The Holy Spirit vs Sinful Nature

This morning I was thinking about sinful nature.  Just how powerful it can be.  How can its power stand against the power of  the Holy Spirit?  Surly it cannot.  But so often the sinful nature wins control over our lives.  How can this be?  There must be another factor involved in the battle.  Free will perhaps?

We are given a choice when temptation presents itself.  Ask the Holy Spirit to fight for us or allow our flesh to have claim over us.  How is it that a heart fully in love with God and fully aware with wisdom and discernment can choose to allow the sinful nature to have authority in his or her life?

When we sin, we recognize that we have a sinful nature about us.  But is that an excuse?  After all, the Bible says that "no one can serve two masters."  Well, I don't think so.  And if I don't think so, then I'm condemned to death.  This is why the Good News is so good.  We don't typically make the best decisions when it comes to choosing between sin and righteousness; therefore, God condemned Jesus to death in order to settle ALL the debts we have accumulated from failing to choose righteousness over sin.

Romans 8:9-10

"You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness."

But back to where the decision takes place.  I think we so often choose sin over righteousness, not because the sinful nature is stronger than the Holy Spirit, but because we are the ones given the choice between the two.  We are too weak to make the better decision.  We are people who were naturally born with a sinful nature.  It took death on a cross for us to receive the Holy Spirit.  It isn't an easy battle for our less-than holy minds.  In Matthew 26, Jesus tells His disciples to pray so that they won't fall into temptation.  He says "The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Since our flesh is weak, I think it's wise for us to slow down in our decision making.  Because when we slow down, we allow ourselves time to weight the options.  And when it comes down to God's wrath versus God's kingdom, I think we will all be screaming and begging for the Holy Spirit to take authority in our hearts and minds.  Galatians 5 is the best guide for how living by the Spirit should look for us.

Galatians 5:16-26

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the life.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Let's practice living life by the Spirit.

[Sweet little Rodney isn't doing well.  Pray that he recovers and can be with us for years to come.]