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I realize how fierce the struggle with self is real in life. The things in life we experiment with in order to make us happy either work or they don’t. For instance we may experiment with pornography it makes us happy at the moment but at the exclusion or at the expense of other people, like our wife for instance. So if whatever we experiment in life that separates and isolates us from those we love is not a good thing. So we have to give up that practice in order to have a close relationship with your wife and friends. Which if your lust wants pornography but your mind comes to the conclusion that this habit is not good, then the struggle for dominance ensures between good and evil. That is just one instance of a struggle with self.
So therefore temptation is fierce in the moments of life. We are in this battle to please God, obey his word and have close relationships. It seems our own worst enemy is ourselves. The spirit and soul fighting a battle with what is true over what is a lie. It is True we are not free from daily sin.
One truth we need to remember is Satan was defeated at the cross. The heel of the seed of a woman crushed the authoritative rule of the serpent. The real struggle is what we allow Satan to do in our lives. We give him permission to rule over us every time we choose to sin. Satan believe it or not comes and goes at our own bidding. It states clearly in scripture, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 KJV
Jesus plan of salvation is a free gift to be accepted by faith alone. You cannot earn a free gift. After salvation is complete then comes walking in obedience to God’s truth. If we are a true follower of Christ in our hearts we will want to follow his truth wholeheartedly. But the will to do what is right is the struggle of warring from with in our as Paul clearly points out in Romans 7:14-25.
The more you think about not sinning the more sin you will commit. You empower whatever your mind focuses the most on whether it’s a good or bad thing. That’s why it says to have the mind of the Spirit to continually think on these things.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV
However truth never lies for God cannot lie, it is impossible for him to do so. What is written in scripturally as a command we should be able to carry it out or God would not have commanded it. He empowers us with all we need through the Holy Spirit and His written word.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 KJV
If we walk in the Spirit we will not satisfy the desires of the flesh. Pretty straightforward truth. The next verse is the key.
“but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 NASB
We have to discipline our minds so that our body will obey us. To renew our mind to truth, sin always carries the wrath of God thereby making all decisions to sin much much worse.
“For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,”. Colossians 3:6 NASB
“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 NASB
We too will learn obedience by the continual suffering from the consequences of sin.
We must think on the things of God by doing this we will have the mind of the Spirit. The more you think about sin whether to do or not to do it, you have empowered that same sin in your life. So to not empower sin is to not think about it at all to be dead to it.
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:22-24 NASB
It takes commitment, determination and discipline to be true disciples of Christ having an intimate walk with him.
Intimacy With Christ 