“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:5-6.

Humility is not found in the mirror declaring one’s righteousness but at the Cross of Jesus recognizing one’s condition.    Once we recognize our condition as a sinner, regardless of our good works and good deeds, we are humbled by our position as a saint once we accept Jesus as our Saviour.

“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.  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:16-21.

It burdens my heart to see Christians being led by the flesh.   We pray for victory but choose to sin.  The Lord did not leave us on our own, we have the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our favorite sins…that is if we so wish to overcome them.  With our faith in what Jesus did on the Cross and paying our sin debt, therefore breaking any legal rights satan had on us, and the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us to all things holy and righteous, we are given victory over our sin nature.  Our sin nature no longer has dominion over us.

So what about the saints we see partaking in adultery, fornication, lasciviousness (lustful), idolatry (sins of the mind against God which show a lack of gratitude and acknowledgment to Him), emulation (imitate or following others), seditions (inciting people to rebel against authority), hatred and drunkenness (no explanation needed – that means drunkenness), just to name a few, the Word of God says they will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  How do the Christians who are being led by the flesh explain this scripture away?  Do they realize just because they choose to partake in their sin of choice that this is not Grace but the Law they are living under? “But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Galatians 5:18.  (Sorry folks, the Holy Spirit is not going to lead us to sin, therefore they are being led by the flesh.)  Do they know the Holy Spirit will deliver them from wanting to partake in their favorite sin and that His deliverance to be able to live the holy life we are called to live is part of His Grace?  Maybe they are just not willing to give up their favorite sin.

Then, on the other hand, their are some who do not partake in their favorite sin but it is not because they don’t want to but because self will and pride will not allow.  Usually these sins are sins of the flesh, the ones that others can see.  If they are not sinning, then what is the problem, right?  Never mind the fact that self will and pride are in themselves a sin but BECAUSE of their self will and pride, they will never know the grace of God…they will never know He can deliver them because they are attempting to deliver themselves through willpower.

The peace that comes with God’s saving grace, comes in knowing His delivering power… His sanctifying power.  God’s power to clean us up and make us a witness of Him comes through Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross.  It is only through faith in what Jesus did for us that we have dominion over our sin nature.  The sin nature is not dead but we are dead to it with our faith properly appropriated in Jesus and His finished work.  Faith in our self will does not give us dominion.  The Holy Spirit is envious of our flesh having control over our lives and He wants to carry out the responsibility He has been given by God, the Father to sanctify us.

If you are still partaking or wanting to partake in your sin of choice, examine your heart.  Do you want deliverance?  If so, the Lord will deliver you.  We must first admit though we need deliverance…we must first confess our sin and repent.  This is humility that is found in the Cross of Jesus, humility that is always met with grace.  – Donna Warren