The Wrestling Match
Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which
are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;
of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And
those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not
become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
We are all participants in a wrestling match. For our
fleshly nature is contrary to God’s Spirit, and the two natures are in
opposition to one another. Our flesh wars against God’s Spirit, and must be
brought into subjection to God’s will. Many people say that we are only human
and God understands, as well as, tolerates our carnal nature. This false belief
is a lie and is contrary to God’s Word. God’s Holy Spirit is more powerful than
sin and He has equipped us with the power to live a holy life, separated from
the world. The battleground is our mind and our will is all that stands in the
way from totally surrendering to Christ. If we purpose in our heart to love God
more than the world, and are willing to yield our minds to the convictions of
the Holy Spirit, then God will transform us into a new creation. All things are
possible with God, if you will surrender
your will to his.
Christ said, that if
you love him you will keep his commandments. Paul said, that if you continue in
sin you do not know the Father or the Son. No one is perfect by any means, for
we have all sinned and fallen short of his glory. Paul is speaking of habitual
sins, also known as bondages. A sinful lifestyle will lead you down the broad
road to Hell. Christ made atonement upon the cross for sins committed in
ignorance, as well as, for sins that are repented of. Grace is not automatic,
grace follows repentance only. Repentance means that we are sorry for our sins
and are turning away from them. If we stumble and fall, we should not get
discouraged. We should get back up, dust ourselves off, and press forward in
Christ. There is grace to help us overcome our fleshly nature. God does not
expect a new believer to grow up overnight. God gives us time to grow in him.
We enter the Kingdom of Heaven as babes on milk, but we are expected to grow up
to strong meat in time. God is calling His children to bear much good fruit for
His Kingdom. Galatians 5, lists the works of the flesh, as well as, the fruit
of the Spirit. The works of the sinful nature will bar a person from entrance to
God’s Kingdom. Gal 5:19-21 states that those who practice these sins, will not
inherit the Kingdom of God. Christ said, that any tree that does not bear good
fruit, will be cut down and thrown into the fire. God’s Word, states that some
will produce thirty, sixty, and one hundred fold fruit. As we grow in Christ,
we will produce different levels of fruit, but we must produce good fruit if we
are truly born again. To be born again, is to become a new creation in Christ,
through submission to the working of God’s Spirit.
Many years ago, I worked as a security guard in a large
office building. I had a conflict with the cleaning crew over security issues. This
conflict caused me to have a great amount of bitterness toward these people.
The Lord gave me a dream about the bitterness that I was contending with. I
dreamed that I was walking through a building and the lights went out. Later
the lights came back on. The angel of the Lord walked up to me and said, “You
could have been injured, or killed, when the lights were out.” I was told to
remain plugged in to the power source, which is the Holy Spirit. I was then
seated at a large banquet table, with candles and good food. The lady, who was
the supervisor of the cleaning crew approached me and looked very irritated. I
was eating a red pepper, which is symbolic of anger. I spoke to her with
kindness and forgave her. I understood that when we have bitterness, or hatred,
toward others, we are walking in darkness rather than light. Bitterness, or
hatred, will cut you off from God, as well as, his protection. God cannot look
upon sin, it will cut you off from His provision, until you repent. Ephesians
5, tells us to be imitators of God, and to walk in love, as Christ loved us and
gave himself for us. Ephesians 5, also tells us that no unclean person has any
inheritance in the Kingdom of God. That is why it is crucial, that we allow
God’s Spirit to purify us, and separate us, from the sinful world. Without
holiness, no man shall see the Father. We are told to walk in the light,
bearing the fruit of God’s Spirit, as well as, to have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear
children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for
us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But
fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among
you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this
you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God
comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose
them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by
them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the
light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake,
you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
