When the Tempter confronts you, who is he confronted with—an easy target enslaved to his/her flesh, or a resistant person who is walking with the Spirit of God?

We are caught up in a great battle between Good & Evil in our world and we are the focal point of it all. Which side will we choose?—is the issue at hand.

This battle is played out in the struggle between our Flesh, and it’s cravings, lusts and needs, and the Spirit of God, who desires to lift us above the urgings of our Flesh which often lead to our demise.

The Good News, stated well by the Apostle Paul, is this: “Therefore brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12-13)

Learning to “walk by the Spirit” or “keep in step with the Spirit” seems to be the key to overcoming the base desires of our flesh which lead us into self-centered pursuits and away from God and his goodness. God’s Word is quite hopeful that we can, in fact, opt to walk by and with the Spirit of God within us, keeping in step with him. When we do this, it’s as if we had actually put on a new person who is eager to do good, having cast off the old person with its dark and selfish practices. (Colossians 3:9-10)

Here is Paul’s hopeful conclusion:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16)

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:25)