The Holy Spirit Book: The Spirit Against the Flesh
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow
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Excerpt from Chapter 6
The
Spirit Against the Flesh
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“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not
carry out the desire of your flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh… Galatians 5:16-17 NASB
The way the Holy Spirit wants us to walk is very different from the way
we naturally want to walk. The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:16-17 that
our flesh (how we live when the Holy Spirit is not in control of our
lives) is in direct contrast and conflict with what the Holy Spirit
desires for us.
Consider the flesh and the Spirit having a conversation over different
choices we need to make. Here is how it might take place:
The flesh says: “I want to pursue my goals.”
The Spirit says: “Pursue my purposes.”
The flesh says: “I have great ideas.”
The Spirit says: “Seek My wisdom.”
The flesh says: “I have a great plan.”
The Spirit says: “I have a perfect plan.”
The flesh says: “I am working hard.”
The Spirit says: “Receive my power.”
The flesh says: “I am weary.”
The Spirit says: “I will renew your strength.”
The flesh says: “I am trying to live a good life.”
The Spirit says: “I will make you holy.”
The flesh says: “I need to be dynamic.”
The Spirit says: “You need My anointing.”
The flesh says: “I want recognition.”
The Spirit says: “Seek My approval.”
The flesh says: “I want people to like me.”
The Spirit says: “I want people to glorify Jesus.”
The way we have victory in our lives over the demands of the flesh is to
walk in the Spirit. We will fail if we try to reason with the flesh or
use our own strength to fight it.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for My sake, will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV
© 2017, 2023 Roy Lessin, The Holy Spirit Book. Used with permission, all rights reserved.
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APPLICATION: Which of the above conversations between the Spirit
and the flesh can you identify with most? Why are the desires of your
flesh in disagreement with what the Holy Spirit desires? How
can this conflict be resolved in your life? Read Romans 8:1-11 +
Romans 6:12-13.
#theholyspiritbook #holyspirit #devotional #roylessin #biblicalteaching
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