EXPOSE THE WAR WITHIN

Text: Galatians 5:16–17

By Rev. Dr. Festus Olu Ade Alade
Church Pastor, ZBC, Adewole Ilorin

INTRODUCTION

Beloved, today we are not addressing the wars of nations, we are addressing the war of the human heart. Before Cain killed Abel, there was a war in Cain’s soul. Before nations rage, hearts rebel. And Scripture is clear: every person lives on a battlefield. There is no neutral ground. James 4:1-2 declare, where do wars and fight come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? This is a serious question that needs a million answers. 

There is a war happening inside us. Not around us. Not merely in culture. Inside the human heart. And if we do not understand this war, we will misunderstand everything Paul teaches about the fruit of the Spirit.

1. THERE IS A WAR WITHIN YOU — AND YOU CANNOT ESCAPE IT: Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.” This is not symbolic language.This is war language. Inside every human heart are two opposing forces:  The flesh — our fallen nature, bent toward sin (Romans 7:18) The Spirit — God’s presence calling us to life and obedience (Romans 8:14)  Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 26:41 that “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” You cannot serve both. You cannot follow both voices. Jesus said: Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters.”

If you are not walking in the Spirit, you are already being led by the flesh (Romans 8:5–6). This is why religion without repentance feels empty. This is why church attendance without surrender produces no change. The war is real — and it demands a decision.

• THE WAR YOU IGNORE WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY YOU: Galatians 5:19–21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Paul does not whisper this warning. He repeats it because eternity is at stake. The flesh always promises freedom — but Scripture says it produces bondage. Romans 6:16- “To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves.” James 1:14–15  “Desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Some of us are wounded today because we made peace with what God told us to kill. We tolerated the anger. We justified the bitterness. We excused the lust. We delayed repentance. And now the war we ignored is bearing fruit. Galatians 6:7–8 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” This is not condemnation —this is mercy warning us before it’s too late.

• JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO END THE WAR: Galatians 5:24  says, “And those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The gospel is not behavior modification. It is death and resurrection. Jesus did not come to help you manage sin — He came to destroy its power.  Romans 6:6 declared it, “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with.” At the cross: Sin was judged (Isaiah 53:5), Condemnation was broken (Romans 8:1), and New life was offered through the Spirit (Titus 3:5) And now the invitation is clear: Romans 8:13–14, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”  Peace does not come by silencing war. Peace comes when the flesh is crucified and Christ is enthroned.
• HOW THE WAR WITHIN DETERMINES THE FRUIT YOU BEAR: Beloved, the war within is not only about what you resist — it is about what you will eventually produce. Scripture does not say fruit appears by effort.  Fruit appears by what rules the heart. That is why Paul moves immediately from the war of the flesh and the Spirit to the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Notice this carefully: It does not say fruits — it says fruit, It is not the fruit of discipline — it is the fruit of the Spirit, therefore the war determines the harvest. Jesus said it plainly in Matthew 7:17–18, “A good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” When the flesh dominates, the fruit is evident: Instead of love, there is selfishness, Instead of joy, there is restlessness, instead of peace, there is inner conflict, Instead of self-control, there is slavery to desire. No amount of religious language can hide the fruit.  No title can disguise what is growing. Galatians 6:8 says, “He who sows to the flesh will reap corruption.”

Why Do Many Believers Struggle to Get the Right Fruit? Many ask, “Why don’t I see love, joy, or peace in my life?”  The answer is not mysterious. Fruit does not grow where war is still being fed.  You cannot water the flesh and expect the Spirit’s fruit.  You cannot entertain bitterness and harvest peace. You cannot protect pride and expect gentleness. Romans 8:5 “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.”

The mind decides the master. The master determines the fruit. The Spirit Wins the War — and the Fruit Follows. When the flesh is crucified, something beautiful happens. Galatians 5:24–25- “Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Read. Walking in the Spirit does not mean perfection.  It means direction. And where the Spirit leads, fruit inevitably grows: Love replaces hatred, Peace replaces inner chaos, Self-control replaces addiction, Gentleness replaces violence of heart. This is not behavior modification. This is transformation. John 15:5 says, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.”

Heart Check: So here is the question the Spirit asks today — not angrily, but lovingly: What fruit is your life producing? Not what you claim.  Not what you intend. But what is actually growing. The fruit reveals which side is winning the war. And the good news of the gospel is this: If you repent, surrender, and receive Christ,  the Spirit Himself will begin to produce what you never could.

Today, God is not asking you to try harder. He is asking you to surrender fully. Acts 3:19- “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Lay down the weapons of the flesh. Bow your head in humility. Confess the war you’ve been fighting alone. 2 Corinthians 5:17- “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” The war can end today. -Not by religion. Not by willpower. But by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. So the question remains: The flesh or the Spirit — whom will you serve?

In other to bear the fruit of the spirit you need to crucify the flesh and surrender to the Holy Spirit, that is when you will be able to produce the kind of fruit Jesus is expecting from you, that can stand the test of time. I pray that the Lord will help us to always obey the Holy Spirit and walk with him in Jesus’ name.