“When I was a son with my father (David), Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),4He taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live.5“Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!  Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:3-5 AMP

Remembering that for those of us in Christ, all things have become new, there must needs be a change of our perspective and reasoning abilities. Before Christ, we were living according to the rules and standards of this earthly kingdom. We were at that time, “an enemy of God” according to the Word.

“You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 AMP

In the Greek, the word first translated in the Amplified version “enemy” is actually the word enmity. It means to have “an inward disposition of hostility toward an individual, group, or nation.” The people had chosen a path of rebellion versus submission to God. In Isaiah chapter 63 it speaks about God’s enmity toward those who rejected His way after He poured out His love and compassion on them (9), 

“But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He changed into their enemy, And He fought against them.”

Isaiah 63:10 AMP

The good news is that when the people remembered the Goodness of God, the repented! 

“Like the cattle that go down into the valley [to find better pasture and rest], The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people [O LORD] To make for Yourself a beautiful and glorious name [preparing the way for the acknowledgment of Your name by all nations]. Isaiah 63:14 AMP

You see our fleshly nature is always in opposition to God and His ways,

“For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.”

Galatians 5:17 AMP

Clearly the flesh is still trying to gain control of our lives. Because many of us have lived a fleshly life, it takes more of a conscious effort to bring it under our control! The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul encouraged us,

“If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage–our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. “ 

Galatians 5:25 AMP

In the opening verse, Solomon is encouraging the believer; “If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage–our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. These are all a result on inward attitudes which produce outward actions. We must unlearn the ways of the world and step into the new life and ways of Christ. Then, and only then, will we see consistent victory and behavior guided by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let me leave you with this thought,

“Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27 AMP

Take time today to wash your mind in the Word of God and renew your perspective through the eyes of the Holy Spirit! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken