What Controls You?

Romans 8:1-17. We are under the control of one of two opposing natures. Either we are controlled by the old sinful nature or we are controlled by the Spirit. By default, we are under the influence of the sinful nature. And while we are under that control, we struggle with what Paul describes in Romans 7:18-19 (NIV) ‘I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out for what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this l keep on doing.” Does this mean that we are forever locked in to obey the sinful nature? Not at all; Jesus by His death, broke that bondage so that we might be set free. Verse 5 gives us a clue. It says that the ones that live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 how to change the setting of our minds; and that is to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Proverbs 3:5&6 are also instructive, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” In Romans 8:9, Paul tells us that we are controlled by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in us. When we come to God for salvation by believing in Jesus and asking Him into our lives to be our Lord and Savior, then the Spirit of God come in to live within us. At that point we have the tools we need to live according to the Spirit. It becomes a matter of acknowledging His leadership, continually reckoning the authority of the flesh life to be dead. And to obey in real time the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is not an automatic process it takes reading and meditating on God’s Word; prayer, worship and fellowship with God; and regular fellowship with God’s people. Ultimately it becomes a matter of learning to submit our will to God’s will.