WHEN SPIRIT CONQUERS FLESH
BY:ELISABETHC.TUNSTALL
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,” (Matthew 26:41). These were the words of our Savior shortly before He was taken into custody to be crucified. These are words we must live by everyday because our flesh indeed is weak.
It began in the garden. We know the story. Only it wasn’t just a story. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, our DNA became mutated, carrying a birth defect that all mankind inherited henceforth.
This disorder is sin and death in the flesh. We all have death in our flesh. We all are susceptible to sin. As soon as we are born the clock starts. Satan is there, waiting and preying on our weaknesses, causing us to stumble and to transgress the law. Grace, however, has given us a chance to overcome sin and death. Sounds like a tall order, on the surface, down right impossible! It’s not. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” (Philippians 4: 16).
God has not left us helpless. He has given us the Holy Spirit who can guide and change us. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.,” (Zechariah 4: 6).
What did Jesus say, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you,” (St. John 14: 16-18 & 26).
The Holy Spirit brings us to Christ. He teaches us His law and gives us understanding measure by measure. On a foundational level, the law is the 10 commandments of God. They teach us WHAT
TO DO and WHAT
NOT TO DO in order to be saved. This is our spiritual milk. The Holy Spirit gives us further understanding on HOW to obey God. One of the ways He does this is through the fruits of the Spirit.
Lets look at Galatians 5: 22-23. Why are they important? The fruits of the Spirit are holy characteristics that must be a part of us in order to successfully obey God’s law. The fruits of the Spirit make us like Christ because He first demonstrated these characteristics. Therefore, He is our example to follow.
To master the fruits of the Spirit takes practice. It doesn’t happen overnight and mistakes will be made. However, with every trial and with every situation you face in life, there is experience to be gained under the guidance and tutelage of the Holy Ghost.
Now has it ever crossed your mind why the Lord chose fruit to describe these godly traits? The Lord often uses what we see and know on this earth to help us better understand the word of God.
Fruits are a very important food group and it is recommended that we consume it on a daily basis to maintain our overall health. There are a wide variety to choose from boasting an assortment of colors, textures, smells and tastes that render various health benefits.
They are refreshing and give us energy. More importantly, fruits are loaded with nutrients some including potassium, fiber, vitamins A & C as well as folate. Our bodies need these nutrients to function daily. Let’s break it down further…
Potassium: helps muscles to contract so you can move properly and maintains normal blood pressure.
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Vitamin A: promotes normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, and growth and development. Also helps your heart, lungs, and other organs work properly.
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• Vitamin C: necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.
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Folate: your body needs folate to make DNA and other genetic material. Your body also needs folate for your cells to divide.
Now let's go back to spiritual fruit. These fruits are essential to our spiritual health and growth. It is in fact vital in the eyes of God. When the Holy Spirit makes His abode in you, He gives you these fruits. We then consume these spiritual fruits just as we consume food and ultimately they becomes a part of us.
As the Spirit teaches us, He does so on a level that we can understand and on a gradual basis. This process is liken to spiritual digestion. It is not hard to see if you think of what the word digestion means, which is, to break down substances into a smaller form that the body use and absorb.
Once we gain understanding, we can use the fruits of the Spirit and put them into action. The fruits of the Spirit then become a part of us. This is like spiritual absorption.
Once the fruits become a part of us we then know HOW to obey to God. We know HOW to interact with our loved ones, our co-workers, our neighbors and strangers in a way that is pleasing to God and align with His law.
Another way to understand spiritual fruit is to think of yourself as a tree. God describes us in this way, (Matthew 7: 17-20 & Psalms 1: 1-3). When the Holy Spirit is poured out onto us like rain, we become rooted in the word of God. We grow and grow, as our knowledge and understanding increases.
We begin to bring forth works and traits that are pleasing to the Lord and are represented by fruits. The type of fruit you bear determines the type of tree you are, whether good or corrupt. That is why it is essential that we pray for the Holy Spirit. We must pray that these spiritual fruits become an integral part of who we are.
Over the next few weeks, members of the 3rd generation will be completing a series of classes that discuss and breakdown the meaning of each fruit of the Spirit. I felt it fitting to delve into this topic as we move towards the Feast of Pentecost, which is also known as the Feast of the First Fruits.
The first fruit is considered the best of the harvest and is gathered first, pointing to the 144,000. But the first fruit is also pertinent to us as an individual, representing the very best effort and offering we can give to God.
Our goal is to strengthen ourselves as well as the entire church body. We must master the fruits of the Spirit if we are going to be at our best for God. As we move forward in this spiritual year, we look forward to the Feast of Pentecost. We look forward to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We look forward to gathering together of the 144,000 as well as of his saints. May God be with you all. Amen
