Those who do not know Jesus as their Savior are in bondage to sin. When Christ comes into our lives we now have a choice. We can choose to follow our former, fleshly desires or we can choose to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit:

For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

Where do you set your affections? A mind set on the flesh is characterized by the deeds of the flesh:

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

We see a significant contrast as a mind that is set on the Spirit is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Which of these two mindsets describes your life? These two mindsets have polar opposite outcomes:

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, (Romans 8:6)

The Apostle Paul then revealed the deleterious nature of a fleshly mindset:

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7)

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Their actions may look good on the outside, but God knows the inner thoughts and intentions of the heart. That’s why Jesus called the Pharisees white-washed tombs – they looked good on the outside, but they were dead on the inside. Paul, however, pointed out our new identity in Christ:

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Romans 8:9)

The word if introduces a first class conditional statement that is assumed to be true. The word if can be translated as since or because. Do you believe that the Spirit of God dwells within you? How long will you continue to follow your desires rather than setting your mind on the Spirit. A life of joy and peace awaits as you follow His Spirit. The following verses also use the first class condition that is assumed to be true:

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

Although we have the Holy Spirit, the dregs of our fleshly desires still remain. Picture a calm bay of water that allows you to see the underwater beauty of a coral reef. A raging storm however, stirs up the sand and sediment occluding our view. It’s reassuring to know that God can give us a calmness of spirit and quell the storm within:

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

Since we have the indwelling Holy Spirit we are to live in accordance with our true identity as a child of God:

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. (Romans 8:12-14)

The word obligation has the idea of owing someone a debt. God has given us His Spirit and we have an obligation to live in accordance with the Holy Spirit. Imagine you enroll in an exercise plan with the desire of losing weight. You return several months later asking for a refund because you didn’t lose any weight. The manager asks you, “How often did you come to the gym to exercise?” You respond, “I never came to the gym.” Apparently you have to follow the plan if you want to lose weight.

If you want a life of joy and peace, then you must say no to your fleshly desires and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. May we not neglect the great resource of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within.