Unlocking the Mystery to the War Within
By Mark Rasche
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. (Galatians 5:16-17)
There is a mind-blowing, supernatural, and life-changing event that takes place the moment we repent and put our full faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We are instantaneously “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13) as our Heavenly Father sends the Holy Spirit to permanently dwell in our hearts (Romans 8:9).
The Holy Spirit then testifies of Christ (John 15:26) and “guides us into all truth” (John 16:13). God sends us the Holy Spirit who glorifies our Savior, teaches us “all things,” and guides us “into all truth” as He brings Christ’s words into remembrance (John 14:26).
Additionally, the Scriptures teach that the second we’re born again, we are “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17) – and at that miraculous point of conversion, we immediately receive a new nature with a new capacity for godliness.
PHOTO: Ben White / Unsplash
Knowing these remarkable Biblical truths, why is there such an intense battle raging within us?
Why do we still wrestle with sin and continue doing what we don’t want to do (Romans 7:20)? After all, shouldn’t walking in the Spirit be a normal, effortless way of life after we’re born again?
God’s Word provides a couple of profound doctrinal keys that can unlock the mystery to winning this war within.
The first key is understanding the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit and identifying what the “flesh” is in the first place. The flesh is essentially our old nature or “old man” (Ephesians 4:22). We’re commanded to “put on the new man” since we were given a new nature at the time we were saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). But from that point on, there are two diametrically opposed natures that fiercely compete against one another while we’re sojourning this earth.
One motivational impetus to walking in the Spirit is the harsh recognition of how ruthlessly antagonistic our flesh is toward the Spirit. This should be an incentive to avoid the flesh at all costs because it brings absolutely nothing “good” to our lives (Romans 7:18).
“The flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38) and leads us down a destructive path of ungodly “passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Left unchecked, the works of the flesh manifest in sexual immorality, jealousy, fits of anger, and many other dark sins. The flesh must be deliberately crucified because it’s a fertile breeding ground for sin (Romans 7:5).
However, a strong resolve to turn from our old lives and renounce the flesh (Romans 6:13) is not enough to bring us to victory. Sheer willpower is not sufficient. We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
But how does this happen?
The most important key to walking in the Spirit is to intentionally set our “minds on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), let the Word of Christ richly dwell within us (Colossians 3:16), abide in Christ (John 15:5), and diligently seek God (Hebrews 11:6) through an unceasing prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5:17), the more the Holy Spirit will empower us to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), comprehend the enormity of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:18), and “be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).
Walking in the Spirit can become our “new normal” as we learn to abandon our selfish flesh and dedicate our hearts and minds to a 24/7 passionate pursuit of God. It’s in and through this journey that each of us can humbly proclaim that:
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Mark Rasche is a husband, father, and grandfather. Mark has a diversified background consisting of numerous entrepreneurial endeavors and executive ministry roles over the past thirty years. His core passions are discipleship, teaching, and writing.
He has been the CEO of a Christian media company for the past decade. Mark and his wife have been married for forty years and they currently reside in Southern Idaho.