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.”

The “lust of the flesh” in Galatians 5:16 refers specifically to the lust to bite and devour others (v. 15).

These lusts are desires to strike out at someone by speaking in a way that would cut and hurt.

They are feelings of being extremely unhappy with others.

These desires manifest themselves in all of us from time to time.

Paul says that the way to deal with them is to walk by the Spirit.

Notice, however, that in walking by the Spirit he says that you shall not fulfill or carry out the lust of the flesh.

We usually understand this to mean that you will not have the lust of the flesh; that is, you will not feel any negative reactions within your being.

In other words, we think that if we are really walking by the Spirit, we will not be bothered by the slightest problem.

Many of us have the concept that to be in the Spirit means to experience a total absence of anything contrary within us.

According to our thought, to be in the Spirit is to soar like a bird, without any opposing factor.

Thus, if we still have contrary feelings and reactions while contacting the Lord, we conclude that our fellowship with Him must be defective.

We reason that if we had really touched the Lord or were really in our spirit, we would not have any ugly thoughts or feelings.

This kind of thinking ends in accusation and discouragement, and frustrates us from the full enjoyment of the Lord.

Contrary to what we think, Paul says that to walk by the Spirit means that we do not carry out or fulfill the lust of the flesh.

This implies that we may feel the lust of the flesh while we are in the process of following the Lord.

The key point is not that we do not have the lust of the flesh, but rather that we would not fulfill it.

Therefore, the basic need in our experience of Christ is to remain continually in the realm of the Spirit so that we automatically deprive the flesh of its power over us and consequently do not carry out its lusts.

Until Tomorrow

With A Shepherd’s Love,

Pastor Jackson

TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

David Ford – CELEBRATION SERVICE AT 2:00 TODAY AT CHRUCH

Junior Stephens

Amy Garner

Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad 

Andrew Halevi & Daughter

Ashely Burn’s Sisters 

Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons 

Dan Haines

Darlene Wiggins

David Burnette  

David Harrison – Riverside

Deanna Fowler

Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother 

Donnie Butler’s Dad

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Drew

Easton Fielder 

Ed Mays

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Faith Burnette

Freddie May’s Mom 

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette 

James Garner’s Friend 

Joanie/Jeanie Mom

Jodi Bateman 

John Austin 

June Cronan’s Sister 

Kailey Bateman

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Krista Hilscher 

Larry Barker 

Lee Cronan

Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Linda Hodges’ Sister 

Lonzo Christin 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Sims 

Marynell Ford 

Maureen Brown 

Michael Stanley 

Miles Bradshaw

Nora Allison

Pastor & Mrs. Driskell 

Ricky Gipson   

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Roseleigh Osborn 

Sandra Graham    

Scott Lanier 

Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter                                                         

Susan & Alexis Tesone

Susan Mosley

Tom Witcher