So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.
Those who let themselves be controlled by their lower natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God. Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to death because the old sinful nature within us is against God. It never did obey God’s laws and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their old sinful selves, bent on following their old evil desires, can never please God.
But you are not like that. You are controlled by your new nature if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ living in him, he is not a Christian at all.) Romans 8:1-9 TLB
This is the war. The real invisible war that takes place with the eternal created side within us, involving our soul and spirit in which the enemies of God come to disrupt and attempt to deceive, hoping to move our reactions and temptations into our physical / bodily realm. If we are in constant conversation and relationship with the Holy Spirit throughout our day – then we should recognize His counsel to us and we then must agree with Him and make the decisions that He suggests for us. Thus our minds (soul) is the battlefield where we need to make our decision by our will (spirit).
How do we know what we hear in our minds is from the Holy Spirit?
Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around, and the way to find out if their message is from the Holy Spirit is to ask: Does it really agree that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, actually became man with a human body? If so, then the message is from God. If not, the message is not from God but from one who is against Christ, like the “Antichrist” you have heard about who is going to come, and his attitude of enmity against Christ is already abroad in the world. 1 John 4:1-3 TLB
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10”4-6
Do you activate these ‘filters’ when attempting to discern His Voice? Are you quick to engage Him when faced with decisions and thoughts? Are you open to His warnings when you don’t expect them? Do you recognize His Presence in your soul and spirit?
This is the challenge of becoming spiritually mature. Stay in our own thoughts and habits or allow Him to become your first line of defense and Teacher in this spiritual battle. Where is your focus? When your mind is ‘idle’ where does it usually go? Have you trained your mind to focus on Christ? Or is your mind mainly concerned about your desires, fears, or bodily needs and wants?
To be a disciplined person we first must be disciplined in our minds (soul). Our spirit agreeing with the Holy Spirit and choosing Him and His wishes. Do we decide to follow Him or not?
What is the last fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23? Is that fruit getting bigger and more vibrant in your life?
Do you immediately recognize you need Him?