But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:16-17

Last Sunday we were reminded that there is a war being waged against our lives every day as Christians, and that it is a war for our desires. Our desires are those inner motivations that move us to do one thing, or to avoid another. We are moved by our desires along the path that sets our character! The more steps you take in one direction, the more that becomes the characteristic of your life! Actions become habits, habits become a pattern, and that pattern sets your character! That’s why the decisions and choices we make daily matter so much.

As Christians we are called to undertake the habits of life that will bring us more and more into Christ-likeness (After all, being a Christian means you are a “little Christ”). We are called into fellowship with Him by grace through faith in order to become more like Him day by day. But that’s where the real battle begins! Because at ever step of the way we are being opposed by an old enemy – the principle of sin Paul calls the flesh – which makes war against us. And the place where that battle rages is at the level of our desires – those inner motivations that move us. Therefore Paul says in Galatians 5:16 that if we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. “For,” he goes on in v 17. “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” This morning we want to consider how this enemy – our flesh – fights against us by producing desires for sin that would hinder us from following Christ! Then we will consider the powerful work of the Holy Spirit Who gives us new desires that have power to overcome our desire for sin!

Let us walk in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit who daily gives us new life,
Pastor S Scott Lee