From my reading in Galatians 5 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

If you are a Christian then you have the Holy Spirit living inside you!

Unfortunately you still have your sinful nature to deal with. There is a battle raging. Here’s how Paul described it.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Galatians 5:16–17

We are instructed to let the Holy Spirit guide us and follow the desires that he gives us!

Paul gives us some ways to recognize if we are walking in the spirit or the flesh. Let’s start by looking at the effects of giving in to your sinful nature.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21

Whenever you see yourself giving in to lust, anger, envy and the other sins listed you can know that you are not walking in the Holy Spirit.

When we follow the desires of the sinful nature it leads to things that destroy our lives. If you catch yourself doing these things ask God to forgive you and stop! On the other hand when we follow the Holy Spirit we get the totally opposite results.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22–23

The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace and these other good qualities.

By Jesus’ power we can say no to our sinful desires and yes to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:24–25

Have you recently been walking in the sinful nature or the Holy Spirit?

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