The War Between Good and Evil

The battle is real. There is a war being waged between good and evil and against your allegiance to God. The battle depends on your being faithfulness to God and the purpose He has planned for your life or you seeking to satisfy your carnal desires. 

Apostle Paul addresses this subject with the believers in Galatia with these words:

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal 5:16-17)

Paul warns that when we engage in our carnal desires we “cannot do the things that ye would.” We are warned by Jesus on this same subject that we cannot serve both God and the desires of the flesh. When we attempt to serve both God and self the outcome is always predictable. To serve God and our own carnal desires will end in failure:

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Mat 6:24)

There is a right and wrong way that we engage the world and the outcome of the choices we make in our walk in this life will determine the outcome of our usefulness to God this side of Heaven. The Apostle Paul said that both the “flesh” and the “Spirit” “lusteth.” The word “lusteth” is understood as to set the heart upon, to long for rightfully or otherwise.

In the same way, people are attracted to and seek after establishing a long-term relationship with the opposite sex. The flesh seeks to overtake and possess the Spirit of God that dwells within you. Likewise, the Spirit sets His “heart” against the “flesh” to overcome and control evil behavior.

The outcome of the battle of the “flesh” and the “Spirit” in your life will control the quality of your life and family. The works of the flesh are ugly and will damage not just you but people you care about. The Apostle Paul said that the works of the “flesh” produce: “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling.”

Your battle against the flesh does not just affect your life and the ones you care for in this world but also affects your eternity. The Apostle Paul also adds that when your fleshly desires conquer God’s Spirit in your life a warning that, “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:20-21)

This is your choice. No one can make it for you. You will live under the power and control of the Holy Spirit or the darkness of the power of the flesh. Joshua, after challenging the people he led out of the “flesh” of Egypt, stood before the people of God and made this stand:

“…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Jos 24:15)

The battle is indeed real and the outcome will release God’s favor or His judgment in your life. Choose to serve the Lord today and win the battle that is waging in your life. But remember, you are not in this battle alone. Satan, your accuser, will seek to overthrow your desire for the things of the Spirit of God. However, your advocate will stand with you and give you the power to live a Spirit-filled life.​