What is old Adam's status in God's eyes versus our experience?
In God's eyes, old Adam is completely dead, crucified and out of the picture. In the believer's experience, however, he is still present but defeated, no longer needing to remain uppermost. The indwelling Holy Spirit empowers the believer's spirit for victory, though old Adam remains powerful and can come to the fore, creating the warfare.
Les explains that as soon as old Adam is crucified, in God's eyes he is completely dead and out of the picture. In our experience, however, old Adam is still here, but he is defeated and does not have to remain uppermost. If he remains uppermost, it is because we are not fighting the battle. Les teaches that the Holy Spirit came in and empowered our spirit, and working in consort with our spirit, we can now live victoriously. Old Adam is powerful and will come to the fore at times, and that is where the warfare exists. There would be no warfare without the indwelling Holy Spirit; otherwise we would not stand a chance against the forces of old Adam and Satan. Les also notes that in the Greek it is the Pneuma Hagion, meaning that power from on high.