There is a constant battle (Galatians 5:17) between the flesh and the Spirit – the flesh is stronger than you! Your flesh is unconverted.
Your flesh produces death as long as you live. And if that is all you are, that will be the only works your produce, which leads to death physically and spiritual. Some of those works are outlined in Galatians 5:19-21.
However, the Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit living in us and not our self-effort to be good. That character is called fruits of the Spirit that is produced by the life that is in you as we WALK IN THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-23).
HOW DO I WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
Gal 5:24 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. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
To “walk” in the Bible often means living a daily life. The Christian life is a journey and as we walk in it, we are to make consistent forward progress. The Spirit gives us new life because of our new birth. It is by that Spirit, we die to our old self (our flesh) and live to the new life in us, continuing to live, day by day, in the Spirit.
To walk in the Spirit is to yield to His control, following His leadership as you allow Him to have His influence over you.
FLESH WILL ALWAYS BE FLESH AND SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS BE SPIRIT
Remember, in John 3:6 Jesus said – “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
If you are born of the Spirit, walk in the Spirit and live, if you are only born of the flesh, then you will produce only works of the flesh and die.
Pastor Bill Ivy, LIving Word Tabernacle, Campbell MO USA – To receive the ENCOURAGING THOUGHT by email please request it at – billivy@livingwordtabernacle.com – church website – www.livingwordtabernacle.com