16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Tori's Comments:
"the two forces are constantly fighting each other" I need to constantly monitor my life and the fruit I'm producing to see whether I am following the Holy Spirit or evil desires.
Verse 24 is such a beautiful picture. Wow. They are good and dead. Praise God.
Following the Spirit's leading in EVERY part of our lives requires surrender. Complete surrender at the foot of the cross to everything you have secretly held sacred.
Terrie's Comments:
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."
Serve one another in love... follow the Spirit's leading... the results of this will be a bountiful harvest of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL.
If we are lacking in the fruits of the Spirit we need to consider if we have actually "nailed our own passions and desires of our sinful nature to the cross". What have I yet to nail to the Cross so I can be free to follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every area of my life?
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Please keep all comments respectful. We want to remember that each of us is at a different place in our walk with God. This is a place for us to share openly about what has been revealed to us as we open up Gods word and to learn from others. Please take every opportunity possible to build each other up in love :-)