22 BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THIS KIND OF FRUIT IN OUR LIVES: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST THESE THINGS!"
Galatians 5:22,23 (NLT)
5 THOSE who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.
8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do."
Romans 8:5–12 (NLT)
• The essence of a godly character cannot be overemphasized in the life of a believer, especially a would-be leader.
- The fruits of the spirit, known as, godly or approved characters, are needed by any believer who would be used for the Kingdom assignment—in order to be fruitful maximally in such an assignment (John 15:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:19-21).
- The Holy Spirit works through a believer's newly created spirit, to mortify the soul or mind and the flesh (Colossians 3:5). Thus, If you allowed the Holy Spirit to work, you would not fulfil the desires of the sinful nature or the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
• You had got to understand there is a purpose for your life, and that was the reason why a number of things that are happening in your life are permitted or allowed. Although, they are meant to work for your good (Romans 8:28).
- Note these:
a. You are saved to serve God's interest—God's purpose on the earth (Ephesians 2:10).
b. You are saved to propagate or expand His Kingdom on the earth—directly or indirectly (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
c. You are saved to be an extension of God's Kingdom on earth, wherever you find yourself; be a light and salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16).
d. As a believer, you are to be an instrument or a vessel for the deliverance of other people who are held bound by Sin and oppressions, under the bondage of Satan—the devil (Mark 16:17,18).
e. You are saved and empowered, given the authority to rule and subject the devil and his cohorts, and those humans who are loyal to him (Luke 10:19). - Thus, Satan should be immaterial or of no substantial consequence to you, If you walked in your true sonship (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5).
- And to walk in True sonship of God, you had to allow the Holy Spirit to mould you, guide you, and make you what God intended you to be.
- The Holy Spirit is already on the inside of you to do the work, just cooperate with Him: "BUT YOU ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY YOUR SINFUL NATURE. YOU ARE CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT IF YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVING IN YOU. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)" (Romans 8:9 NLT).
• Let THESE be your regular practice:
a. Give attention to the Word of God; reading, studying, and pondering on It (Joshua 1:8; James 1:22-25).
b. Live the Word. That is, apply the Word of God you had learnt to your life, be a doer of the Word (James 1:22-25).
c. Discipline yourself, mortify your flesh, to do the Word. Whatever craving or longing of the flesh should be subdued. In other words, gratification of your body should not be allowed (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5).
d. Be prompt in obeying whatever instruction given to you by God through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you (Romans 8:14).
e. Pray without ceasing, and let fasting be added to your prayers periodically—again and again (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 17:21).
f. Pay attention to the growth of your spiritual life, or communion or fellowshipping with God.
• When you allow the Holy Spirit to control your life, you would produce or bear the fruit of the spirit.
- And If you walked in the spirit, you would allow the Holy Spirit to work through your spirit, the inward Man; there would be no condemnation for you (Galatians 5:16).
- Remember, there is a place prepared for you, at the top of the ladder, but you can only get there when you allow the Holy Spirit to work on your character and produce godly Fruit that befitted whoever would occupy such position or place.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
- The hold of sicknesses in your life is completely broken now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!