Category Archives: Christian Life

A SPRING OF LIVING WATER

Christian Life, ,

A SPRING OF LIVING WATER

 
Isaiah 12:3 NLT
[3] With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

Did you know that the moment you believed in Jesus and were born from above by the power of the Holy Spirit, you were drinking deeply from the fountain of living water.

Something miraculous happened when you took that first drink. A spring of living water began to flow from deep within you.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman,

John 4:13-14 NLT
[13] … “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. [14] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

He called the crowds attending the Festival of Shelters (Tabernacles), to come to Him km.

John 7:37 NLT
[37] On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

What did Jesus mean by “living water”. The Jews referred to flowing water as “living water”, not a stagnant pool but a fresh, clean stream, a symbol of what flows from within us when we have believed in and received Jesus as our Lord.

John 6:63 NLT
[63] “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

On one occasion, Jesus taught His disciples that people are defiled, not what they put into their mouths but what comes out of their mouths, the sinful words and attitudes that proceed from polluted hearts.

What is this living water that flows from within us? Surely it is God’s Word. Among the many symbols used to describe the Word of God, bread, a hammer, a fire, for example, Paul says that the Word is water cleansing us as it flows from within.

Ephesians 5:25-26 NLT
[25] “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.”

There is an anomaly in the use of the symbol of the fountain of water that flows from within us. Jesus said that what flows out of our hearts is a revelation of what is in our hearts.

Mark 7:21-22 NLT
[21]”For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, [22] adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

James summed it up for us…

James 3:8-12 NLT
[8] “but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. [10] And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! [11] Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? [12] Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”

What is the solution for us who have drunk deeply of the water of life?

What we put into our hearts, will be what comes out.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
[16] “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”

Put God’s Word in and let God’s Word flow out.

Proverbs 4:20-23 NIV
[20] “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. [21] Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; [22] for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. [23] Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Isaiah 12:3ff tells us what to  do when we have drunk the water from the fountain Jesus offers us….

Isaiah 12:4-6 NIV
[4] In that day you will SAY : “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
[5] SING to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
[6] SHOUT aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Three simple instructions guarantee that the pure water of life will flow from our hearts to quench the thirst of others who drink from that water… SAY, SING, SHOUT!

Psalms 141:2-4 NLT
[2] “Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. [3] Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. [4] Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong.”

Our mouths are the opening from which water flows. Let that water flow from a heart that is constantly being cleansed and refreshed by the one who is the Word and by the Word He speaks that brings life to those who drink it.


FORGIVEN!

Christian Life, ,

FORGIVEN!

“Two others, both criminals. were taken along with him for execution.

“When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified Him, along with the criminals, one on His right, the other on His left.

“Jesus prayed, ‘Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.’

“Dividing up His clothes, they drew dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus and the ringleaders made faces, taunting , ‘He saved others. Let’s see Him save Himself. The Messiah of God — ha! The Chosen — ha!'” Luke 23:32-35 (The Message).

Luke’s story has very little detail. It’s almost as though he deliberately pulled the curtain on Jesus’ suffering. He was sensitive and discreet about his descriptions, writing only about those things which related to the character of Jesus and the fulfilment of prophecy — although he didn’t mention that fact in his story. He was writing about the Son of God, not a sensational tabloid account of a criminal’s last hours. Even Jesus’ criminal companions come in for the same kindly discretion.

Right in the middle of this tragic event there stands a shining light of hope for all of them; soldiers, perpetrators, unfeeling crowd, and even the two guilty men hanging on their crosses beside Him. One sentence echoes down through time, embracing everyone, from the first pair who set the ball rolling to every other person who has lived, and will live, to perpetuate the first pair’s rebellion against their Creator.

“‘Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.'”

Jesus encapsulated in His prayer the reason for this heinous deed, the responsibility for which sits squarely on the shoulders of every person who has lived. “They do not know what they are doing.” He extended forgiveness, then, to all of us now, since we have no idea of the implications of our stubborn rebellion against God.

Do you know how far-reaching one act of selfisness can be in your life? One careless word, one lie, one act of treachery or betrayal, one night of lust, one stolen kiss, one impulsive decision, can ruin a life, a family and even an entire community in a split second. We are left with a lifetime to regret what we did in a moment.

The spilt blood of Jesus speaks up for you even in the situations that leave you helpless and condemned. You did not know what you were doing! That does not excuse your behaviour. Jesus’ sacrifice does not remove the responsibility for our sin. He paid the debt by giving His life for ours, blood for blood, so that the Father’s justice would be fully satisfied.

The implications of Jesus’ gift are huge. Not only has the debt of our sin been paid but also the debt of those who have sinned against us. We no longer have the right to punish those who owe us because it is illegal to punish a person twice for the same sin.

This makes the sin of unforgiveness unforgiveable. It would be morally wrong for God  to clear our debt if we refuse to clear the debt of someone who owes us. That makes unforgiveness an “unpardonable” sin which can take even a believer into eternal separation from God.

Jesus lived out His own teaching in the midst of His cruellest suffering. He was innocent, yet He forgave those who were responsible for putting Him there. He was there because He chose to be there, willingly submitting to His Father’s will. There was no other way to reconcile God’s wayward sons and daughters to Himself. 

Jesus does not expect us to do what He did not do first. He taught us and showed how by His own impeccable choice to obey the Father to His last breath. He led the way and calls us to follow. In that there is life!

WHEN WE SEE JESUS…

Christian Life, ,

WHEN WE SEE JESUS…

Old age, with its increasing weakness and disabilities, is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the future. For one who has been in God’s kingdom since the age of fifteen, the thought of death holds no terror. Rather, it increases the anticipation of what is to come.

If God’s Word is true, and I have lived long enough to have put that Word to the test, then I join Paul in his desire to be with the Lord which he said, is far better. Of course, one clings to the known, and the desire to accomplish this or that before one leaves for good. However, as distant, and blurry as our anticipation is now, the call to come home is very strong.

To reassure myself yet once again, I look at the prospects recorded in Scripture. I wonder at what it will feel like to be during the transformation that instant will bring. Paul said it would all happen in a flash, faster than the blink of an eye.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NLT
[51] “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! [52] It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”

Transformed! What does that mean?
Metamorphosed, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. It went in a caterpillar and came out a butterfly. We go into the grave a mortal body, and emerge a resurrected, immortal being, just like Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT
[42] “It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. [43] Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. [44] They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.”

1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT
[20]” But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
[22] Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. [23] But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.”

“Firstfruits” implies that the remainder of the harvest will be the continuation of the nature of the firstfruits.

So, assurance number one, we shed these mortal, imperfect bodies when we die. We rise to immortality in a perfect, incorruptible body identical to the body of Jesus! No spots of teenage or wrinkles and blemishes of old age, just perfect ageless people.

Information Technology will pale into insignificance when we see Jesus. No more need for Google and the internet. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter (now X), will be redundant.


For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Assurance number two, all our ignorance, misunderstanding, deception, and unbelief, will be swallowed up in perfect knowledge.

Assurance number two, we will never be ignorant again!

In these perfect, immortal bodies, we shall never suffer again. All pain, physical, emotional, psychological, even spiritual, will be excluded from our new existence in God’s eternal realm. All memory of our life on earth will be blotted out, we assume, because our earthly memories hold the pain of our suffering.

Ephesians 5:27 NLT [27] “He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”

Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
[3] “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Assurance number three, our lives on earth, with all its sad and bad experiences, will cease to exist. We will begin a brand-new life as though it were a birth.

From the day we were born, God has wooed and won us, and begun the transformation from sinful people made in the image of Adam to sons of God being recreated in the image of Jesus.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

Romans 8:29 NLT
[29] “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Paul’s goal, in everything he did, was to receive the prize for which Jesus saved and called him into fellowship with Him.

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
[12]”I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

What was the prize Paul was  determined to gain?

2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT
[6]”As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

“The crown of righteousness”? Perhaps we should call it, “the crown that righteous living receives”. A crown represents the greatest reward for an achievement. We say, “Sos-and-so’s efforts were crowned with success.”

So, what was this crown Paul worked so hard to receive. It cost him dying to self, beating his body into subjection, and suffering all kinds of hardships in his obedience to Jesus’ call and commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles?

John gives us the answer.

1 John 3:2 NLT
[2] “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

Like Jesus! What a prize! It seems, though, from what we have read, that this crown is reserved for all who gave joined in the fight to received. Casual Christianity has no place in God’s hall of fame. It takes work, effort, perseverance, and faithfulness to earn that crown.

This is not about earning our salvation which God freely gives by grace through faith in Jesus. Salvation is non-negotiable, but rewards crown the effort put into our response to this great salvation.

“Am I a soldier of the cross —
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?

As the old hymn perfectly inquires…

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace
To help me on to God?

Since I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain
Supported by Thy Word.

In the name, the precious name
Of Him who died for me
Through grace, I’ll win the promised crown
What e’er my cross may be.

The saints in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar
Through faith’s discerning eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise
And all Thy Armies shine
In robes of vic’try through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.
(Isaac Watts published 1721)

Assurance number four, there is an indescribably wonderful reward for those who remain faithful to Jesus to the end.

 
So, says John…

1 John 3:3 NLT
[3] “And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act to fulfil his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

GOD’S WORD CHANGES EVERYTHING

Christian Life, ,

GOD’S WORD CHANGES EVERYTHING

Of all the ways our sovereign, mighty God could have chosen to accomplish His will in the universe, which includes our planet earth, He chose to work through His Word.

Imagine that! He just speaks and whatever He wants to happen, happens. Whatever He wants to do, His word does.

He made the universe by His Word.

Psalms 33:6 NLT
[6] “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.”

He reorganised and replenished the barren planet earth, preparing it for His human family by speaking His Word.

Genesis 1:3-4 NLT
[3] “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.”

Genesis 1:9-11 NLT
[9] “Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. [10] God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. [11] Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.”

Day after day, God spoke and chaos gave way to order, the empty planet was filled with vegetation and creatures of every kind, on land, in the water, and in the air. His crown of creation came to life by the breath of His mouth.

Genesis 2:7 NLT
[7] “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”

Most amazing of all, He wrote and preserved His spoken word in a book to which everyone has potential access and in a language spoken by humans. Resourceful humans have taken that book and translated into many of the nations’ languages so that it can infiltrate the whole earth.

(We who live in the Information Technology and Digital era will know that God’s Word is available, free of charge, on the Internet in many languages by downloading the Bible onto our phones or computers. God has made it easy to access everything that He has spoken that is of significance to us.)

Does God still speak? Does He have more to write in another book which He will make available to us in the future? Some have claimed that God has given them revelation in addition to the Bible, for example “The Book of Mormon”, and other similar religious writings. Are these claims valid? No, because most have spawned religious cults that alter or contradict the Holy Bible.

What does the Bible say about itself?

Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT
[1] “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. [2] And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son….”

God sent His Word to earth in the form of His Son, Jesus.

John 1:1 NLT
[1]”In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God….
[4] The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone….
[14] So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

Jesus is not only God’s Word in human form, He is also God’s final Word. God has nothing more to say to us than what He has already said in and through His Son.

Does this mean that God does not speak to us anymore?  Of course not!  God is continually speaking, through the natural world, through His written Word, and through the Holy Spirit in tandem with the Word, who lives in us.

Just as the Word produced the visible universe including our earth and all its details, so God upholds His creation by His Word.

Hebrews 1:3 NLT
[3] “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command…. “

Jesus revealed the power of His spoken word in the many miracles He performed, healing and delivering suffering humans and even controlling the violent elements in nature by a command.

Matthew 8:8 NLT
[8]”But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed…
[13] Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.”

Matthew 8:24 NLT
[24]”Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping….
[26] Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”

What power, then, does God’s Word have in our lives? Our words have  power in our lives, power to affect our and other lives for good or evil,

Proverbs 18:21 NLT
[21]”The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

but God’s Word, spoken to us and through us, has power to change everything.

We make the mistake of thinking that we can simply quote God’s Word and God is obliged to act. That is presumption! Satan tried that trick on Jesus, but He didn’t fall for it.

Matthew 4:3 – 7 NLT
[3] During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
[4] But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,
[6] and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” [7] Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Satan tried every means to get Jesus to misuse God’s Word. Jesus knew and spoke the truth. In effect, He responded to Satan like this, “Daddy didn’t tell me to do that!”

So, how can we harness the power of God’s Word so that we walk in step with the Holy Spirit and navigate a dangerous world?

A few years ago, again, through the Word, God taught me an amazing lesson. He said, “Don’t ask for a miracle. Ask for a word.” In essence, What I understood was, “A miracle is open-ended. There is no guarantee that God will provide the miracle you ask for. However, if you ask for a word, God will speak to you, and you can rest assured that He will do what He says.”

Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptation to turn stones into bread is significant,

Matthew 4:4 NLT
[4]”But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Whatever means He uses, when God speaks a word to us, we can safely adjust our lives to that word.

King David sets us a beautiful example.

God sent the prophet to David with this message, after David expressed his desire to build a temple for God,

2 Samuel 7:11-13 NLT
[11] … “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! [12] For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. [13] He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever…. “

David’s response is a great lesson for us,

2 Samuel 7:18-19 NLT
[18]” Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? [19] And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?
[25] “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. [26] And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.”

David prayed God’s promise back to Him. God fulfilled that promise by preserving David’s dynasty until the birth of Jesus, the descendant of David who will reign forever.

We have another amazing example in Paul’s life. Afloat on the Mediterranean Sea in a terrible storm on his way to Rome, no doubt Paul was below deck praying. God gave him a promise that all the people on the ship would survive despite the shipwreck.

Paul stood on that promise when some of the sailors tried to escape on a lifeboat, putting the lives of everyone on board at risk. God was faithful to His word. Not a single person was lost at sea.

There’s an important principle in these examples. When we take the time to live near God and His Word, He directs our Iives by His word so that, when we call on His name, He responds to us in harmony with what He has said.

Paul’s counsel to us is

Colossians 3:16 NLT
[16] Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”

We should be so saturated with God’s Word that His instructions and promises are always quickly accessible and in all circumstances. He can speak that word to us that will steady and secure us in our time, if need. The power of that word will change everything.


DO YOU HATE YOUR BROTHER?

Christian Life, ,

DO YOU HATE YOUR BROTHER?

In his first letter, the Apostle John often refers to neglect of our brother’s physical and material needs as evidence that we do not have God’s love in us. We cannot, therefore, be God’s children if we have no love for a needy brother, since only the Holy Spirit in us can pour God’s love into our hearts.

1 John 2:9 NLT
[9] “If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness.”

However, what do we mean by “hatred”? Hatred seems a strong word to describe neglect of a fellow-believer’s needs. In the Hebrew language, there is no word for “more” than or “less”. Jesus used the same word “hate” to explain to His disciples that our love for Him must be more than our love for our parents and family members.

Luke 14:26 NLT
[26] “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”

So, to hate a Christian brother in essence means to think less and care less about him than we do about ourselves. This attitude touches on the core struggle every believer in Jesus endures throughout our lives, the struggle against the selfishness of our old nature.

Paul sounds a warning against the ravages of the flesh in almost all of his letters. It’s a moment-by-moment war that we must take seriously if we are to receive the crown of righteousness we anticipate at the end of our journey.

This battle is much more than a skirmish here and there.

Galatians 5:17 NLT
[17] “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”

How does this battle play out? The deeds of the flesh are all directed towards self, satisfying selfish desires, or promoting self in one way or another.

Elevating ourselves above others leads us to” hate” those who need our help, whatever that need might be.

We can only gain victory over the flesh by recognising its ruthless demands, humbly submitting to the Holy Spirit’s leading, putting to death the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit’s power in us,

Romans 8:5-6 NLT
[5] “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. [6] So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace….
[12] Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”

…and by heeding Paul’s instructions to follow Christ’s example.

Philippians 2:1-4 NLT
[1] “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? [2] Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. [3] Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. [4] Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Dealing with the persistent demands of the flesh boils down to one thing. Say an emphatic “NO!” to the flesh and mean it. The Holy Spirit will empower us to carry out our resolve and, with it, the decision to “love” by doing something practical for another.

Only those who have the Spirit in them through their faith in Jesus can overcome their old sinful nature. They can grow in grace and love. They can increase in their love and concern for others. It’s a lifetime of warring against the flesh and losing and winning until winning gains the upper hand…

… And, in the mix, is our Advocate, the Lord Jesus, who won the war for us so that we can win the battles we face daily.

Hebrews 2:18 NLT
[18] “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
[14] “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. [15] This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. [16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

So, dear reader, never lose heart in your battle against the flesh. Press on in your resolve to pay it forward as much and as often as you can. You have an Advocate for you and an Advocate in you that guarantee your final victory.

Thankfully, God has not abandoned us or thrown us to the wolves in our battle against the flesh. He has not said, “This is how it is. Get on with it!”
Instead, He has provided every resource we need to be real overcomers.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
[3] “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. [4] And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

It’s up to us to join hands with Him through His Spirit and to truly love one another as He has loved us.