Living by the Spirit's Power

Today, I read Galatians during my personal Bible study time. (As a side note, I've really been enjoying and learning a lot from reading a whole book of the Bible at a time; you should try it.) Galatians isn't too long, 6 chapters. But a certain set of verses stuck out to me more than the rest of the book. 

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 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. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. -Galatians 5:16-18 NLT

I was "saved" (accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord) at the age of 7. Did I actually understand the fullness and depth of that commitment? Of course not. But I accepted it and wanted to live for Christ as much as my 7 year old heart and mind knew how. And somewhere between that commitment and where I am now in my spiritual walk, it became a deeper commitment. 
Around the ages of 13-16 though, I think I was caught in the middle of my commitments to Christ. I was smarter and had a better understanding than when I was 7, but I don't think I was Spirit-filled. And I say that because my decisions and my thinking during those ages were that of trying not to do wrong rather than please God. I had heard someone preach (I don't actually remember who), and they made a brief comment about we all sin everyday. That bothered me. Because I would lay down in my bed at night and think, "God, I didn't lie today, I obeyed my parents, I was nice to my friends, so what was my sin today?" 
Granted I was only a preteen, I was trying to live by a law rather than filled with the Spirit. Of course, I didn't understand the difference quite yet. But anyways, I was stuck on the list of "don'ts". This is just a tiny example that came to my mind when I read this passage about living in the Spirit. Not to say I'm anywhere near perfect now, and I definitely can always be learning, but as I look back, today is different than those years of my life because I'm no longer stuck on "What am I supposed to not do?" As I live out my life day-to-day, I focus on "Is this pleasing to God?" This mentality sure does take off a burden. Maybe God had something going when He gave us the Spirit to guide our lives. 

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 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. -Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

WOW! That to me is harsh. and scary. Because I think of myself as well as others who commit these sins quite often yet are "Christians". It just shows the importance of living a Holy Spirit driven life. If we strive to please God, the Spirit will give us the power and desire to stay away from these sins that lead to destruction. 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. -Galatians 5:22-26 NLT

 Be thankful you live in the days of the Holy Spirit and not the days where we would be slave to the law. Take advantage that we can have the Holy Spirit every second of every day.


Jesus speaking: "But now I am going away to the One who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate [Holy Spirit] won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you." John 16:5-7 NLT

 

The Hall and The Rooms

So I have started reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Although I am not very far into it, I read something I thought worthy of sharing.

I hope no reader will suppose that 'mere' Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions -- as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and panelling. In plain language, the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?'

When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house. 1

We too often divide ourselves based on our differences rather than uniting because of our commonalities. Personally, I feel God is probably deeply disappointed in our bickering and arguing. Lewis makes another point that I think is extremely important to take note of:

In the first place, the questions which divide Christians from one another often involve points of high Theology or even of ecclesiastical history, which ought never to be treated except by real experts. I should have been out of my depth in such waters: more in need of help myself than able to help others. And secondly, I think we must admit that the discussion of these disputed points has no tendency at all to bring an outsider into the Christian fold. So long as we write and talk about them we are much more likely to deter him from entering any Christian communion than to draw him into our own. Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is His only Son. 2 

Let us be obedient to the Word of our Heavenly Father; Jesus encourages us to share with those who are in need of the Gospel and who know they are sinners: Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'"
I have been learning that I can do nothing more than pray for those who claim to be "Christians" but do not live as if their lives are in the hands of our Creator. No matter how strong my words, how gentle my attitude towards them, a self-righteous person, someone following their own desires, will not listen to me nor hear others trying to teach and encourage them unless God softens their heart. So how do I respond to such discouragement? Pray for God to do what I cannot; and while praying, invest my time in those who know they are sinners and need Christ.

I have decided to give of myself to those who will receive what God is giving through me. And I will encourage those who are already faithful servants to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." Hebrews 10:24

 

1 Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne: New York, NY. 1952. pages XV-XVI. 
2 Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity.pages VIII-IX.