The Lord has instructed all of us to walk in the Spirit and not in the desires of the flesh. Because the desires of the flesh are at war with the Spirit, and the Spirit is against the flesh. The flesh desires what is wrong, and the Spirit of Christ will constrain you to do what is right and resist what is wrong. Without the Spirit, you would have little power to resist temptation.
So take up arms on the Spirits’ side to follow its lead. Allow Him to work in your heart to fight against your flesh so that you may please the Lord in all you do. It is a battle, but the result is well worth the struggle. It will greatly benefit you and your daily walk with the Lord.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25
God has given you a conscience so you may know what is good and what is evil, what is right and wrong. The more often you take a stand to uphold the Lord’s ways, commands, and precepts. Your stance will become more decisive and more unwavering against your fleshly desires and the wicked of this world. The more the Lord will instruct you with knowledge, understanding, and insight to fight against evil by the power of the Spirit. The devil flees from those who resist him.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8
Victory in your daily walk with God comes from obeying the Spirit, Bible reading, a continual connection to God through prayer, and hard work to resist temptation. It always starts in your spirit, mind, heart, and determination to follow the Lord in everything you do. If you resist the temptation to sin, those desires to follow your old ways will help you keep yourself pure. God will equip you more to fight and stand against this dark and evil world next time. It is like building muscle and strength. The more you work at it, the easier it gets to push against the resistance.
If you do these things, you will stand firm and unmovable by the power and authority are given to you by the Holy Spirit. Like a mighty, skilled, and fearless warrior, you will be a fierce adversary standing your ground against the devil’s schemes and all the wickedness of this world.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:8-10
In fact, by standing firm in the Spirit, keeping yourself pure from your sin is the act of putting on the Armor of God, walking in the defense He has provided for you. Become confident in the helmet of your salvation, purify yourself with the breastplate of righteousness, and build assurance in the protection of the shield of faith.
Become skilled continually through the power of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Rely on the holding power of the belt of truth, God’s truth, and the knowledge and insight that comes through it. Put on His footwear so you may run with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach the lost for salvation.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12
The Soul Sower 