Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
This verse is short, simple and to the point. Despite it being so short and succinct, there is much we can learn and glean from it.
And if we heed what it says, it can be life-changing for many.
Let’s look at this scripture in reverse, from the end to the beginning, so we can better understand the depth of what it says.
First, it addresses a problem that so many struggle with; fulfilling the lust of the flesh.
What exactly does that mean?
There are two pieces to this; lust, and the flesh.
Lust is most often associated with sexual desires. But it can also be used to indicate or describe a strong desire to have something that someone else has; this is also referred to as coveting.
You can have lust in your heart toward a person, indicating a sexual desire or attraction toward that person.
But you can also lust after a physical item, as in wanting it very badly.
The flesh refers to our mind and our will, not our fleshly body. It is in our mind and our will where sin is birthed, then it is carried out physically.
The scripture above tells us that if we walk in the Spirit, we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. What does it mean to “walk in the Spirit”?
It means that we do not make our choices and decisions by our own understanding or based on our desires.
In its most basic form, walking in the Spirit means that we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in our decision making.
Walking in the Spirit indicates an ongoing growing and developing process, not just a one-time or occasional effort. It means increasing our understanding and maturing, not stagnating and remaining a spiritual infant.
It is in this growing and maturing process that we develop the strength and discernment needed to thwart temptation and the fulfilling of the lusts of the flesh. And as we continue to grow and get better at this, the devil will flee, knowing that he is wasting his time.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
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