The Spirit Fights the Brute Within

Man by nature is a sinful being and God is pure and when we accept God in our lives, it creates a conflict between what the Spirit of God in us wants us to do and what the sinful nature desires within us want us to do. The Spirit is antagonistic with our natural desires. Paul captured this well in his letter to the Galatians in Galatians 5:17, 'For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.'

So what is the characteristics of both our sinful nature and the Spirit. Paul tells us this in Galatians 5:19-23, 'The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.' It is quite obvious that those who allow the brute within to prevail will not inherit the kingdom of God while those that allow the Spirit of God to prevail will as the fruits of the Spirit have no law against them.

The only way to overcome our sinful nature is by allowing the Spirit of God to take root in our heart. Those who are reborn with Christ have crucified their sinful nature with its passions and desires. It is a daily struggle that is not won in a day. The Spirit takes root slowly and as you continue to water it with meditation, prayer and the Word of God, it will germinate and sprout eventually to become a big tree that will be evidenced by your thoughts and actions. 

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