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Bill Stockham | PentecostalTheology.com[When we find ourselves doing things just to please the flesh, we are not walking in the Spirit.] “…I say, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, and YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY [please] THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.” (Gal. 5:16) [There were many years of my life wasted getting drunk, getting high and wanting to satisfy my fleshly desires, I WAS DRIVEN TO SATISFY MY FLESH, and of course living in a manner that would prevent me from inheriting eternal life! Then at age 29 a very radical and miraculous change took place in my life, I gave my life to Jesus, HE WASHED ME IN HIS BLOOD and instantly delivered me from all these works of the flesh!] “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery [wickedness]; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord [intense disagreement], jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions [rebellion], factions 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.” (Gal. 5:19-21) [When we are washed in the blood (sanctified) OUR “WANTS” CHANGE!] “But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE [restraint], KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23) [We can do whatever we want to do, thank God; He gives us a new “want to”!] “Those who belong to Christ Jesus HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its passions and desires.” (Gal. 5:24) [We are set free, delivered from HAVING TO SIN to satisfy the desires of the flesh, now we are motivated and empowered to do what is PLEASING TO GOD!] “You have been SET FREE FROM SIN and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Rom. 6:18) [A slave a person who is owned by someone else, so who are we slaves to? Jesus; He PURCHASED US WITH HIS OWN BLOOD! Now we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 8:17)] “…now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, THE BENEFIT YOU REAP LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE RESULT IS ETERNAL LIFE. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:22-23)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that THE BENEFIT WE REAP LEADS TO HOLINESS, AND THE RESULT IS ETERNAL LIFE!
-Bill Stockham