Galatians 5:19-23 (NLT)
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
In this chapter of Galatians the Apostle Paul discusses our freedom in Christ and how we should let the Holy Spirit guide our lives. Paul explains we still have a sinful nature that wants to be in control and perform evil. But he goes on to say the Holy Spirit gives us desires which are the opposite of the sinful desires. Paul wants us to know we can have a choice either to be led by that which wants to consume us or that which wants to free us. So in the verses above Paul points out what is sinful and what the Holy Spirit wants to lead us towards.
Paul has given us two check lists. The first check list is an inventory of that which our sinful nature wants to follow. Carefully look at the items that follow; are there any in the list you can see in your own life?
- Sexual immorality
- Impurity
- Lustful pleasures
- Idolatry
- Sorcery
- Hostility
- Quarreling
- Jealousy
- Outbursts of anger
- Selfish ambition
- Dissension
- Division
- Envy
- Drunkenness
- Wild parties
- And other like sins
When Christ died on the cross we were set free. Our sinful passions and desires were nailed to the cross with Christ. Because we have been set free we can follow the desires of the Holy Spirit. Those desires are:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self control
These are the good things the Holy Spirit will guide us towards if we surrender our self desires. Have you surrendered to the love of Jesus? Check the lists above and discover for yourself.