WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?

Galatians 5:16-18

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

5:16-18 If your desire is to have the qualities listed in 5:22-23, then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading you. At the same time, be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit’s leading. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and his promptings. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. 5:17 Paul describes the two forces in conflict within us—the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (our evil desires or inclinations that stem from our bodies; see also 5:16, 19, 24). Paul is not saying that these forces are equal—the Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. But if we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong choices. If we try to follow the Spirit by our own human effort, we will fail. Our only way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:3-8). Tyndale. Life Application Study Bible NIV. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Today we start a look at the two ways to live our life, life by the spirit (with Jesus) or life of sinful nature (the world’s father, Satan). Over the next few days, we will look first at the acts of the sinful nature which are all destructive to our lives, our families, our business, our friendships, our marriages, and our places in society. Then we will look at the life lived with the Holy Spirit in charge. ON THE WAY HOME WALK WITH JESUS and let your desires be lead by the Holy Spirit.