Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
Here Paul is speaking a clear word about the intrinsic conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.
It shows us that to have mixed emotions and to feel rumblings within us is a normal experience.
We have this conflict because the flesh and the spirit are intrinsically opposed to each other.
That is why you cannot live “on the fence” as a Christian.
You will be miserable.
If you sometimes go along with the Spirit and you sometimes go along with the flesh, eventually you will reach the point of saying, “I do not want to be a hypocrite anymore. I am going to give up the whole Christian life.”
And some people do give up the Lord because of this unresolved conflict within them.
The fact that you have inward turmoil indicates that the Spirit is in you and the flesh is in you.
These two are intrinsically opposed to each other, and you feel the opposition.
For example, if you turn your eyes a little bit and gaze on something that stirs up your flesh, you can feel opposition to God within you.
At the same time, God in you is opposing sin and the flesh.
He does not want to even be spotted by it through one glance (Jude 23).
So both these are in us, each opposing the other.
Then Paul says in Galatians 5:18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Why does he add this immediately after verse 17?
“Under the law” means that you are in a potential condemnation situation.
Paul knows that when you feel the inward conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, you could potentially come under the law and be condemned.
But you are led by the Spirit if you say, “Lord, I admit that there is something in me that has its lusts and its desires. But Jesus, I am coming to You. Thank You, Lord.”
As you touch the Spirit, as you go to the Lord, you are not under the law.
You are not categorized as a condemned person when that intrinsically corrupt flesh raises its head and you feel it.
Rather, you are led at that point by the Spirit.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Dan Haines – Serious Surgery June 7th
David Burnette
Dwight Byrd
Daniel Cooper
Sandy Paschal
James Parker
Amy Garner
Lamar Knight
Jim Mabe
Charlene Palmer
Lorraine Elliott
Eric Ward
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Sandra Graham
Dan Haines
Doris Loyd
Linda Alexander
June Cronan
Jillian Gray
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Darlene Thaxton
David Harrison
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Easton Fielder
Erik Magusson
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
June Cronan’s Sister
John Austin
John McClain
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Rose Fuller
Scott Nix
Terrell Loyd
Tom Witcher
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christin
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier