TUESDAY August 4, 2020

Carnal Mindedness

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:7-8

Paul moves progressively through the Epistle of Romans to say a person who has a carnal mind cannot please God. They are displeasing to God. There is a conflict between God and man. Christians cannot live apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is so powerful! What does the Spirit of God do? As you premeditate about sinning against God, the Holy Spirit is like a fire alarm––the sensor will go off.

Understand, people have been given a free will. They make the choice to be obedient or disobedient––to be in light or in darkness. You can go ahead and choose to do what you want, but the Holy Spirit will not let you get away with sin. He will convict you so you will not be able to sleep peacefully until you come back into a right relationship with God. Once a person sits to hear the Word of God, they are responsible, and there are no excuses. A child of God is different from a nonbeliever who does not know God––to have a carnal mind means to be an enemy of God.

Even though we have the Holy Spirit, notice how powerful the nature of sin is! Even though we are Christians, our flesh wants to dominate and be king over our lives. There is a great battle that has to be fought. I believe we need to fight this battle on our knees before God.

After reading history, I am convinced by famous Christian preachers from the past, such as Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, and M. L. Jones, that they were truly men who spent the majority of their lives on their knees before God. I also believe that was why Chuck Smith was so powerful in ministry. Great men of God are men of prayer and men of the Word. They do not compromise––they make a stand. Not only men, but women too, such a Susanna Wesley and Amy Carmichael.

When the light shines and the Spirit brings conviction of sin, be a child of the light. Confess your wrongdoing, and God will deal with it. If, however, you try to vindicate yourself, you prove yourself to be a child of the darkness.
~Oswald Chambers~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!