I say then, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Galatians 5:16-18
When you experience the inner conflict of your flesh, the Holy Spirit who lives in the life of the believer, wants us to remember this, I have been set free by Christ, I am no longer under any bondage to the law (5:1-12). But I need something–Someone–to control my life from within. That Someone is the Holy Spirit (5:13-26) and through the Spirit’s love, I have a desire to live for others, bearing the fruit of the Spirit that glorifies God, and not just live for myself (6:1-10).
Just as Isaac and Ishmael were unable to get along, so the Spirit and flesh (the old nature) are at war with each other. While we are born again in Christ, we are still wrestling with the sinfulness of our flesh. It can be so alarming that before we were in Christ, our sin may not have bothered us at all. But now as a Christian, we have the Holy Spirit in us who convicts us of our sin.
The writer of Hebrews chapter 12 viewed the trials of the Christian life as spiritual discipline that could help the believer mature through God’s chastening to whom it is said, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son He receives” (12:6). Chastening is the evidence of the Father’s love.
We cannot overcome sin and its desires on our own. We cannot do the work God has called us to do in our own strength. We need a Helper, who is the Holy Spirit and as we read His Word, and pray to the Lord to search our hearts, it’s through the Holy Spirit’s power within us that we can say, “no” to the things of our sinful flesh reckoning ourselves dead to the old life, but alive to God in walking by His Spirit and in His power.
In Roman’s 8:5, Paul said it this way, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Yes, we are in Christ and have His Spirit living in us. But we still have to choose daily to walk in the Spirit. As we spend time in God’s Word, learning of Him, praying and seeking to know His will for our life. Our minds will be transformed, and if we let God transform us into new persons in Christ, we will become original creations of His. God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word, as we memorize it, meditating and making it a part of our daily life. God will make our inner selves to be more like Christ.
Dear Friend, submit to the Holy Spirit today. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and ask Him to bring you eternal life He offers through Jesus Christ. Ask Him to lead you. Fill your mind with God’s Word and let the power of the Holy Spirit have free rein to work in you and help you overcome your battle with the flesh.
Lord Jesus, I invite You to come and rule in my life. I do want Your Holy Spirit to empower me to say, “no” to my sinful flesh and live my life for You.
In Jesus name, Amen
