Listen to the Spirit

SCRIPTURE
Galtatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.


OBSERVATION
All around us we see people who are in leadership or in the public eye fall to temptations that the Bible clearly marks as a trap for our life. It is always disappointing to see someone that appears to have everything together fall to immorality and to sins listed in these verses. Is there any difference between a Pastor of a Mega church who falls into homosexuality, A Governor who falls to adultery or a Pop stars who falls to drugs and alcohol? I believe the answer is no! We all have sinned and fallen short of the the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Witchcraft is being taught in our schools, prostitution is in our streets, and anger is in our hearts. The Bible warns us that if we live with sin in our lives we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The first step is to recognize various sins in our life. My hope is as a leader, I will not fall to these sins. I want to be an example, of how to live by the Spirit and not by my fleshly desires.


APPLICATION
If I can keep my spiritual eyes and ears open, the Holy Spirit will guide me to make the right choices in life. I can follow after pleasure or purity! The good news is that Jesus was the ultimate example of how I can live my life in the Spirit. If I will listen to the Lord's voice he will help me to turn away from these sins. As a child, my parents told me "no" to certain things. Today I can still hear their voices, when I am about to make a wrong decision. I want to hear the Heavenly Father's voice clearly and be led by the Spirit. Sin starts with one thought, so teach me how to guard my mind.

PRAYER
Father, teach me to make the right choices in life. It is so easy to get tangled up in fleshly desires. I pray, that I will be an example of how to live by the Spirit. Forgive me for making bad choices and I pray that you will restore those who have fallen to sin. Lord send your grace to those who have fallen to temptations and show us how to receive the power of the cross in our lives. Guard our hearts and our minds!