Galatians 5:17-18

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one with the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18. But if ye be led of the Spirit ye are not under the law."


Now let's show this from Scripture. First and foremost we cannot do the things that we would do, let's not find ourselves beating our breast and saying, "Oh, I'm without hope, I can't seem to win," because the apostle Paul went through that same thing. Now let's look at his dilemma in Romans Chapter 7 first, and maybe that will give us some comfort. You see we're not alone when we know we should do something and we just don't do it. We know we shouldn't do certain things, but the first thing we know, we've done it. All right in Romans Chapter 7 let's just drop down to verse 15. I mean this just says it all.


Romans 7:15a

"For that which I do I allow not:..."


Well what does he mean? Well that's what Paul is doing in the body and flesh, this new nature prompted by the Holy Spirit tells him that it's wrong. Do you see that? So he says, "the things that I do I know better. I don't want to do them. Now move on in the verse.


Romans 7:15b

"...for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."