Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

 

The goal of every born-again believer in Jesus should be to live their life pleasing to God. This is the mindset of the new man. The old man (prior to Salvation) lived to please himself and the world. The Apostle Paul wrote a lot about the old man and the new man in his letters to the various churches. I believe these letters to be some of the best instruction on how to live a life pleasing to God.

 

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you re not under the Law. (Galatians 5;16-18)

 

To live our lives pleasing to God, we must be led by the Spirit of God and not our flesh. This would indicate that there are only two ways to be led: the Spirit or the flesh. Most people want to combine the two which is not pleasing to God. He wants us to be led by the Spirit all the time.

 

Where does the Spirit lead us? He will always lead us to Righteousness. He will lead us to do that which is right in the Eyes of God. The Spirit of God will NEVER lead us astray or into any behavior not in accordance with the Word of God.

 

Therefore, if you are practicing something that is not in accordance with the Word of God, you are being led by the flesh and not by the Spirit of God. When we are being led by the flesh our words and actions will reveal such. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you before-hand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

 

Do you want to inherit the Kingdom of God? Do you want to make Heaven your eternal home? If you do then please read the above list of actions once again because God means what He says and He says what He means. If these things are a perpetual part of your lifestyle, you are skating on thin ice because they are all sins.

 

What is the answer? Repentance. Repentance is always the answer. Hate the sins and confess your sins to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

 

God is faithful to His Word. He will……..….turn the tide……….in your life if you repent.

 

Thank you Lord!         Doreen

 

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