Thursday, March 13, 2014

Walk In the Spirit



“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love SERVE ONE ANOTHER. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:

adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness,
lewdness,
idolatry,
sorcery,
hatred,
contentions,
jealousies,
outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions,
dissensions,
heresies,  
envy,
murders,
drunkenness,
revelries,

and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,
joy,
peace,
longsuffering,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
self-control.

Against such there is no law.  

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:16-26

A few verses earlier Paul addresses the Galatian believers and says in verse 7, “You ran well.  Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”  There’s only one answer to that question, no matter who it is asked.  Self.  For believers, we are the only ones standing between our disobedience and our obedience to God.  Through the Holy Spirit given to us we have every tool we need to be obedient, and produce the fruits of the second list.
 
Take a look at the first list.  Which of these ends in anything good?  Is there a single thing on the list worthy of occupying your short life?  No, not one!  So why do we neglect the power within us and get bound up in these sins?  If we can “do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens” us (Philippians 4:13), then does that not mean we can overcome sin?  If it means anything at all, it means we have power over sin. 

Our flesh will always prefer sin because it is of a sinful nature.  But we have to submit to the desires of His Holy Spirit and overcome those desires to sin. 

Our only obstacle is ourselves.

I < † >

 

 

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