Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 321

November 17;      Galatians 5:17;       167/260(III);        ‘The Battle’

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

When a person becomes born again, the Holy Spirit recreates our spirit.  Our Spirit becomes alive unto God.  God’s love and the fruit of the Spirit are deposited into our spirit by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit does nothing with our physical body and our mind.  Changing what we do, where we go and what we think about is up to us.  This is where a battle takes place.  Things that we used to do may still tempt you.  Things you used to think about may still be in your thoughts.  Let’s look at some things we can do once we are born again to deal with our physical body and our soul (mind).  The first thing to know is that it will never be more difficult to deal with them than when you first get saved.  Your body is used to doing what it wants to do.  Some of those things may be improper and need to be dealt with.  Your thoughts also may need to change.  God’s Word is the key.  As you diligently read the Word, you will see the way the Lord desires you to live and your faith will grow helping you to reign in your bodily appetites.   The more determined you are to discipline your body, by the Word, the quicker it will happen.  The Word of God is what you use to renew your mind as well.  The Word will replace previous information in your mind and though it will take awhile, again, your sincere effort to replace old thoughts with the Word will happen.  Be serious about Jesus, use the Word and your body and mind will yield to your spirit.