What do you struggle against?

Galatians 5:16-18 says:

“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.”

Paul is talking about the very real struggle we all face.

The inner battle of Spirit versus Flesh.

The Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit, which enters us when we become a Christian.

Life in the spirit is one that surrendered to God.

It’s about letting him have the final say in our lives.  

The Spirit lives inside us and guides our choices.

The flesh refers to the sinful part of us. The part that wants to rebel against God’s perfect ways.

To do what we want to do instead of what God wants for us.

The Spirit is about what God wants.

And we can learn to live by the Spirit.

With God’s help.

When we are living by the Spirit, we are bearing fruit.

We are resisting the sins listed in verses 19-21. As it says:

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

And we’re bearing the fruit listed in verses 22 to 26, which says:

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The more we learn to live by the Spirit, the less self-centred we become.

It’s less about us, and more about other people.

Sadly, many people give up the faith they grew up with to instead pursue a life of self.

They thought they would find freedom in living for themselves.

Following worldly things.

Trying to find approval through boyfriends or girlfriends or study or career or making money.

But so often these things fall flat.

They fail to satisfy in the way that a life with God does.

When you live for God, you are allowing the Spirit to do his work.

The Spirit changes us.

He transforms us from people who live for ourselves into people who want to serve others.

Instead of putting all our energy into making a name for ourselves, we put our energy into making a name for God.

It’s an upside-down life, in the best possible way.

We’ll never be able to avoid conflict and struggles with sin completely, but the Holy Spirit helps us to keep going and navigate through these struggles.

Jesus calls us into a different way of living. A way of freedom.

And we start to see the fruit of the Spirit in our life.

This fruit is evidence of God’s work in us.

Will we choose a life of self, or a life of fruitfulness for God?

It’s a question we must ask ourselves daily.

Let’s pray.

Dear God,

I want to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Vanity, jealousy, or competition can’t co-exist with these things.

And when we see love expressed in the cross of Jesus, it changes us. It changes our choices in life.

Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you – and be changed daily – for the better.

I surrender to you.

Amen