Congratulations! You’ve just joined the Army. You’ve been issued a pistol and knife. But unfortunately, no “Galatians 516 (G516) Enemy-Disintegrating Ray Gun.” You’ve learned how small groups of soldiers can overcome more heavily armed enemy soldiers with just their pistols and knives. These victories have, however, come at a price. Content with having found one way of overcoming more heavily armed enemy soldiers, the Army pulled the plug on the G516 Research and Development (R&D) Program before a single ray gun could be produced!
On patrol alone one day, you encounter an enemy soldier and his AK-47. Pistol in your right hand, and knife in the left, you are cut down before you can get to within 100 yards of the enemy soldier. Sure, you’d still be alive today had you not gone out on patrol alone. But would you have really been alone on that patrol if the Army had not pulled the plug on the G516 R&D Program, and followed through to production of the enemy-disintegrating ray guns?
BRINGING IT HOME TO THE CHURCH
Let’s bring it home to the Church. There is a battle going on between the flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:17a). For far too many in the Church, the flesh is winning. Before the Spirit can even cry, “Incoming!”, the flesh is already hard at work, causing the Christian to behave in ways that are contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17b).
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (Galatians 5:17).
Having been overcome so often, the war-weary Christian cries out to God, “What am I to do? I’ve prayed. I’ve fasted. Even memorized Scripture. And still I fail. You promised a way of escape (I Corinthians 10:13). Where is it? What is it? Why have you left me so all alone?”
NOT IN THIS BATTLE ALONE
With the best of intentions, most in the Church insist that this is a battle that cannot be won alone, i.e., if it is to be successful, a flesh-starving accountability partner/group (small groups of soldiers wielding pistols and knives) must be part of the recovery program. In support of this position, Scripture passages encouraging the confession of sin to a fellow Christian are often cited (e.g., Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:16). As are the added benefits of building community and stronger churches.
But is the Christian really in this battle alone? The Holy Spirit (G516 ray gun) resides within each genuinely born-again believer, and He is ready, willing, and more-than-able to provide a way of escape—and ultimate, lasting victory—for all who sincerely desire to overcome the flesh.
THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THE VICTORY
Healing was a big part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It was by His works (including healing) that He showed Himself to be One with the Father (John 10:37-38). Jesus, of course, no longer walks this earth. But He has left a Helper and Comforter (John 16:7), the Holy Spirit, who continues to testify of Him (John 15:26). Today, it is to the Holy Spirit that believers should be looking to provide the victory in the battle against the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
A GAME-CHANGING BOOK HAS ARRIVED
In A Way of Escape, readers learn how to conquer the flesh—not by starving the flesh—but by stepping up the degree to which they “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). They learn how to build a library of Spirit-anointed, flesh-diffusing apps (the G516 R&D Program has been re-started). Apps that are uniquely fitted to them, and their unique Spirit-filling triggers (Ephesians 5:18b-19).
The still-struggling now have another option. The still-struggling now have fresh hope for discovering that long-sought-after way of escape from sin and temptation (I Corinthians 10:13). A way that—because it is wholly Spirit-powered—does not require enlisting the aid of an accountability partner or group. Truly, a game-changer!
THANK YOU, HOLY SPIRIT!
