If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] ~Galatians 5:25 (AMP)
It’s good to take an assessment of our conduct every once in a while. Our conduct is the way we behave; it’s what we do in our daily life. Scripture teaches there are two controlling influences on our conduct. We are either controlled by the Spirit of God or by our carnal nature also known as our “flesh”. In Galatians 5:19-21 we read “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV) The enemy really likes to twist this scripture in our heads to beat us up. None of us can look at this list and say we don’t have a few of these “issues”. That is why it is important for us to know who we are in Christ. It’s not on our own merit that we stand, it’s on Christ’s merit. We are told in Romans 8:9 “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” (NIV) The born again believer lives in Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in us. We don’t always get it right, but we want to. We are confident that the Lord is working with us in our lives to remove those things which are not pleasing to Him be it ever so slowly. The more we focus on God’s grace the less our conduct is determined by our flesh. That is because we know that with perfect vision and assurance, God knew when He called and chose us, that one by one we would let go of the things that hold us back because of our great love for Him and His presence in our lives.
When we allow our conduct to be determined by our flesh, we are most miserable as believers because we are not able to enjoy the presence of God. For example, when we are angry or throwing a fit, we displace God’s leadership in our lives and give our flesh the reins to rule. We are told in Romans 8:12-13 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (NIV) True death is separation from God which is exactly where you and I were before we accepted Jesus as our Savior. As young believers we have to learn to lean on the Holy Spirit to help us and then trust in Him to accomplish the work. As we grow in Christ, we have to learn to let the Holy Spirit strengthen us to do His will by boldly confessing “even though I am weak, I am strong, because I am in Christ!” God says He is our strength. He says it’s by His power and not our own that we overcome. Go wash yourself in the Word of God, agree with Him and it will change your life. Give Him the reins so you can truly live, and He will make your spirit soar!
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ~Romans 8:37 (NIV)
Have you given your flesh the reigns to rule?
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