SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – STRENGTH FOR YOUR WEAKNESS
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Happy New Month
STRENGTH FOR YOUR WEAKNESS
Read: Galatians 5:16-26
Galatians 5:16-26 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
Idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
MEMORISE: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
EXPOSITION
Many have not realised that sin in its totality is a great weakness! A sinner, for instance, an armed robber is believed to be agile, active and strong physically to carry out the act. However, on the contrary, he/she is weak in the sight of the Lord! The sinner is with sorrows. Apostle Paul made a long list of some of the works of the flesh in Gal.5v19-21 of today’s text. Each of the manifestations of the flesh is a sign of weakness in the sinner.
Nevertheless, today’s dose of The Living Water is helping you to discover strength for any weakness in you. It is high time you stopped dwelling on your weaknesses, lest the devil capitalise on them to wreck you, immediately and ultimately. Actually, the fruit of the spirit provides strength for every human weakness. God does not want us to be dominated by our weaknesses and shortcomings. The Holy Spirit has been given to you for this reason. He is to help our infirmities. For a hostile or an unkind person, the strength is gentleness and kindness. God want all his children to be gentle and not quarrelsome (2 Tim. 2v24)! For the weakness of fornication or adultery, the strength is love. If you truly love your body, you won’t be destroying it with fornication (1 cor.6v15-16). Moreover, if you are genuinely in love with your spouse, adultery won’t be in your domain, for you know it is foolish!
When you are selfish, you can’t accept longsuffering. However, longsuffering should replace selfishness, just like our Lord who was selfless to be the suffering of the sin of the whole world. Furthermore, faith is to take the place of fear, while joy comes in place of envy. If you passionately desire and pursue being filled with the Holy Spirit, (Lk.11v13), you will enjoy the victory and power of the Spirit-filled life. With determination and consistency, you will get accustomed with the Spirit-filled lifestyle in time! Take that bold step now, Christ’s grace helping your weakness.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, fill me to overflow with the Holy Spirit.
2. Holy Spirit, i receive Your strength to over come form of weakness, including that of sin in my life, in Jesus name.
3. Pray for ministers of the Gospel who are being weakend by the load of sin to be delivered from such loads, and be empowered with courage to get out, make amends and move on in the Lord. \
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 95:5 – 101:8, 1 Cor. 7:4 – 7:25