Battleground!
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PrintGalatians 5:16-26 (New Living Translation) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the Law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Envy, jealousy, covetousness, and greed reveal a self-focus that questions God's work and provision in your life. These sins must be put-off out of your commitment to live for Jesus Christ.
You're Faced With It
Romans 6:12-13 (New Living Translation) Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
You will face constant temptations to self centeredness that leads to thoughts, speech, and actions that are devastating to the body of Christ and your own walk with the Lord. Those sins that characterized your life apart from Christ must be confessed and repented of if you are to mature as a child of God.
When we become believers, our sinful nature still exists. But God asks us to place our sinful nature under the control of the Holy Spirit so that He can transform it. This is a supernatural process. We must never underestimate the power of our sinful nature, and we must never attempt to fight it in our own strength.
Shift Your Focus
Matthew 7:12 (New Living Translation) Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
People's problem is that they pay too much attention to themselves. We already know how we want others to treat us. Therefore, we are commanded to treat others the same way with the focus on the other person and not self. God has given to us all we need or want. There is nothing we should seek for ourselves but to exercise who and what we are in Christ Jesus. Our attention should be on God and helping others.
Seek Intimacy with God
Romans 8:14-17 (King James Version) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
When you have Intimacy with God then you will develop a proper view of self, which will give you an understanding of who you are in Christ. By developing an intimate relationship with God, you will begin to realize that God is actively involved in your life, that He has chosen you to be a testimony of His power to the world. You'll realize that He gives you a purpose for living by conforming you to the image of His Son.
Commit to What is Right
Matthew 5:16 (King James Version) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Genesis 4:7 (New Living Translation) You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.
Your contentment in all circumstances of life is dependent on your obedient responses to God in your thoughts, speech, and actions. By obeying the Lord in your daily walk, this demonstrates the Lordship of God over your life. The sense of value, of worthiness, of self-esteem comes by first seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness.
Love God More
John 14:21 (New Living Translation) Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.
2 Timothy 3:2-5 (New Living Translation) For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
In latter days, people will be lovers of self, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. There is only one thing that will prevent us from gratifying our sinful impulses, and that is our love for God. Purpose to love God more than yourself. If you do, you'll keep His commandments and win the battle every time!
Faith and the Word of God
