The main idea of Pastor Jacob Aranza's sermon was the internal battle between the flesh and the Spirit. He explained that while our spirit is reborn in Christ, our soul - composed of our mind, will, and emotions - needs to submit to God's will. This submission is tested not by what we agree with in Scripture, but by what we disagree with. Pastor Jacob stressed that the enemy works in opposition to God, aiming to corrupt our body and crush our spirit. He urged us to be Spirit-led, guard our gates against negative influences, and practice obedience through spiritual disciplines.
Romans 8:5-8, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
How can we guard our 'gates' effectively in a world full of negative influences?
What does it mean to submit our souls to God, and how can we practice this submission?
Why is obedience to God's Word crucial in the battle between the flesh and the Spirit?
In Pastor Jacob Aranza's sermon, he delved into the struggle between living according to the flesh and living by the Spirit. He used the analogy of a fake cop to illustrate how we can be deceived by appearances and emotions. Pastor Jacob emphasized the importance of understanding the distinction between our spirit, soul, and body, and how our true identity lies in being a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. He pointed out that the challenge we face is aligning our daily choices with the Spirit, rather than following the flesh. He also highlighted the concept of 'voting' for the Spirit each day, making conscious decisions to lead a life guided by the Spirit, even when it's difficult.
Choose to be led by the Spirit every day, even when your emotions suggest otherwise.
Guard your senses against negative influences that can lead you away from God's will.