Have you known some in the church who practice Christianity but live like the devil?  You may ask: “Do they really think Christians can live that way?”  This year our church may have more than six thousand make a confession of faith by accepting Christ as their Savior.  How many will truly follow the ways of God?

For over 150 years scientists have tried to convince us that we evolved from a monkey.  Every fossil found to be the missing link between the monkey and man has been proven a hoax or a fraud.  The Bible in Genesis tells us that we were created in the image of God with a spirit.  This is what separates man from an animal.

No matter how brilliant we may be it is very difficult to know the ways of God without God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) within us.  How do we receive the Holy Spirit?  According to the Bible we must commit to accepting Christ as our Savior.  We must repent, completely change the way we have been living.  We then must accept God’s Spirit into our lives with a willingness to surrender and be submissive to His guidance.  If God knows a person is not serious, will not repent, will never be submissive to His Spirit, and will continue to live as the world lives, will He allow the Holy Spirit to enter into that person?  Isaiah 59: 2 – “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.  Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.”  If we are separated from God He may only listen to the prayer of someone convicted by the Holy Spirit to accept Christ into their heart.  We then know He will hear all of our prayers.

A person may do all of the right things: pray the sinners prayer, get baptized and attend church but have no intention of changing their life and being submissive to the Holy Spirit.  Did they receive salvation?  There are some who are unwilling to give up control and live differently.  The pleasures of this world are just too enticing and self-control is more important than living for others (your neighbor).

Ephesians 4:17 – 24 – “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.  Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.   They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.   But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” NLT

Not everyone is willing to repent.  There are people who have allowed their hearts to become so hardened that it is difficult initially to be convicted of their wrong doing.  A continual ignoring of the Holy Spirit’s convicting power can sear one’s conscience to lose all moral sensitivity.  Jesus in the parable of the seeds, found in Matthew 13, indicates some seeds will fall on hard ground, others among thorns.

Let’s assume you have repented and have been sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.  You find it almost impossible to live the Christian life.  Colossians 3:1 – 4 –“Since you have been raised to a new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

Have you ever thought your problem may be that you are trying to do a Christian life on your own?  Galatians 2:20 – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The Bible teaches that once we receive the Holy Spirit, Christ comes to live in us and through us every minute.  He knows the difficulties we may be going through. Therefore, He came to live His life through us because He knew we could not do it on our own. We have these self-centered bodies that want what the world wants.  When we make mistakes we may feel guilty, ashamed or regret because we know we have done wrong.    However, we must continually remember life is not about us. It is about Jesus.  The greater our relationship becomes, the more love we have for Him, the easier it will be to allow the Holy Spirit to live through us.  We must admit our failures and surrender our will in order for Christ to live through us.  So often I have written about an abundant life, peace and joy.  It usually doesn’t come when we are living for ourselves.  If you are struggling in living God’s ways allow Christ to live through you.  This is why we have been given the Holy Spirit.  Let Him be your counselor.