But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
—Galatians 5:16
Like a horse that has been trained to keep his ear always tuned to the voice of its master, we must be willing to follow the Lord in all His leadings, not just those we feel good about or happen to agree with. We won't always like what we hear Him tell us to do.
We must realize that in order to follow God, the flesh must be told no at times, and when that happens, the flesh suffers. There are times when we are galloping full speed ahead in one direction when suddenly the Master tells us to stop and instructs us to go in another direction. It is painful to us when we don't get our way, but ultimately we understand that God's ways are always best.
In the verse for today, the apostle Paul writes about the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. If we follow the leading of the Spirit, we won't satisfy or fulfill the desires of the flesh that lead us away from God's best. This verse doesn't say that the desires of the flesh will disappear; we will always have to wrestle with them. But if we choose to be led by the Spirit, we won't fulfill fleshly desires—and the devil won't get his way.
We will sense a war going on in us as we choose to follow God's leading. Our flesh and God's Spirit usually disagree and we are tempted to keep the flesh comfortable. But, we all must learn to submit to God's Spirit and overcome fleshly desires and temptations. Determine today that you will not let your flesh lead you, but that you will be led by the Spirit of God.
God’s Word for You Today: God wants to give you His best.
Where Is Your Faith?
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:25
In Rome, one can visit the Scala Sancta, the twenty-eight marble steps that supposedly once led into Pilate’s judgment hall in Jerusalem which Jesus used as He was taken to His trial before the Roman governor. According to tradition, they were moved to Rome in the early 300s and since that time, millions of people have climbed those steps on their knees as an act of penance. In 1511, it is said that Martin Luther was performing that ritual hoping to gain God’s favor when the words of Romans 1:17 sprung into his mind: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Everyone believes in something. Even atheists who claim there is no God are placing their faith in His absence. The question is not whether we believe, but what we believe. The question Jesus asked of His disciples, “Where is your faith?” did not ask whether their faith existed, but what its foundation was. What are we believing? What are we basing our faith on? The only solid and unchanging foundation for true faith is found in the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
When the storm was stilled, the disciples marveled at the power of Jesus because His words commanded the storm and it obeyed. The power of God is greater than any challenge or difficulty that we may face, and that power is made available to us through prayer. The Christian life cannot be lived successfully by those who misplace their faith.
Luke 8:25
In Rome, one can visit the Scala Sancta, the twenty-eight marble steps that supposedly once led into Pilate’s judgment hall in Jerusalem which Jesus used as He was taken to His trial before the Roman governor. According to tradition, they were moved to Rome in the early 300s and since that time, millions of people have climbed those steps on their knees as an act of penance. In 1511, it is said that Martin Luther was performing that ritual hoping to gain God’s favor when the words of Romans 1:17 sprung into his mind: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Everyone believes in something. Even atheists who claim there is no God are placing their faith in His absence. The question is not whether we believe, but what we believe. The question Jesus asked of His disciples, “Where is your faith?” did not ask whether their faith existed, but what its foundation was. What are we believing? What are we basing our faith on? The only solid and unchanging foundation for true faith is found in the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
When the storm was stilled, the disciples marveled at the power of Jesus because His words commanded the storm and it obeyed. The power of God is greater than any challenge or difficulty that we may face, and that power is made available to us through prayer. The Christian life cannot be lived successfully by those who misplace their faith.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Only when we take God at His Word, and believe He will do as He says, will we live by faith
The Spirit vs the Flesh
by Joyce Meyer - posted March 12, 2016But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
—Galatians 5:16
Like a horse that has been trained to keep his ear always tuned to the voice of its master, we must be willing to follow the Lord in all His leadings, not just those we feel good about or happen to agree with. We won't always like what we hear Him tell us to do.
We must realize that in order to follow God, the flesh must be told no at times, and when that happens, the flesh suffers. There are times when we are galloping full speed ahead in one direction when suddenly the Master tells us to stop and instructs us to go in another direction. It is painful to us when we don't get our way, but ultimately we understand that God's ways are always best.
In the verse for today, the apostle Paul writes about the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. If we follow the leading of the Spirit, we won't satisfy or fulfill the desires of the flesh that lead us away from God's best. This verse doesn't say that the desires of the flesh will disappear; we will always have to wrestle with them. But if we choose to be led by the Spirit, we won't fulfill fleshly desires—and the devil won't get his way.
We will sense a war going on in us as we choose to follow God's leading. Our flesh and God's Spirit usually disagree and we are tempted to keep the flesh comfortable. But, we all must learn to submit to God's Spirit and overcome fleshly desires and temptations. Determine today that you will not let your flesh lead you, but that you will be led by the Spirit of God.
God’s Word for You Today: God wants to give you His best.
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