HOW TO FIGHT FOR RIGHT

It’s been awhile since my last blog post (THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A FIGHT—December 19). Even though this has been the longest break since I began THE TRANSFORMING TRUTH blog one year ago, it’s not the result of writer’s block or lack of desire. Life has been extremely busy, and I’ve simply lacked the opportunities to write, which is something I greatly enjoy. The schedule for January continues to look pretty crazy, but hopefully I’ll be able to get back into the rhythm of writing. 

Through several posts in December I explored the theme of SELF-CONTROL. Maybe I should have explored time management! In a brief review of my previous post, the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:17 (NLT) are a stark reminder to all of us of the intense spiritual fight in which we are engaged: “…the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.” If there’s always going to be a fight, “these two forces are constantly fighting,” it’s absolutely crucial we know how to fight. It’s good to make a strong decision to do the right thing in our lives (see the December 12 post), but if we don’t know how to fight, sin is going to dominate in our lives. 

Romans 8:1-14 is a helpful section of scripture on the theme of living in the Spirit. I encourage you to read this passage. I want to focus on several verses:

Verse 5: “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” (NIV)

This verse raises the issue of what’s happening in our “minds.” Everything we do or say is pre-meditated. There is always a thought which precedes an action. This is why it’s so important for us to THINK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK ABOUT. The fight to do the right things in our daily life starts between our ears. You and I must choose what we think about. 

Verse 14: “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (NIV)

In this verse Paul seems to indicate there’s a strong role for us in the fight to do right. It’s up to us to “put to death the misdeeds of the body.” The word, “death”, in the original language (Greek), is: Thanatoo (than-at-o’-o). In the King James Version they use the word, “mortify”, instead of “death”, but it’s the same Greek word. Here’s what it means: “to put to death; to make to die, i.e. destroy, render extinct; by death to be liberated from the bond of anything, literally to be made dead in relation to (something).” (Strong’s Concordance) What Paul is talking about here is an issue of LIFE or DEATH; it’s that important!

When your sinful nature suggests something contrary to the Spirit, something which you know is not right, you have to immediately “put to death” or “mortify” the temptation. It may even help to say out loud, “I’m dead to that.” Two things happen when you say something out loud: One, it shifts the fight from your mind to your mouth. Throughout the Bible there are many examples of things being spoken out loud. Two, since this fight to do right is with our sinful nature and Satan, when we say something out loud, Satan can hear it. Satan can’t read our minds, but he can read our lips. If you’re going to resist Satan, you need to speak the truth out loud. 

At the risk of over-simplifying this issue of how to fight for right, James 4:7 (NIV) provides a very concise strategy: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” In verse 8 and following James provides some additional insights on how to live in the Spirit every day. 

As we begin the New Year, a lot of us are considering different changes we need to make in our lives. In my next blog post, I want to continue to consider this theme of how to fight for right and how to live each day to please the Holy Spirit.