Walk in the Spirit - by Bola Olu-Jordan
What the sheep is thinking doesn’t matter to the lion. Our opinion as a true believer in Christ is irrelevant in the indices of God's operations. The moment we gave our lives to Christ, we lost our will and rights. Our thoughts and opinion are swallowed by the sovereignty of His omnipotence.
Even as believers, the best of our opinions are foolishness with God; just like our righteousness are filthy rags before Him (Is. 64:6). Although they seem right to us many times, just as every of man's way seems right to him, but the very best of them leads to destruction (Prov. 14:12).
Although our spirit is born again, but our flesh is corrupt by default and nothing good can ever come out of corruption. The flesh is sinful and cannot but sin. It is like nature: when a lion feasts on its prey, it is simply manifesting its innate nature; it cannot do otherwise and cannot be accused of being wicked: It was made that way. When the sheep walks into the lion’s trap, it is also manifesting its own nature. So also when the flesh desires anything, the best of its desires, thoughts and works are clear evidence of its core nature – sin!
Realizing that nothing good can come out of our flesh, then, why should we trust or rely on our feelings, opinions, actions, impressions and thoughts? It’s a predetermined result: nothing good can ever come out of it. Paul said: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). Total reliance on the spirit is the way out. The spirit is gentle, but in constant battle with the flesh because only it can defeat it. Most time, it seems to bow to the aggressive and persuasive nature of the flesh through the dominance of the soul of man. Except the soul is completely bowed down can the flesh fail in its over-bearing strategies over the spirit. Otherwise, we will continue to gravitate and give-in to the desires and dictates of the flesh and live in sin.
It is better to lean on the spirit, even when we don’t understand what God is doing, than to trust in our own plans (Phil. 3:3). The flesh will always fail us. The darkness of the spirit is brighter than the spark of the soul. The foolishness of God is still wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Cor.1:25). It is good to be led by the spirit. Paul said “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Rom 7:19-21). ‘O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom 7:24).
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do” (Gal 5:16-17).
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).
Even as believers, the best of our opinions are foolishness with God; just like our righteousness are filthy rags before Him (Is. 64:6). Although they seem right to us many times, just as every of man's way seems right to him, but the very best of them leads to destruction (Prov. 14:12).
Although our spirit is born again, but our flesh is corrupt by default and nothing good can ever come out of corruption. The flesh is sinful and cannot but sin. It is like nature: when a lion feasts on its prey, it is simply manifesting its innate nature; it cannot do otherwise and cannot be accused of being wicked: It was made that way. When the sheep walks into the lion’s trap, it is also manifesting its own nature. So also when the flesh desires anything, the best of its desires, thoughts and works are clear evidence of its core nature – sin!
Realizing that nothing good can come out of our flesh, then, why should we trust or rely on our feelings, opinions, actions, impressions and thoughts? It’s a predetermined result: nothing good can ever come out of it. Paul said: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). Total reliance on the spirit is the way out. The spirit is gentle, but in constant battle with the flesh because only it can defeat it. Most time, it seems to bow to the aggressive and persuasive nature of the flesh through the dominance of the soul of man. Except the soul is completely bowed down can the flesh fail in its over-bearing strategies over the spirit. Otherwise, we will continue to gravitate and give-in to the desires and dictates of the flesh and live in sin.
It is better to lean on the spirit, even when we don’t understand what God is doing, than to trust in our own plans (Phil. 3:3). The flesh will always fail us. The darkness of the spirit is brighter than the spark of the soul. The foolishness of God is still wiser than the wisdom of men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Cor.1:25). It is good to be led by the spirit. Paul said “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Rom 7:19-21). ‘O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom 7:24).
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do” (Gal 5:16-17).
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25).