We can find help in time of need in the Bible. Here the Apostle Paul writes of the hardest battle we have. It’s not with each other. It’s not with the unsaved. To be a friend of God is not to be a friend of the world. Public enemy Number 1 is yourself. It’s greater than the trouble with the world or the devil. We are saved children of God but in this body we are weak in the flesh. Until we leave this world we’ll have this battle with ourselves. When Paul wrote these letters he was in high regard by the people. He reminded them he was the chief of sinners and that although he was saved his biggest struggle was not with his enemies but with himself.
Paul had dual citizenship. To Rome he was known as Paul. To the Jews he was known as Saul. When he got saved he quit persecuting Christians and the battle with himself began. Our sin/human nature is still present but can be defeated. By Jesus Christ we overcome the world and we must overcome the flesh. At the moment of our spiritual birth we were born again. To live in the Spirit is to walk in it. People say they just can’t live a Christian life. You learn after being saved that you can’t do it without Jesus Christ. We’re not debtors to the flesh. We can’t say “I can’t help but sin.” Knowing Jesus as Savior we can help it through obeying the Spirit of God. This is the victory and how the devil’s influence can be defeated. We choose how to live each day and ask for the Lord’s help.
It’s easy to be a Christian here in the church or when we run into other believers somewhere. The test is when there are no other Christians around. You’re not by yourself. The Holy Spirit is with you. Conflict and confrontation with the devil happens. He works through our Adam nature. It’s not you against the world or Satan. If you’re a child of God you have someone with you. The third member of the Godhead is there. He’s not only around during a good church service. We have a choice. He gives us power to say no to sin. We can live with the devil getting us down and defeated but remember greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. If you’re alive in the Spirit, walk in it. It’s far better than walking after the flesh.
You don’t have to do, to think, to say the wrong things. You always have a choice as a child of God. We were sold in sin and couldn’t help it. We walked after it. Now we have a choice and can live under the Word. Just ask the Lord to help you even if you can’t remember a Bible verse to help you. We have more than help in the time of need. We have Jesus. We complain that it’s so hard. The Lord tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. It takes effort to sin as a Christian. You have to go around the Lord, the Bible, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Choose to be faithful. Jesus is the shepherd and we are the sheep. Take a look at yourself minus Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What would be left if you X’d the Lord out?
Galatians 5: 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
What! I can do that? If you push Jesus away, you’d be surprised at what you could end up doing. We’re in better shape to walk after the Lord. When we look at the end of it, we don’t have a choice if we want a good end. If Jesus convicts you something in your life pay attention to him. If there is victory it will be due to him. Don’t walk away from the best thing you’ve ever had. Mind the Lord. Walk in the Spirit. Bear the fruit God wants. If you surrender and give your every day to him this is what you’ll get.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Victory depends on whom we choose to follow each day. Joshua said that he and his house would serve the Lord. We can do the same.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 