Conquering the War Within: A Threefold Vision for the Christian Life

Walking the War Within: A Threefold Vision for the Christian Life

As Christians, we are called to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. But what does this entail? In this article, we will explore a threefold vision for the Christian life that is rooted in Galatians 5:16-17.

Acknowledge the War Within

Galatians 5:16-17 reminds us that the Christian life is not a walk in the park. Rather, it is a war, a war between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh refers to our sinful nature, the part of us that is prone to selfishness, disobedience, and rebellion against God. The Spirit, on the other hand, refers to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and empowers us to live a life that pleases God.

This war is not a physical war, but a spiritual one. It is a war for our hearts and minds, a war for our allegiance. The desires of the flesh are opposed to the desires of the Spirit, and they are constantly at odds with each other. If we are not careful, we can easily be led astray by the desires of the flesh and fall into sin.

Therefore, the first step in walking the war within is to acknowledge that there is a war going on. We need to be aware of the battle that is taking place within us and be prepared to fight.

Jesus himself warned us that the Christian life would not be easy. In Matthew 7:13-14, he said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Jesus was saying that the Christian life is a narrow and difficult path that requires us to make constant choices to follow him and resist the temptations of the flesh. It is not a path that we can walk on our own strength, but one that we must walk by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Live by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-17 also tells us that if we want to overcome the desires of the flesh, we must walk by the Spirit. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit?

Walking by the Spirit means living in obedience to the Holy Spirit. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in every aspect of our lives, from our thoughts and feelings to our actions and words. It means surrendering our will to God's will and trusting him to lead us in the right direction.

When we walk by the Spirit, we bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are evidence that we are living in obedience to God and are being transformed by his Spirit.

Jesus himself said that the Holy Spirit would come to empower us to live the Christian life. In John 14:26, he said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

The Holy Spirit is our helper, our guide, our teacher. He empowers us to live a life that pleases God and helps us to overcome the desires of the flesh. When we walk by the Spirit, we can overcome temptation and resist the devil.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

The final aspect of walking the war within is keeping our eyes on Jesus. In Hebrews 12:1-2, we read, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

The author of Hebrews is encouraging us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the founder and perfecter of our faith. He is the one who endured the cross and overcame sin and death. He is the one who has gone before us and has shown us the way.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded of his love for us and his sacrifice on our behalf. We are reminded that we are not alone in the battle, but that he is with us every step of the way. We are reminded that he has overcome the world and that we too can overcome through him.

Conclusion

Walking the war within is not easy, but it is possible. It requires us to acknowledge the battle that is taking place within us, to live by the Spirit, and to keep our eyes on Jesus. When we do these things, we can overcome the desires of the flesh and live a life that pleases God.

As we walk this path, let us be encouraged by the words of Paul in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." With the Holy Spirit's help and the example of Jesus before us, we can walk the war within and emerge victorious.