Walk In the Spirit and Overcome!
There is a wrestling match going on inside every believer in Christ. It is the war between the Holy Spirit Who has intertwined Himself with our very being and our flesh, that part of us that acts and decides apart from the influence of God. One of the most common questions Christians ask is, “Will I ever be done with the fight, or will I always struggle like I do now?” And the answer is yes and no.
Obviously, we’ll be done with the fight and live on in infinite victory when Jesus comes to put an end to the war forever, but in this life, is real victory possible? The answer is twofold.
In Galatians 5:16-18, Paul tells us on the one hand, that it is impossible for the believer to overcome the power of the flesh. He says, “you cannot do the things that you want.” He also said in Romans 7 that he was always involved in a battle between the flesh and Spirit and couldn’t seem to feel any sense of total victory. The battle rages on. In our flesh, and as long as the old, dead body of sin hangs around, we are rendered virtually incapable of any triumph – we wrestle on.
Thankfully, however, there is a contrasting thought that, though seemingly a paradox, runs alongside our inability to overcome. It is the absolute and abiding power of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul says, “You cannot do the things that you want, but if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
We typically think of the “law” in the Bible as the mosaic law, the commandments and ceremonies that Moses gave to Israel. But the word “law” in this context more likely refers to the nature of things, such as the law of gravity or in this case, the law of our flesh. As lost sinners, we are bound to the natural law which essentially binds us to a life of continual sin. But…
If you are “led by the Spirit” however, there is freedom from the law. Galatians 5:16 is a key verse in the Christian life, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Each verb tense is continuous, so literally, anytime you are continuously walking in the Spirit, you will not be fulfilling the lust of the flesh. Anytime you are not walking in the Spirit, you’ll be susceptible and vulnerable to the intense desires of the flesh, which by nature, craves the fleeting pleasure of sin.
Remember the old hymn that asked, “Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?” That’s a good question, but I’d make it a moment-by-moment question instead. Can you actually live in victory over sin and the flesh? Yes, if, right now, you are walking in the Spirit. Righteousness is achievable only in bite sized, baby steps, a moment at a time.
You’re going to fail again. Why? Because you’re made of flesh. But in this moment you can have victory if you’re willing to be led by the Spirit of God. The question then becomes, are you more yielded to His control now than you used to be? Are you growing in your submissiveness to Him? Are you making forward progress in your intimacy with God?
Thank God the ability to overcome the flesh is not in me – it is in God. My willpower alone will usually let me down, but the power of God operating within me by the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit is unstoppable. Don’t just say “no” to sin, say “yes” to Almighty God!
Brandon is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. He's a husband to 
I have heard some people talk about how God just changed them and whatever desire
they had for a certain sin and I wondered about it and questioned….will the Holy Spirit
change a person if they ask Him to change them? I mean if you invite the Holy Spirit
to take over your life to lead and guide you then that is what I'd want. It'd be nice if
He'd do that for all of us, don't you think? Because I think many people really would
like to please God and walk in His ways but living in this age is hard….but now the
bible does say that if we ask God anything He will do it…..so now if we ask Him to
change us instantly….and we believe it, then I believe He would do it. What do U
think?
Thanks,
Mrs. Joyce Renee Roy
Joyce, I'm afraid I don't think God chooses to simply change our desires very often. It's a rather complicated subject when we start talking about the battle of the two natures, but basically, I think God gives us a new spiritual strenth and always provides an escape, but doesn't always choose to limit the temptations or desires we face. He can, but I don't think it's the norm.
Thanks for replying Brandon. Well I watch TBN sometimes and I've
seen some people who say that God just changed them like that.
One in particular was the actor from the TV show Amen, Clifton Davis,
who said he was on crack or something like that and God opened
the mouth of a mouse and spoke to him and after that he was
changed and he never had the desire for drugs again. I am glad
I am saved and I am trying to draw closer to God through the
Holy Spirit so I've been having conversations with Him just talking
to Him and I got some answers later on through a couple of ministry
programs I was watching not long after….but I've experienced God's
presence a few times…once while I was reading my bible as I read
the scripture that said, “For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son that who so ever believed would not perish
but have everlasting life.” It was then God told me to slow down &
read it again slower, so I did and He stopped me right after, “For
God so loved the world that He GAVE,” that was what He wanted me
to see, that because God loved He gave, which means for us that
when love you GIVE….loving and giving are twins that go together.
I had always focused more on the last part about the end of it, the
believing and not perishing part, yet God wanted me to see more or
He was squeezing more out of it than what I was focusing on at the
time, and I never forgot that feeling that…was like, “WOW, the God
of the universe actually took time out to hang out with me while I
was reading His word, it was like He had been standing over my shoulder
while I was reading my bible but I had no idea He was really there up
until He interrupted me to show me what He wanted me to see, that
brought me great joy. I had another great experience like that but I
will share that one another time because I think it will bless someone.
God bless,
Reneeisblessed
Very useful article. Thanks for sharing
I wish to thank you for supplying such a revelation as to walking in the spirit. Paul was so right when he stated the flesh and spirit war against one another daily. I am not new to my faith in JESUS CHRIST and still the attacks come to attempt to over power me. I some times need encourgement only having a loving savior to turn to! It is comforting to know that there are comments and scriptures on the internet where when we feel the need to communicate and our spirit leads us to such sites, then and only then do we know that the savior has taken captive of our spirit. For by the holy spirit was I lead to this site and I now have a since of his presence at this moment. Thank you God Bless Walter
Thanks to you and God bless you, Walter!