Over the past seven weeks we've focused on what have become known as the Seven Deadly Sins:  pride, envy, sloth, greed, lust, anger (or wrath) and gluttony.  Our goal has been to demonstrate that the devil does NOT make us do them (or any other sin) and to learn how to overcome each of them. I hope the series has helped you to rely more on the Holy Spirit in everyday situations, and thus to overcome the seven deadly sins on a regular basis.  (If you've missed any of the messages or blog posts, you can watch [the messages] and read [the posts] them at www.newlifexn.org.)

I've experienced some specific benefits and victories through our participation in the series.  The most important one has been a clear reminder that I hold the responsibility for overcoming the devil's temptations in my life, even though the Holy Spirit working in me is the one who actually overcomes him.  Here's what I mean:  Once Jesus becomes Savior and Lord of our lives and the Holy Spirit fills and lives in us, we have the power to overcome every sin.  At that moment the devil can no longer MAKE us do anything.  At the same time, the Holy Spirit doesn't "possess" us in the sense of taking control of our thoughts, words and actions.  We must give Him control in our lives.  When we do, we have the power of God working in us.  When we don't we're literally on our own, and sometimes we may tough it out and overcome temptation, in which case we'll probably demonstrate pride by saying (or at least thinking) "Look at me!"  Or we will fail, and the devil will win.  As we noted in an earlier post, Paul tells us about this ongoing struggle in Galatians 5:17-18:  ¹⁷The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
At the end of the day (and at the beginning and middle of the day, too!), if we want to live in victory over the devil, the seven deadly sins, and all other sin we face, the key is to live with the Holy Spirit in charge of our lives, to yield to His control, and thus live in His power.  At the end of the Apostle Paul's life, he could say, "It is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me," precisely because he had learned to live with the Holy Spirit in control on an ongoing basis.  That's my prayer for you and me, that we would give the Holy Spirit control so we, too, may experience the joy and power of Christ living in us!
Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for the promise of Your word that when we live under the Holy Spirit's direction, we WILL experience victory over our sinful nature--and over the devil.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may live boldly, confidently and victoriously each moment to Your glory and praise.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.