shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
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The Battle Within
READ: Galatians 5:16-23
The flesh lusts against the Spirit. —Galatians 5:17
My doctor noticed a small spot on my skin—one that he thought needed some attention. It was a tiny problem that had to be treated so it would not grow into something worse. I hadn’t known it was a problem until he pointed it out.
He prescribed a special cream that, when applied, helped the good cells in my body to come to that spot and fight off the bad ones. In other words, the medication started a little battle between the diseased cells and the good ones.
There’s a similar battle going on inside each of us as believers. It goes like this: Sinful thoughts dwell within us. They need to be treated by the Holy Spirit, who helps us to fight off the bad ideas that are fed by our flesh. The flesh introduces things such as immoral thoughts, impurity, discord, hatred, and jealousy (Gal. 5:19-20). But if we call on the Holy Spirit to come to our rescue, He combats those ideas with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (vv.22-23).
Are you taking the treatment that calls on the Holy Spirit to fight against the flesh? That’s how we win the battle within. —Dave Branon
O God, may the life
Of Jesus within
Give strength to restrain
Our urges to sin. —D. De Haan
God’s Spirit knows no defeat.
READ: Galatians 5:16-23
The flesh lusts against the Spirit. —Galatians 5:17
My doctor noticed a small spot on my skin—one that he thought needed some attention. It was a tiny problem that had to be treated so it would not grow into something worse. I hadn’t known it was a problem until he pointed it out.
He prescribed a special cream that, when applied, helped the good cells in my body to come to that spot and fight off the bad ones. In other words, the medication started a little battle between the diseased cells and the good ones.
There’s a similar battle going on inside each of us as believers. It goes like this: Sinful thoughts dwell within us. They need to be treated by the Holy Spirit, who helps us to fight off the bad ideas that are fed by our flesh. The flesh introduces things such as immoral thoughts, impurity, discord, hatred, and jealousy (Gal. 5:19-20). But if we call on the Holy Spirit to come to our rescue, He combats those ideas with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (vv.22-23).
Are you taking the treatment that calls on the Holy Spirit to fight against the flesh? That’s how we win the battle within. —Dave Branon
O God, may the life
Of Jesus within
Give strength to restrain
Our urges to sin. —D. De Haan
God’s Spirit knows no defeat.
