The Blog

If our desires are the fruit of the Spirit, then we know that the Holy Spirit is leading us. At the same time, we must be careful not to confuse our subjective feelings with the Spirit’s leading. Being fed by the Holy Spirit means the desire to hear, the sensitivity to discern between our feelings and and promptings, and the readiness to obey God’s Word. Live each day controlled and guided by the Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in our mind, the love of Christ will drive our actions, and the power of Christ will help us control our selfish desires. Paul describes the two forces conflicting within us – the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature. Paul is not inferring that they are equal in power – the Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. But if we rely on our own intellect, we will make the wrong choices. If we try to follow the Spirit by our own human effort, we will fail. Our own way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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[a] you want.