MCQUISTON MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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Corona Diaries

March 31st 2020

31/3/2020

 
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Read Galatians 5:13-26 (read again 16-18)


I’ve been talking to people. Of course that’s not unusual for me at any rate, it goes with the ‘job’ and explains why, when on holiday, which this isn’t, I don’t want to talk to people, especially strangers. Does that make me weird?  Humm!   Let’s not go there.  Talking to people is not unusual but what has been is the mode of speaking to people it’s now almost exclusively over by phone, by email or text. By whatever means the story is the same, after two or three weeks of isolation at home the novelty is wearing off and it’s becoming hard. The gardens are almost immaculate, not a weed in sight, the odd jobs list is becoming shorter by the day, then what? Most people would love to be out and about and back to normal but it’s not going to happen, not because the government restrictions, or because we run the risk of being cautioned by the police. No, it’s something deeper, something personal and internal we don’t want to become ill, especially the older and more vulnerable we are. So though there is a conflict of desires, the inner concern in this case, keeps us on the right side, at least doing the right thing.

It’s fine for Paul to say “do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh” (V13) but the desires of the flesh are strong in us and there is an internal battle going on which in fairness he recognises and it comes down to this; gratify the desires of the flesh (gratify not satisfy – the flesh is never satisfied) or live to God’s glory. Now that battle would be unequal but for one thing and Paul identifies that in verse 16; “live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come to believers, “unless I go away the Advocate (Spirit) will not come. John 16:7.  He then outlines the work of the Spirit and in verse 13 says “when He, the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth” and in verse 14 “He will glorify me.”  The Spirit is the presence of Christ in us and when Paul says “Live by the Spirit” he’s saying that we have the power already to live in the way we desire as Christians, to Christ’s glory. This though, is not in our own strength but in the Spirit’s power. So then, the conflict he describes is not an equal contest. If I try to live for Christ in my own power the desire of the flesh is stronger. The result is failure and discouragement. If though, I live in the power of the Spirit, the Sprit is always stronger.  Either way the flesh and the Spirit are mutually exclusive, we can’t gratify the flesh while at the same time living to the glory of Jesus and vice versa. The problem is that this is not an automatic process and this is all made clear by one writer, Ronald Fung, who says “Paul does not regard the believer simply as a helpless spectator or an unwilling pawn in the fierce battle between the flesh and the Spirit; the assumption is rather that the Christian can overcome the flesh by siding with the Spirit. The active leading of the Holy Spirit does not signify the believer’s being, so to speak led by the nose willy-nilly, on the contrary he must let himself be led by the Spirit.”

As arguments continue about what are the essential supplies we can legitimately leave the house to buy and what are not; or who can work and who can’t because the work is not essential there is no such ambiguity in what Paul writes. We are called to do one thing “live by the Spirit” and to abstain from another gratifying the desires of the flesh. As we live by the Spirit, he will so fill our lives with the presence of the risen Christ that there will no longer be room for the desires of the flesh. Perhaps today is the day we can take a stand, not by ourselves but with the Spirit.


CONSIDER
  • Has there ever been a time when I have given in to a sinful desire and it has been satisfied or has it only made me feel worse?
  • Am I conscious of the Holy Spirit in my life?
  • What does it mean for me to live by the Spirit?
  • Consider Romans 5:1-5 and give thanks to God.

PRAY
  • For those for whom social distancing increases their sense of loneliness and touches on their mental health. Call someone!
  • For small businesses and shops, or cafes that remain close. Pray that these will be supported, and the owners receive help.
  • Continue to pray for those who have fallen ill by the virus and those who have been bereaved.
  • Whatever else God the Holy Spirit puts in your heart

LISTEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nbMfLQd2P4


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  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Team
    • What We Believe
    • Worship
    • Mission Plan
    • History
  • Sunday Service
  • I'm New Here
  • Church Magazine
  • What's On
    • Adults
    • Boys
    • Boys and Girls
  • Contact Us
  • Sermon Downloads
  • Document Archive
    • Installation of Ministers
    • Ordination of Elders
    • Assistant Ministers Licensing
    • Assistant Ministers Ordination
    • Assistant Ministers Installations
    • Assistant Ministers Ordination & Installation
    • Church Reports & Year Books
    • Boys' Brigade
    • Musical Services
    • Special Services
    • Vision Documents
    • Church Magazines
  • Discipleship
  • Store House
  • Downloads
  • Gallery
  • Roll of Honour