Galatians 5:16-23 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Every redeemed person is a walking civil war. Until we are in glory, our redeemed souls will be imprisoned in this corrupt, sinful flesh, in which dwells no good thing. My exhortation this morning is brief, but I trust profitable for you, dear ones. This list of the manifestations of the flesh and fruit of The Spirit indicate whether or not you and I, at any given point in our walk with Christ, are reacting to the impulses of the flesh, or responding to the influence and power of The Holy Spirit. Every manifestation of the flesh is a decision to please myself. It is a reaction to the “me” principle of our fallen nature. It is our carnal way of seeking to satisfy that emptiness deep inside. It is a reaction to the five senses. It is feeling and emotion based. It does not satisfy.
On the contrary, the fruit of The Spirit is a decision to respond to God’s truth at the moment of the temptation or “impulse” to “go for it.” Thus, when I am confronted with the temptation to feed the lie of the flesh or yield to the truth of The Spirit, I will either be a reactor (think nukes, beloved!!!) or a responder (think of an EMT at an accident). One choice will cause an explosion that will not only hurt me, but dishonor Jesus and hurt others as well. The other will be a response that will bring forth the beautiful expression of Jesus Christ that will glorify Him, and minister life and healing to others. Selah.
