There is a life that God wants to give each and everyone of us. A life that fulfills our every desire and meets all our needs. A life of service to Him and one that denies self.
In order to achieve this life, we must as Christians, submit to the Holy Spirit and live our lives in surrender to God.
Living by the Spirit means to submit to God through His Holy Spirit when we sense His instruction. Gratifying the sinful nature means to give into the desires of our flesh. The Flesh does not want the things of God. Rather the flesh wants to gratify self. It says, “Me! Me! Me!”.
We are therefore given a choice that only we can make through our own free will. It only makes sense then that we can’t make this choice alone. We need help!
As we submit to God and ask Him for His Help, He can and will give us strength to overcome. Obeying God’s Word is how we live by His Spirit.
Key Verse
Galatians 5:16-25 NIV
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
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