Recovery from our sexual brokenness often seems like an impossible task. All of us have tried so many times and failed so many times it is not unusual for us to conclude that there is no hope, and this is impossible. Fortunately, what is impossible for man is always possible for God.
In fact, I believe that because of our indwelling sinful nature, the fallen world in which we live, and the reality that we do battle with demonic forces apart from God it will be impossible to recover. However, not only are we NOT apart from God … He actually dwells in our bodies as I taught you yesterday.
The Holy Spirit of God dwells inside of us. He has been placed there to seal us unto God and will remain in us, as Jesus said, FOREVER!!!
Critical Recovery Lesson # 3 – Be Filled With and Walk in The SPIRIT!!!
The question becomes who is in control. Just because the Spirit is in us does not mean He is in control of us. That is a choice we have to make as an act of our will every day. So, how does that happen? I am glad you asked.
Ephesians 5:18 commands us to be “filled with the Spirit.” The illustration Paul uses it in comparison to being controlled by wine or by the Spirit. He says we should not be controlled by alcohol which only leads us to more sin but instead, we are to be controlled or filled with the Spirit. He is in us, but He does not automatically control us. We have a free will and we are not His puppets. He waits for us to offer to Him our bodies daily and ask for Him to fill us and take control. The filling is easy because all we have to do is ask Him to do it and He does it. However, it is from that point that we need to “walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16-17 tells us;
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
To be filled is done just by the asking. However, walking in the Spirit is different. It means keeping in step with the Spirit. It means yielding to the Spirit when we are being tempted. It means asking Him what we should do and then doing what He tells us.
Look at this passage carefully;
“No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
No temptation you are going to face today is unique to you. Every person in today’s world has to face sexual temptation. Just holding your smartphone in your hand can be a temptation. However, we are promised that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can resist. PLUS, with each and every temptation He promises to provide a way of escape.
The problem is we are too entangled by the temptation we are looking at, the images or videos in front of us or the fantasy we have playing in our minds, that we are not looking for the EXIT sign He has been flashing off to the side. Our reason and wisdom are being negated while our fleshly desires are firing up on all cylinders.
Look for the escape He is showing you. In fact, if you really think about it you can know where your exits are beforehand you are even being tempted. Instead of taking the beltway around the city where we know we will find temptation we drive right into it and tell ourselves it is impossible to get out. That is a lie … it is not impossible. Just ask the Spirit to take the wheel and drive you around the ghetto you are so used to visiting.
Be filled with the Spirit daily and then walk in the Spirit paying special attention to Him who can rescue you from sin and your own flesh.