Galatians 5:16-18
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 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. But, if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
This verse indicates if we allowed the Spirit to lead us we wouldn’t need the law. Isn’t that amazing? It’s true though, the world would be at peace and love would abound if each of us lived by the Holy Spirit.
Because we live in a fallen world and the ruler is our enemy, sinful desires and the Holy Spirit residing in us are in conflict. Even our own carnal man will conflict with Him.
We will labor to live by the Spirit until this world ends and the new begins. Verse 24 of this same chapter gives us the key to how we can be victorious….“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.”(NLT)
I know the prodigal has felt, or is feeling this conflict within them. I am praying today that the prodigal would nail their passions to the cross and take up the cause of Christ. That they would win the battle over their sinful desires so that God’s desires become theirs. In the process may they learn tremendous lessons in being led along by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-18
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 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. But, if ________ is led by the Spirit, he/she is not under law.