Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 25
Saturday


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 Spiriit: "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
____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Oh God, may the life~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Of Jesus within~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Give strength to restrain~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Our urges to sin. __D. De Haan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

God's Spirit knows no defeat.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Galatians 5:16-23*********

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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul makes 14 references to the Holy
Spirit. Every believer receives the Holy Spirit through faith (3:2,5,14)
the moment he believes (3:2-3). The believer is born of the Spirit
(4:29), which qualifies him to call God, "Abba, Father" (4:6). In
this passage (5:16-23), Paul warns that the flesh continues to resist
the indwelling Spirit (v.17). The key to victory is to walk in (or by)
the Spirit (vv.16,25). Only in this way can a believer overcome the
limitations and vices of the flesh and live in a way that pleases God.
SKT

[susidivah]

Amen, amen, amen Cimi my friend!!!! Great meditation, may the Holy Spirit always prevail if we choose to seek the truth instead of our own fleshly desires...

Put on that armor every day!