There are two types of character traits that an individual can manifest or express, and they are;
1. The works of the flesh.
2. The fruit of the Spirit.
The works of the flesh is powered by the nature of sin which produces several acts as stipulated in the book Galatians 5:19-21.
Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Galatians 5:20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
These traits aforementioned are very common in our societies, and those who are involved in such, do it effortlessly without struggle, but when it comes to the manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit, it becomes very difficult as many would say.
Have you ever seen an adulterer or an adultress trying so hard to produce the works of adultery in his or her life? I haven't seen such and I don't know if you have? So why is it so easy for the works of the flesh to be produced so easily without stress? This is because, such an individual submits his or her will to the flesh, hence the flesh becomes the master, and the individual becomes a slave to the flesh which produces sin.
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
An individual becomes a slave to whoever he or she chooses to obey by a submission of his or her own will; whether to sin or obedience to the nature of God which leads to righteousness.
Moreover, the believer in Jesus Christ who was initially in darkness but translated into the marvelous light of God through his or her redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ, is meant to yield to the Spirit of God and no longer to the flesh. This entails a total submission of his or her will to God so that the Holy Spirit will gain dominance in his or her life. This action of yielding or submission to God leads to the Holy Spirit Himself manifesting the perfection of His fruit through the believer, hence its no longer the believers works which attempts to produce the fruit of the Spirit, but the Holy Spirit Himself.
Morealso, the more the believer yields to the Spirit of God, the greater the expression and abundance of the fruit of the Spirit, because such an individual has become a slave to God, Who produces righteousness [The word "slave" was used by Apostle Paul as an illustrative term to drive understanding].
Romans 6:22
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
HOW DOES A BELIEVER YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?
1. A personal decision:
The Holy Spirit is a gentle Spirit, and He will never force an individual against his or her will. The fruit of the Spirit is free but to yield is a personal decision.
Romans 6:19
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
2. Ardent study of the Word of God:
The Word of God is Spirit and life, hence the more of its intake into the heart of the believer, the easier his or her submission becomes. This is because the life of God in the Word begins to break every opposition or anything attempting to exalt its self over the knowledge of Jesus Christ. All works of the flesh are concieved and finalised for action in the mind before they are actually being committed.
2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
3. Prayer/ Speaking in tongues:
It's impossible to yield to the Holy Spirit without prayer. Show me a man who is constantly in communication with God through prayer, and I will show you a man who is submitting his will to God daily. Prayer places a burden of responsibility for a person to continually fall into alignment with the will of the Holy Spirit. In praying, ask God for His help and seek for His will concerning your life, which also includes praying in tongues.
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
4. Fasting:
Fasting helps to keep the flesh under subjection thereby denying it of its pleasures. Its also worthy to note that you must fast responsibly and according to your capacity.
Joel 2:12
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord,“Turn to Me with all your heart,With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
5. Disassociate from friends or mediums which encourage or trigger the works of the flesh in your life:
The eye is the lamp of the body, and if the eye be evil, the whole body will be filled with darkness. If you are into watching of ponography which often times lead to masturbation, the best thing is to stop watching and cut off all access that leads your eyes into darkness.
The more you follow up on the above steps expecially with feeding your mind with the Word, the appetite for such will become extinct. Also, its important to disconnect from people who lead you into sin, because evil communication corrupts good manners.
Matthew 6:23
But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Blessings.
Min. Awe Hilary
#TheMessenger
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