What can deliver a believer out of his human temperament, his prevailing inclinations or moods, and the tendency to remain unchanged in the passivity of natural disposition? The believer is faced continually with the choice of remaining under the control of the flesh, or changing his mind and allowing the Spirit to live the life of Christ in His mortal body. The flesh and the Spirit cannot operate as a team inside the body because, “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other” (Galatians 5:17a).
The works of the flesh are listed in Galatians 5:19 and 20 as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, and reveling. The word of God makes this point undoubtedly clear: to abide in the natural disposition produces nothing but the above results. So many Christians live in the misery of the effects of their natural disposition that it continually grieves the Spirit of God.Why would any believer want to settle for a life consumed by the lust patterns of the old, sinful, adamic nature when the Kingdom of God offers such victory in Christ? Notice the positive qualities which are manifested in the life of a Spirit-filled believer: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Atmospheric Cycles - January 30, 2018
- A Walk That Defeats the Enemy - July 14, 2017
- Don’t Be an Abstract Christian - March 18, 2017
