Today’s Reading:
Galatians 5:13- 26
“Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (v. 6)
Believers are called to walk by the Spirit because of the weakness of the flesh. At regeneration, we are saved by grace and this has nothing to do with our human inputs. We simply believed in the finished work on the cross and right there, righteousness was imputed on us. There was zero work on our part and all work on God’s side to bring us into a relationship with Him. However, it was our spirit man that was saved and not our flesh. That is why the manifestation of the flesh still abounds even after salvation.
God in His grace did not leave us vulnerable to the dictate of the flesh. He gave us His Spirit which is the seal of our redemption to regulate the activity of the flesh. Meaning that to stay victorious over the flesh is to be consistently led by the Spirit. This invariably suggests that the flesh, as well as the Spirit, can be heard. If you, therefore, nourish your spirit man with God’s word and prayer, you will stay above the tricks of the flesh. The Spirit will guide your desires and enables you to do the will of God as much as you pay attention to Him. The Spirit will not only help you to overcome the fleshy desires but also builds essential virtues in you that will help you stay productive in your walk with God. Paul described this as the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22- 23 of the passage; love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Your walk as a believer can only be fruitful when you have learned to follow the leading of the Spirit in your daily engagements. You must let the Holy Spirit directs the pattern of your thoughts, words, and actions. Your victory over the works of the flesh as mentioned in verse 21 is guaranteed because you have cultivated a walking relationship with the Spirit. Romans 8: 14 says, “For as many that are led by the Spirit are the sons of God.” If you have been struggling under the yoke of sin, this truth is enough to set you free. Yield yourself to the leading of the Spirit and you will feel the joy that comes with living a victorious life.
IKOTUN NEW BREED ADEBISI
Prayer:
1. Father, I walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh, in Jesus name.
2. Today and always, my thoughts, words and actions are controlled by the Spirit, in Jesus name.
3. The flesh has no power over me again because the Spirit of Christ is at work in me, in Jesus name.
4. The fruit of the Spirit is evident in my daily work, in Jesus name.
5. I walk in the understanding of this truth every day of my life, in Jesus name.
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