If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit Gal5:25 Until we have conquered the flesh there is still work to be done. Until we get to the place where spirits of anger, spirits of lust, hatred, fear, resentment, bitterness, and the like have been crucified, we will not be effective in our ministry. St. Paul tells us to mortify the deeds of the flesh (Col3:5) and in Galatians five he tells us to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts. The flesh and the Spirit are definitely at odds with each other and unless we begin to confess scripture dealing with this issue we are prone to sin and hardship and sorrow. It is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit and this is a great victory when we get there. Awareness is very important. As we see ourselves moving out of the Spirit into the flesh, when we see ourselves getting angry or beginning to look at someone in the flesh whether it is judgment or lust or division or hatred and bitterness, we must step back and recognize the road we have begun to follow. The letter of James tells us that God does not tempt but that every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. That when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, death.(Chapter 1, v13-15) St. Paul tells us in Romans seven that we may know the good to do but not how to perform it. For him though he wants to do good, sin dwells in him and it is the sin which causes him to fall. This situation, this predicament is common to the average Christian regardless of his gifts and calling. Consequently for St. Paul there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh (Rm8:1). Faith tells us we are more than conquerors in Christ. Faith tells us that all the promises of God are Yes and Amen. Faith tells us we can walk in the Spirit. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Believe that God through faith and confession can crucify the flesh. Believe you can live without habitual sin. Believe that if you confess your sin he is faithful and just to forgive you of sin and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. I struggled with the flesh for thirty two years before God gave me deliverance from spirits of fear, anger, and lust. It took me that long to be able to look at an attractive girl without the flesh rising up and putting me in the wrong place. I struggled with that tremendously. Not only that, all my life I was a fearful person especially when confronted by evil. It has taken me this long to overcome that disposition and to confess my authority in Christ. Anger too would well up in me and even recently I became angered. But the anger did not produce judgment or evil for whom the anger surfaced and I stayed in prayer all night to get God's direction for the situation. God wants us to walk in the Spirit. God wants us to live in victory. It is not merely a question of second birth or Spirit baptism but of having a flesh that is mortified and dead. Know the scripture. Confess the scripture. Live in awareness and don't let temptation pull you down the wrong road. Ask God for his mercy and grace and when the appointed time has come, you will get the victory. amen |