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The Amish Voice 3

that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it

is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin

that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is,

in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is

present with me; but how to perform that which is

good I find not. For the good that I would I do not:

but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do

that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin

that dwelleth in me” (Ro.7:15-20).

4. The flesh fails to keep the law. This has been clearly shown

in the previous point. No person keeps the law all the time: the

flesh causes us to fail, and no matter how much we try, we

cannot do everything the law says—not all the time. What then

is the answer?

The Spirit of God is the answer; being led by the Holy Spirit

will free us from the flesh and from the condemnation of the

law. What does this mean? It means that the Holy Spirit frees us

to live as Christ lived. The active energy of life, the dynamic

force and being of life—all that is in Christ Jesus—is given to

the believer. The believer actually lives in Christ Jesus. And the

Spirit of life which is in Christ frees the believer from the fate

(law) of sin and death. This simply means that the believer lives

in a consciousness of being free. He breathes and senses a depth

of life, a richness, a fullness of life that is indescribable. He

lives with power—power over the pressures, strain,

impediments, and bondages of life—even the bondages of sin

and death. He lives now and shall live forever. He senses this

and knows this. Life to him is a spirit, a breath, a consciousness

of being set free through Christ. Even when he sins and guilt

sets in, there is a tug, a power (the Holy Spirit) that draws him

back to God. He asks forgiveness and removal of the guilt (1

Jn.1:9), and immediately upon asking, the same power (the Holy

Spirit) instills an instantaneous assurance of cleansing. He feels

free again, and he feels full of life in all its liberating power and

freedom. He is full of the “Spirit of life”—a life that is now and

forever.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath

made me free from the law of sin and death. For what

the law could not do, in that it was weak through the

flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of

sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the

flesh” (Rom.8:2-4).

ILLUSTRATION:

With a little imagination, we can take a peek into our hearts and

see the struggle between the flesh and Spirit being acted out:

The scene is a field with two opposing teams tightly

gripping a rope. On one side is a team that could pass for

sumari wrestlers. On the other end of the rope is you; yes,

just you. In the middle of the rope is a smelly pit of slime.

As you begin to survey the situation, it doesn’t take long to

reach this conclusion: You will not be able to resist the pit

which lies before you. The opposing team, or the

temptation to go it alone, is ready to pull you in. You need

help and you need it now. “Holy Spirit! Fill me now. Hold

this rope with me as I hold onto You!”

Put a real face on what we have just seen. Fred was a fine

Christian man. He had a wife and a child who were gifts

from God. In a weak moment, Fred was tempted to break

his word to his wife and child. A woman where he

worked “needed” him. Fred was such a good listener, so

every time she got a chance, she filled his ear with her

problems. The more Fred listened, the more dangerous

the situation became. Before he knew what was

happening, the snares were set and every step Fred took

was presented a threatening temptation, a temptation that

could devastate him and his dear family.

Fred felt trapped! The more he struggled with this, the

deeper he sank in despair. “Lord, I feel so weak. Please

help me to resist—for the sake of my family. For Your

sake, give me the strength to resist.” At that very moment,

a vibrant light entered Fred’s heart and a strength that

was not his own took over. In a very dramatic moment,

Fred jerked the rope in his heart and pulled temptation

into the pit and walked away a free man—a man who

walked away in the Spirit.

Don’t be left holding your rope alone. Walk in the Spirit . . . and

pull!

2. THE WORKS OR ACTS OF THE FLESH (vv.19-21).

The works or acts of the flesh show just how strong the flesh is.

Note a fact of extreme importance: the flesh in itself is not

sinful. The flesh or human body is given by God; it is for God’s

use. In fact, when a person is converted to Christ, his body

QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of an example when you lost the tug of war

and were pulled into the pit? What were some of the results

of your losing that tug of war? What would you do

differently today?

2. Do you think it is possible to control the power of the flesh

in your life without God’s help? What kind of help does

God offer you?