Joel Osteen - Winning The War Within (05/02/2022)
Joel Osteen delivers a stirring message on the lifelong inner battle between flesh and spirit, urging believers to dethrone carnal desires through daily discipline, using vivid stories like Peter, Jacob/Israel, and personal examples to show that choosing the spirit over the flesh unlocks God’s greater blessings and destiny.
There’s a War Going On Inside You Right Now!
I want to talk to you today about winning the war within. There is a battle taking place on the inside of each one of us. It is a battle between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh represents our carnal nature—things like jealousy, pride, compromise. It is the easy way to live. You do not have to be disciplined; you just do whatever you feel.
The Flesh Acts Like a Ruthless Dictator
Someone is rude to you—you are rude back to them. If you do not feel like having a good attitude, you go through the day sour. When you see that coconut cream pie, you do not think twice—you eat your fourth piece. The flesh wants to rule; it wants to have control. The scripture says (Romans 8:13), «Those who live by the dictates of the flesh.» Notice the flesh is described as a dictator.
Dictators Don’t Let You Choose—They Command!
What does a dictator do? They make all the decisions for you; they tell you what to do, when to do it—you just follow orders. You get stuck in traffic; your flesh will tell you, «Get upset; this is ruining your day.» Many people follow the dictates of the flesh. Like a good soldier: «Yes sir, right away.» They get upset; it sours their day.
Letting the Flesh Win Kills Your Dreams
At work someone leaves you out, does not invite you to the meeting—the flesh says, «Get offended; this is not right.» They get offended, a chip on their shoulder. The problem is: if you keep giving in to the flesh, that verse goes on to say, «You will die.» That does not mean physically, but your dreams will die; your relationships will not flourish; your gifts will not come out like they should.
You’ve Got Another Option: Walk in the Spirit!
What is the problem? You are letting the flesh win the war. Anytime you are tempted to compromise, be lazy, give in to temptation—there is another option: that is to walk in the spirit. That means you do the right thing when it is hard; you bite your tongue when someone is rude; you stay faithful in your relationships when someone is trying to lure you away.
Stop Sowing to the Flesh—It’s Holding You Back
What is limiting some people is not that they are not talented, not that they do not have God’s favor—it is that they keep sowing to the flesh. Do not keep giving in to the same things that you know are holding you back. Next time you are tempted to be jealous, find fault, say something critical—tell your flesh, «No, I am not going there. I am going to be happy for them. I am going to see the best in people.»
Tell Your Flesh «No» and Take Back Control
When you feel like staying up all night playing on the computer—tell your flesh, «Not tonight. I am going to bed. I am going to take care of myself.» Next time those friends call that are pulling you down, causing you to compromise—tell them, «Sorry, something has come up. I cannot hang out tonight.» Quit letting the flesh be the dictator. You have to take charge of your life. The flesh is not leading you anywhere productive.
These Two Forces Fight Every Single Day
Paul said in Galatians 5:17, «These two forces are constantly fighting each other. Your choices are never free from this conflict.» I do not want to depress you, but this is a battle that will never go away. You can be a believer for 50 years—you have grown, you have matured—but you will still have to deal with the flesh.
You Don’t Overcome It Once—It’s Daily!
You do not overcome it one time and it is defeated; it will come back again. This is something we have to get skilled at: «No, I am not going to let my flesh say everything that it wants. I am not going to take the bait and get offended by that person that did me wrong. Not going to let my guard down and be dishonest in this business deal.»
Are You Winning the War Within?
Are you winning the war within? Are you living by the spirit, making decisions that honor God? Or are you letting the flesh win, doing whatever you feel? You need to take the flesh off the throne. Quit letting it determine your decisions.
Dethrone the Flesh—It Won’t Go Quietly!
We have seen in foreign countries where there is a dictator—this person in charge is oppressing the people, pushing them down; there is no democracy; they cannot vote him out—so they have to take drastic measures. The people rise up and overthrow the dictator; they have to forcefully remove him—that is the only way they will be free.
Forcefully Remove the Flesh from the Throne
It is the same way with the flesh: it wants to stay in control of your life, telling you what to do, where to go. The only way it is going to come off the throne is if you forcefully remove it. It is not going to go easily. Someone does you wrong and you choose to forgive—the flesh will say, «Come on, get even, pay them back; this is not right.»
It’s Time to Put Your Foot Down!
You have to put your foot down and say, «Sorry, you do not control me anymore. I have taken you off the throne. You have lost your authority. I walk by the spirit and not the flesh.» It is time to dethrone the flesh. Quit letting it dictate how you live, how you respond, how you handle adversity.
Sow to the Spirit—That’s How You Grow
Start sowing to the spirit; start taking the high road, doing the right thing when it is hard. That is when you grow. That is when God can trust you with more. It is very shallow to live by how you feel, giving in to carnal desires—that is going to keep you from the greatness God put in you.
Discipline Hurts Now—But Pays Off Big Later
The scripture says (Hebrews 12:11), «No discipline at the time seems pleasant, but later on you will reap a harvest of good things.» Being disciplined is not easy. Walking away when someone is rude, not giving in to the temptation, getting up early to excel at work—that is difficult.
Your Flesh Craves Comfort—Destiny Demands Discipline
Your flesh wants to be comfortable. Your flesh wants the easy way out. But you cannot be comfortable all the time and reach your destiny. If you will do the hard thing now, later on you will see blessings and favor that you have never seen.
Instant Gratification vs. Long-Term Victory
But the flesh always wants instant gratification: «If I tell this person off, it will make me feel good right now. If I buy this item that I cannot afford, if I sleep in and skip work, I will feel good right now.» But it is important to think about later on. We should be growing; we should be further now than we were five years ago.
Are You Still Fighting the Same Old Battles?
If I am still dealing with my temper the same way as years ago, then I am leaving the flesh on the throne. If I am still getting offended, upset, jealous the same way as years back, then I am letting the flesh dictate my life. I am not saying we have to be perfect, but we should be improving.
How God Used Victoria to Cure My Impatience
When Victoria and I were first married and we were about to go somewhere, I would ask her if she was ready. She said, «Yes, I am ready, ” so I would go get in the car and I would wait, and wait, and wait—she would never come. I would get so stressed out; I would go back in: „I thought you said you were ready.“
I Prayed „Change Her"—God Changed Me Instead!
She said, «I am ready.» I said, «Well, would you mind coming into the car?» I did not like to wait. I used to pray, «God, you have to change her; help her to go faster.» But what is funny is God never changed her, but he used her to change me. God does not remove everything that is uncomfortable. If he did, we would never grow.
From «Change Them» to «Change Me»
Instead of praying, «God, change the other person, ” I have learned to pray, „God, change me. Help me to come up higher. Help me to be more patient. Help me to stay in peace.“ Even now when I get stuck in traffic or there is a long line at the airport, that impatience still tries to get back on the throne, still tries to dictate my life.
Paul Said „I Die Daily"—And He Wrote Half the Bible!
You do not win the war within one time and you are done. These forces are constantly opposing each other. That is why the apostle Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:31): «I die daily.» Now, Paul wrote half of the books in the New Testament; he is one of the heroes of faith. You would think he is so powerful, so mature—he would not have to deal with these issues.
No Autopilot—There’s Always Room to Grow
Yet he said, «Every day I take my flesh off the throne. Every day I have to put down my carnal desires.» You never come to a point where you are so mature you can go on autopilot: «I am just going to coast”—there is always room to grow.
The Two-Minute Warning That Taught Me Patience
After a couple of years of being impatient, letting things frustrate me, I learned a new tactic. When Victoria says she is ready, it is like the two-minute warning in football. The clock says two minutes, but you know it is going to be 20 minutes with the timeouts, the replays, the commercials.
Frustrations Are Really Opportunities to Grow
Now when she says she is ready, I will go sit down, make a sandwich, work out, go to the grocery store—I am not looking at her either. But many of the things that frustrate us are really opportunities to grow. Take the flesh off the throne. Do not respond the same way you have been responding the last 20 years—being impatient, frustrated, arguing with your spouse.
Die Daily Like Paul—And Watch God Trust You More
Start dying daily. Like with Paul, we all have these areas we are letting the flesh dictate. If we would start walking by the spirit, being willing to be uncomfortable—keeping our mouth closed, waiting with a good attitude—that is when you are growing; that is when God can trust you with more influence, more favor, more resources.
The Real Battle Isn’t Outside—It’s Inside
I know there are a lot of battles on the outside, but my question is: are you winning the war within? Are you walking by the spirit and not letting the flesh determine your decisions?
You Became New—But the Old Man Can Resurrect!
See, when you gave your life to Christ, when you got born again, the scripture says (2 Corinthians 5:17), you became „a new creation; the old has passed away.“ I would love to tell you that means you will never have any more carnal desires—you never want to be jealous, rude, complain.
Put Off the Old Man—Every Single Day
Now, the old man may have died, but I have learned a secret: sometimes he will resurrect. Lazarus was not the only one that came back to life—your old nature will rise from the dead. Ephesians 4:22–24 says, „Put off the old man and put on the new man.“ Even though you are a new creation, you have to put off the old. Every day the old man is trying to get back up and run your life.
Peter: Loyal One Minute, Denying the Next
We see this with Peter—he was a faithful disciple, loyal, committed. Jesus said, „You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.“ God had great confidence in Peter. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter was so loyal, so determined to stand up for him—he pulled his sword out and cut off the soldier’s ear.
We All Have Two People Inside: Old and New
But a little later, when Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house, Peter denied that he knew Jesus. A young girl said, „I know you are one of his disciples.“ Peter got angry; he started cursing; he said, „I do not know the man.“ Like Peter, we all have these two people on the inside: the old man and the new man.
„I Can’t Control It"—Yes You Can!
That is why the scripture says, «Put off the old man. Put off the pride. Put off the bitterness. Put off the compromise and put on the new man.» «Well, Joel, I am trying to, but I cannot control my temper. I cannot break this addiction. I cannot keep my eyes on the right things.» No—quit telling yourself that. Your old man is not that strong.
Whatever You Feed Grows—Starve the Old Man!
The reason he is controlling you is you keep feeding him. Whatever you feed is going to grow. Every time you give in to the temptation, you are feeding it—it is getting stronger. Every time you get offended, you are impatient, you say things you should not—you are feeding the negative. Do yourself a favor: quit feeding the old man.
Starve Bitterness, Jealousy, Compromise
If you will start starving the bitterness, starving the jealousy, starving the compromise—it will get weaker and weaker. That desire may not totally go away; God may not totally remove it—this is when discipline steps in; this is when his grace shows up.
Quick Victories Aren’t Your Real Enemies
Do not use the excuse, «I have tried and nothing has changed”—you have the power to overcome. Do not let that old man get back up. See, I still deal with being impatient; that old man has been trying to get back up for 30 years. I buried him, had a funeral, thought he was finished. You have heard of the walking dead—sometimes he gets back up.
If God Doesn’t Remove It—Grace Is There!
Here is what I have learned: anything you defeat quickly is not your real enemy. What you overcome in a short time, you do not have to be concerned about that. Your real enemy does not go away overnight. I am not tempted to be dishonest, curse, do drugs—by the grace of God those things are not a struggle for me. But being impatient is a different story.
David’s Real Giant Wasn’t Goliath—It Was Saul
David defeated Goliath in a few minutes—that was not his real enemy. King Saul pursued David for years—threw spears at him in the palace, chased him through the desert. God could have delivered David from Saul in a moment, like he did Goliath. He could have taken care of him in an afternoon—no big deal.
Admit „I Can’t"—And God Steps In!
But some enemies God does not remove; some temptations, some desires may not go away. If God does not remove it, that means the grace is there to stand strong and deal with it. God would not have allowed it if it was going to keep you from your destiny.
Nabal the Fool: Symbol of Your Old Nature
Ask him to help you; ask for his strength. When you admit your dependence on him, you humble yourself and say, «God, I cannot do this on my own. I cannot defeat this giant. It is not going away”—God will step in and help you conquer what is holding you back.
David Almost Wiped Out a Town—Until Abigail Stepped In
You have the power to keep the old man down. Do not let him keep you from your greatness; do not let the flesh stay on the throne. The force in you is greater than any force that is trying to stop you. Start putting on the new man: „Father, thank you that I am strong, I am disciplined, I am anointed, I am favored, that I make decisions that honor you.“
Abigail Saved David—Then Married Him!
In 1 Samuel 25, David and his men had been protecting the property of a man named Nabal. Nabal was a wealthy man that owned a lot of sheep. It was the time of year that they were shearing the sheep; they had all this wool, a great harvest—they were having a big celebration. So David sent a few men to Nabal and asked, since they had been watching over his property, if he would give them some food and water.
Ten Days Later—Nabal Was Gone
It seemed like Nabal would be grateful, glad to do it—but it was just the opposite; he was very rude and disrespectful to David’s men. Commentaries say that Nabal was a harsh man, stubborn, hot-tempered, that he spent most of his time drunk. He said to David’s men: „I do not owe you anything; I never asked you to protect me—what are you doing on my property?“ He sent them away empty-handed.
As Long As „Nabal“ Lives—You’ll Never Meet the New You
When David heard how Nabal had insulted them, he was furious; he told his men to get their swords—they were going to go attack. Nabal’s wife, a young lady named Abigail, was not only beautiful but she was very wise. She loaded up animals with food and water and headed out toward David.
Your Tenth Day Breakthrough Is Coming!
They met on the road; Abigail bowed down low in humility. She said, „David, my husband is a fool. I am sorry for how he treated you; I brought you all these gifts for you and your men.“ She calmed David down, kept him from wiping out their town. David thanked her and turned around, went back home. Ten days later Nabal had a stroke and died. David sent word and asked Abigail to become his wife. Now that the old man was dead, she could meet the new man.
Get Rid of Nabal—No One Likes Him Anyway!
Nabal is symbolic of our old nature: hot-tempered, rude, ungrateful, addictions. The name Nabal means fool. As long as the old man is alive, you will never meet the new man. I am not talking about your husband—somebody thought they got a word from the Lord today. I am talking about the old man that lives in us: the bitterness, the bad attitude, the compromise.
Little Things Are Blocking Big Blessings
Start starving the old man. Your destiny is too great; your assignment too important to let the same issues keep you from seeing the new man. It is interesting that Nabal died 10 days after Abigail did the right thing. There will be these times when you dig down deep and do the right thing when it is hard—that you will come into your tenth day. Something will suddenly break.
Jacob vs. Israel: The Two Names We All Carry
That addiction will not have the power over you. That bad attitude, that temper may not totally go away, but it does not control you anymore. I wonder how much higher we would go, how much more of God’s favor we would see if we would start putting off the old man—if we would start saying no to things that we know are holding us back?
God Changed His Name—But Jacob Kept Showing Up
And sometimes a little thing is keeping us from big blessings: little pride, little compromise—“Just this one friend I party with, just this one temptation I give in to, just this one person that I will not forgive.» No—it is time to get rid of Nabal. Nobody likes him; nobody wants to be around him. Put the old man down and put on the new you—the free you, the blessed you, the happy you, the victorious you.
From Deceiver to Prince—But Both Names Stuck
In the scripture Jacob was known for being dishonest, cheating people. His name means trickster, con man. He lived up to it: he tricked his brother out of his birthright, went around deceiving people. After living this way for years, he went down to the brook to be alone. I am sure he was reflecting on his life.
The Scripture Switches Back and Forth—On Purpose
He had an encounter with God; he wrestled with an angel. It was there that God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. His new name means «Prince with God»; his old name meant «Deceiver.» He spent the rest of his life dealing with these two names. You would think the scripture would now refer to him only by his new name, Israel—after all, God changed his name; it was a significant moment; he had a new beginning.
Jacob Wants to Complain—Israel Wants to Praise
But the scripture goes back and forth between Jacob and Israel—one moment he is Jacob; in the same passage the next moment he is Israel. God was showing us that the old man, the carnal desires, will not totally go away. The key to living in victory is to respond like Israel, not like Jacob.
There’s a Jacob and an Israel in All of Us
There is a Jacob in all of us; there are things that can hold us back. The good news is: there is an Israel in all of us—there is a prince in you; there is a holy, righteous, favored, strong, world changer in you. Let me warn you: even though Israel is in there, even though God has changed your name, Jacob will try to come out.
Someone Cuts You Off—Jacob Shows Up Fast!
Those carnal desires may be dead, but people will do things that will wake up the Jacob in you. You were driving to work singing praises, enjoying the day—Israel was feeling good—then someone cut you off in traffic. Out of nowhere Jacob showed up. You quit praising; you started saying some other things. You think, «Where did you come from?» Jacob smiles and says, «I am in here too. I may be dead, but I can be woken up.»
Choose Daily: Jacob or Israel?
Jacob wants to complain; Israel wants to praise: who is going to win that war? Jacob wants to hold a grudge: «They hurt you; do not speak to them.» Israel wants to forgive: «Let it go; move forward in faith.» Jacob wants to argue, be condescending, say hurtful things. Israel wants to be kind, overlook the offense, keep the peace in relationships.
Krispy Kreme Showdown: Jacob vs. Israel Round 13
Jacob wants another Krispy Kreme donut—chocolate icing, sprinkles on top. Israel says, «No, 12 was enough.» I am asking you to be the Israel, not the Jacob. They are both in there. God changed your name, but he did not get rid of Jacob.
At the End—Israel Gathered Strength and Sat Up
When Jacob was about to pass at the end of his life, Genesis 48:2 says, «When Jacob was told that his son Joseph was there to see him, Israel gathered up his strength and sat up in bed.» He started off as Jacob: tired, weary, thinking he was done. Then something kicked in; he thought, «My son is here—the one I thought was dead, the one I waited for. I am not going to die yet.» Israel sat up; the prince in him came back to life.
Wake Up as Israel—Grateful and Expectant
When you wake up in the morning, you get to choose: am I going to be Jacob today? Am I going to complain: «I do not want to go to work; traffic is bad; they close the intersection; these people get on my nerves»? Or are you going to be Israel: «Lord, thank you for another day that you have made. I am grateful to be alive. Thank you for the gift of this day»?
Delays, Disappointments—Jacob or Israel?
When things do not go your way—you have delays, disappointments, people that do you wrong—are you going to be Jacob: get upset, offended, try to pay them back? Or are you going to be Israel: «Father, thank you that you are my vindicator; you are fighting my battles. I am going to stay in peace knowing that you are in control»?
With Family: Critical Jacob or Loving Israel?
With your family, are you going to be Jacob: critical, harsh, contentious? Or are you going to be Israel: loving, kind, treating them with respect and honor? Both people are in us: the flesh and the spirit, the old man and the new man, Jacob and Israel.
Go Further—Be Israel!
You will go so much further in life if you will start being Israel. Keep the flesh off the throne. Do not let that old man get back up; keep him buried.
Drive-Through Drama: Jacob Wanted to Explode!
I was at the drive-through the other day, just minding my own business. Life was good. I had waited about 10 minutes in the line; I pulled up to place my order on the microphone—the people were there in the building. I rolled down my window, and the man was so upset.
«If You Don’t Order, Get Out of Line!»
He said, «Sir, there are other people waiting. If you do not place your order, you are going to have to get out of line.» I had just pulled up; I had not been there two seconds. Out of nowhere Jacob showed up. I was so surprised; I said, «How did you get here so fast?» He said, «I live here too.»
I Chose Israel—And Blessed Him Instead
He gave me some great ideas what to tell this jerk—I mean this man. I said, «Jacob, I thought you were dead?» He said, «I was, but I got back up for this one.» I had to make the choice: was it going to be Israel—the pastor with a smile? Or was it going to be Jacob and get even?
Every Day: Jacob or Israel? Your Choice!
I did what I am asking you to do—I thought, I am going to be Israel. I said very politely, «No problem; let me give you my order.» After I ordered, I thanked him: «God bless you. Hope you have a great day. Hope your children are fine. Tell your grandparents I said hello.»
He Recognized Me—"I Thought That Was You, Pastor Joel»
When I pulled up, he had all his workers gathered around staring at me. He said, «I thought that was you, Pastor Joel.» I said, «Yes, this is me—Israel.» I wanted to say, but Jacob is here too; he wants to say something.
Your Choices Affect Generations
Every day you have to make the choice: am I Jacob or am I Israel? Am I going to hold on to this offense or am I going to let it go? Am I going to hang out with these friends that cause me to compromise or am I going to stay on the high road, be a person of excellence? Am I going to cut corners at work or am I going to have integrity and give it my best?
Esau Sold His Birthright for Stew—Don’t Do That!
I am asking you to be Israel. Put off the old man. Do not let the flesh dictate your life; let the spirit rule. Honor God with your decisions. The choices you make do not just affect you—they affect your children and even generations to come.
This Is Your Moment of Grace—Make the Change!
Jacob’s brother Esau—he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He was so hungry; he let his carnal desires dictate his decisions. He sold something incredibly valuable for a pot of stew. He was the firstborn son. We should talk about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau—not Jacob. But Esau let his flesh take the throne. Do not let that be you.
Break Habits, Resist Temptation—See Your Full Destiny!
You can win the war within. God is calling you up higher. Whatever you know is holding you back—this is the time to make a change. This is a moment of grace to do what you could not do before. Your decision can save your marriage, can take you to a new level in your career. It can break mediocrity and launch you into abundance.
Become the Prince God Created You to Be!
If you will do this, I believe and declare: like Israel, you are going to become the prince you were created to be. You are going to break bad habits, resist temptation, and see the fullness of your destiny—in Jesus’ name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today? Amen.