Today's Passage - Galatians 5:16-21

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 5: 16-21    So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.   For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.   But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh 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. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.    Paul related his own experience: " What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death." It was all because he did not understand what he wanted to do he did not do, but did what he hated to do instead.  This is a warfare between our spirit and flesh.  The indulgence of our flesh inside us prevents us from following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and as a result, we are trapped in sin and struggle in our hearts without any peace   How do we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  We learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. The Bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit.  If we do not feel comfortable about our words, actions or behaviors, this is when the Holy Spirit is rebuking us, and we should be sensitive to His voice and follow His guidance.  If we try to resist instead, we often discover the guidance of the Holy Spirit fades away gradually. With  a heart of meekness and humility as we  respond to the Holy Spirit according to His guidance, His voice will become more succinct  The Holy Spirit responds in our hearts with a "yes", "no" or sometimes " wait";  but is anyone of these instructions easy to follow? In reality, they are all not that easy as we are afraid to move forward if it is a "yes", and asked why if it is a "no", and we become impatient when asked to "wait"      May the Lord give us a sensitive heart that follows the work of the Holy Spirit.  Abiding in God's will requires the work of the Holy Spirit without which we will be weak. May the Lord help us follow Him and the work of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and refrain from indulging in our flesh else we would not be inheriting His kingdom as forewarned by God.   May we take heed so that we will glorify His name in whatever we do.                                                                             Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, grant us a sensitive heart so that we can follow You and yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives; avoid the lusts of the flesh; follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and bear its fruits.  With thanks we pray, in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!