Desires,we all have them, we all have to be cautious of our desires and fight againstthem. The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament gave testimony tohis own failure in this battle.
Romans7:19 For the good that Iwould I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Everyoneof us have had this frustrating experience of wanting to do what is right onlyto find ourselves doing that which we didn’t plan. It’s no different in theChristian life but we should never use this as a scapegoat. We want to do whatpleases the Lord, but we find ourselves being unable to accomplish it; so whatcauses this?
Galatians5:17 For the flesh lustethagainst the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrarythe one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Doyou see the reason, “Our flesh?” Our natural desires are not towardholiness, but rather toward self-indulgence and self-sufficiency. Thereforewhat the Spirit desires and what our flesh craves are set against each other.”These are contrary to one another.” The consequence of this internalconflict is “that we do not do the things that we would like to do.”That’s the problem Paul was having; his personal resources, his flesh was notable to produce the desired results.
Romans7:18 For I know that in me (thatis, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Paulhad Godly desires.
Romans7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Butthere was a problem.
Rom7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the lawof my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in mymembers.
Thereis a battle going on inside of every believer; which one wins? The one that youand I feed! Steve Curington gives an illustration about an Indian with two dogsa black one and a white one. He would take them to dog fights and fight themagainst each other. The Indian always knew which dog would win and always walkedaway with the money. Then someone asked him how he always knew which dog wouldwin. His answer was simple he said “me want white dog to win me feed white dogand me starve black dog and white dog always wins.’ “Me want black dog to winme feed black dog and me starve white dog and black dog wins.” Now the truth tothe story is that whatever you and I feed the most will win. Feed our flesh andour flesh will win. Feed our spirit and our spirit will win. How do we avoidfailure? Here is what Solomon said.
Proverbs22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A sensible man sees evil coming and hidesthemselves from it but gullible people pay no attention and suffer theconsequences. Feed the spiritual man and the spiritual man will win. Feed theflesh and the flesh will win. You and I won’t win everybattle but the more we put our trust in the Word of God and trust Hisleadership we will win more and more.
