The Outward Man Has It's Own Desires

In this sermon, Alan explores the different paths people take in their spiritual lives, emphasizing how God uses natural desires like hunger, zeal, and passion to draw individuals closer to Him. There is a crucial distinction between being driven by personal needs and being truly led by the Holy Spirit. Drawing from his own experience with starting multiple church ministries, Alan reflects on how God sometimes restrains our good ideas to reveal our true motivations. He introduces the concept of an independent personal AI system within both our inner and outer man that can actively resist spiritual decisions.

These desires and willpower operate as part of the outward man's soul, driving behaviors and creating chemical emotions that cannot be overcome through reasoning alone. Rather than relying on discipline and religious activities to control behavior, believers must mortify and kill these root desires as commanded in Colossians 3. Alan shares a personal story of how fasting for ten days and resisting the temptation of pizza illustrated this intense internal struggle. By praying in tongues, he found the spiritual maturity needed to stop feeding outward desires and instead allow the Holy Spirit to starve the flesh to death.