Relevant Church

So I think a lot of us go into this thing with the mindset that once we make the decision to follow Christ our desires will completely change and if they don’t then there’s something wrong with us or the decision we made. Whether we come to this assumption through faulty teachings or our own hopeful spiritual fancies, we are walking into a mental trap. The fact is, the day you accept Christ as your personal savior marks the beginning of a life long battle that will rage quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) inside of you. Prior to this day there was no internal opposition to your sinful nature. It had complete control to direct your actions and steer your life into whatever avenues it saw fit. When you begin to recognize Christ as God however, a new force enters you and contradicts the sinful nature that had once gone without resistance. This force is the Holy Spirit. While His arrival is a sure sign of the ultimate victory we will experience over sin and death thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus, it in no way signals an immediate triumph. I think the most important verse Paul mentioned this past Sunday during the service was Galatians 5:17.

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

This verse describes the battle lines for the war that takes place in the heart and mind of every Christian whether they realize it or not. The mental trap we fall into when we fail to recognize this shows itself in a variety of symptoms, the most prominent of which include confusion, doubt, and discouragement. We can avoid this mess by acknowledging that the Holy Spirit does not immediately purge us of our sinful desires. Instead, He speaks truth and wisdom into our lives and essentially gives us a conscience with which we derive a sense of how God desires us to act. The beauty of this is that the actions God desires us to take are the actions which will lead to a more fulfilled and abundant life for ourselves here on earth. What I mean by this is not that you will receive material wealth or even physical blessings by following prompts from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not your secret investment planner or internal personal trainer (despite what various televangelists will tell you). The abundant and fulfilled life that Jesus promises through time spent with Him becomes evident when God reveals the passions and ambitions He placed in you long ago and in the satisfaction that comes with knowing you have been reunited with your creator. There is an influx of purpose that occurs when the suggestions the Holy Spirit makes in your heart and mind are used as a foundation for your decision making in everyday life.
As strange as it sounds, this news that the start of our life as a Christian is not an immediate victory but rather the genesis of internal warfare should be looked on as good news. First, it clears up the confusion that comes with thinking there is an overnight change in behavior and desires that takes place when you become a Christian. Second, it promises that if we adhere to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit our lives will be filled with purpose. If that doesn’t scream hope to you, I don’t know what does.

- Trey