"The Struggle for Godliness" Unmasking the Enemy Within...(Gal 5:16-17)

Our passage describes the struggle with these words, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another" (Gal. 5:17). The struggle is further defined by the word "opposition." The flesh opposes and refuses to comply with the Spirit of God and leads the Christ follower toward sinful behavior. The subject of the spiritual life is very important. We must understand and embrace the critical importance of this subject seeing that the greatest conflict in the life of the Christ follower is the struggle for godliness! In order to be successful in this conflict, we must understand something about the flesh, its nature and tactics! What is the flesh? The flesh is the indwelling sin or sin nature that resides in every Christ follower! It is the indwelling propensity to sin. The flesh includes the mind, will, and emotions which are all subject to sin! The seat of the flesh is found in the heart of man. Our Lord Jesus said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness" (Mark 7:21-22). The word "heart" in the Bible is used in different ways. Sometimes it refers to the understanding. Other times it refers to the emotions or the will of a person. Generally, it refers to the soul of a person as they cooperate in doing or opposing the will of God. The prophet Jeremiah tells us, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind" (Jer. 17:9-10). Apostle Paul reminds us that even as Christ followers we don't know our own hearts. He said, "But wait until the Lord comes who will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts" (1 Cor. 4:3-5). The heart is not searchable to any but God alone! And in this unsearchable heart, indwelling sin resides. Seeing the nature and tactics of the flesh, we're motivated to do what David did in his cry to the Lord. He said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me.." (Psalm 139:23-24). Your move. Be encouraged!