Feed your spirit through the Word of God.

• Avoid environments that provoke the flesh.

V. Building and Strengthening Our Spirit Man

• Ephesians 3:16-20: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man... (KJV)

• The importance of prayer, studying the Word, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

• A strong spirit naturally has dominion over the flesh.