**SERMON** THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT BY: MINISTER EVANGELIST CRYSTAL LASHELLE LAX **FOUNDER OF THE "JESUS CHRIST MINISTRY LLC (JCM) EVANGELISTIC STREET HOMELESS MINISTRY OUTREACH

 

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**SERMON**

THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT
By Minister Crystal Lashelle Lax**

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Opening Declaration

Today we confront a battle every believer faces: the war between the flesh and the Spirit. God is calling His people to rise above worldly speech, worldly thinking, and worldly comparisons. A reborn believer cannot live by the world’s system and claim to walk in God’s Kingdom.

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Scripture Foundation

• Galatians 5:16 — “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
• Romans 8:5 — “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…”
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away.”
• Colossians 3:2 — “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

These scriptures establish the believer’s identity and responsibility.

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I. THE FLESH SPEAKS FROM A WORLDLY MINDSET

The flesh is loud, reactive, judgmental, and rooted in comparison.
It says things like:

• “Look how fat she is.”
• “He ain’t nothing.”
• “I’m better than them.”

This is not harmless talk.
This is carnal speech—speech that does not come from God.

A. Fleshly Speech Is Evidence of an Unrenewed Mind

• James 3:10 — “Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
• Galatians 5:19–21 lists envy, strife, jealousy, and outbursts—all rooted in comparison.

A believer cannot speak like the world and claim to be led by the Spirit.

B. The World Teaches Comparison; God Teaches Compassion

The world says:

• Compete
• Compare
• Tear down
• Mock
• Judge

But the Spirit says:

• Build up
• Restore
• Encourage
• Love
• Speak life

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II. THE SPIRIT SPEAKS FROM A HEAVENLY MINDSET

A. A Reborn Believer Has a Reborn Mouth

When God changes your heart, He changes your language.

• Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…”
• Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Spirit-led people speak Spirit-led words.

B. The Spirit Produces Fruit in Your Speech

• Galatians 5:22–23 — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…
  These fruits show up in how you talk about others.

A Spirit-filled believer cannot tear down what God created.

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III. YOU CANNOT BE REBORN AND STILL LIVE BY THE WORLD’S SYSTEM

A. God Has a System — The Bible System

When you are reborn:

• You leave the world’s belief system
• You enter God’s Kingdom system
• You live by faith, not feelings
• You speak by Spirit, not flesh

B. The Old You Is Dead

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — the old has passed away
  Your old mouth, old mindset, old comparisons, old insults—all must die.

C. You Live in the World, But You Are Not of It

• John 17:16 — “They are not of the world…”
  You cannot be saved and still talk like Sodom.

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IV. LOT’S WIFE: A WARNING TO THE FLESHLY BELIEVER

• Genesis 19:26 — “But Lot’s wife looked back… and became a pillar of salt.”

Lot’s wife represents:

• People who want God but still crave the world
• People who are delivered but still think like bondage
• People who are saved but still speak like Sodom

Fleshly believers get stuck.
Stuck in cycles.
Stuck in comparison.
Stuck in bitterness.
Stuck in stagnation.

They cannot move into destiny because their mouth is still tied to the world.

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V. FAITH ANCHORS YOU IN CHAOS

The world is chaotic.
People are hateful.
Culture is unstable.
But faith anchors you.

• Hebrews 6:19 — “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.”

When you walk in the Spirit:

• You stay grounded
• You stay focused
• You stay stable
• You stay Kingdom-minded

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VI. A CALL TO KINGDOM SPEECH

God is calling His people to:

• Guard their tongue
• Renew their mind
• Speak life
• Reject comparison
• Refuse worldly talk
• Represent Christ in speech and conduct

A godly man or woman must set their:

• Thoughts
• Mind