Devotion In MotionWednesday Inspiration
05/05/2021
Galatians 5:16-17
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil 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
What is Paul saying when he says “Lust of the flesh”
Well, The “lust of the flesh” is a biblical name for “selfish desires.” And how do you overcome a lifestyle of selfish-gratification? Some say the answer is “willpower,” or “the power of positive thinking,” or “self discipline,” or the “twelve steps,” or “months of psychological therapy.” Or getting away and locking yourself up in a monastery someplace, or having someone tie you up and beating the lust out of you.
Well, In the arena of liberty, Here is the key, the key isn’t to suppress the flesh. You say “What?” Nope Paul is saying The key is to surrender to the Spirit. You see, Legalism says, “Deal with the flesh through religion, ritual, pain, and agony, regulation.”
Paul says, “There’s a much better way. The solution isn’t to worry about the flesh, but to walk in the Spirit.”
Walking in the Spirit is so exciting. The way the Lord will lead you on any given day, the opportunities that will open before you to do something significant, the insights He’ll give to you as you’re reading the Scriptures, the joy of just looking at a sunset and realizing you know the Creator of such beauty—will be overwhelming to you. Too many believers miss all of that because, caught up in wrestling with sin, they live in a perpetual “sin-dome.” You When you’re caught up, and wrapped up, and overwhelmed by the influence of the Holy Spirit you don’t have time to concern yourself with the lusts of the flesh. You’re too busy loving God and loving others. Look if I said ” Don’t think of the sont ” Dont worry -Be happy” All of the sudden you wouldn’t be able to think of anything else. but if i said I have just cooked a huge lasagna and would you like to come to my house and have dinner. Suddenly you stop thinking of that song. because now you’d be captivated by something a whole lot better.
Well in the same way, to overcome preoccupation with sin, you need to walk in the Spirit. You have to have active participation, you have to be moving , progressing, going forward in a certain direction. You need to Enjoy the Lord. Do what He tells you to do in any given moment, and you’ll forget sin. I see this in Moses’ life. two times, while in the presence of the Lord on Mount Sinai, we are told he did not eat or drink for forty days and nights (Deuteronomy 9:9; 10:10). What was the reason for his fast? Was he trying to impress God? No. He was just so entranced and enthralled in the presence of God, that he forgot to eat. How do people overcome the lusts of the flesh? The selfish desires of sin in their lives? The simplest, most effective way is to walk in the Spirit. Just be enraptured with the goodness of the Lord. Do what He’s telling you in your heart—whether it be some practical expression of love, a moment of intercession (praying) for someone, an encouraging word to share, or a merciful act to do.
Galatians 5:17
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
If you’re trying to overcome the flesh in your own energy, you’ll struggle perpetually, regardless of how many resolutions you make on December thirty-first, or how many slogans you paste on your refrigerator. The fact is that you’ll never overcome the pull of the flesh on your own. Even though the spirit may indeed be willing, the flesh is too weak (Matthew 26:41). You might Post on your computer or on your refrigerator, Down with that crazy song stuck in your head!” But in reality, whatever that song is, whatever the heavyweight fleshly tendency might be that you are battling with, Pornagraphy, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, lying, jealousy, a bad mouth and other things we will go over next time it will never be overcome by your own resolve or strength, or religion.
“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.” Paul pinpoints two approaches to life… Either you see yourself “in Christ” or “apart from Christ…” Either your world revolves around Jesus or it revolves around yourself… Either you’re relishing the grace of God, or you’re relying on your ownself… Either you’re into Jesus or you’re into yourself. Get caught up in Jesus – walk in the influence of the Holy Spirit – and you lose interest in fleshly desires.
“With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…” Corrie Ten Boom
Amen
Victor Tafoya
Please Share if you were encouragedAnd feel free to send me a message, I would love to hear from you
