The first 10 days of this month were devoted to ruinous attitudes. They are behavioural defects that can keep us from attaining our full potential. Beyond that, these attitudes are risky to our eternal destiny. By and large, they are the works of the flesh. Here is what Paul said about them: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God.”
“As the Holy Spirit helps us to conquer the works of the flesh, He introduces the fruit of the Spirit by which we can live acceptably before God.”
There are two steps to tackling these negative attitudes and the dangers that they pose. Firstly, we must recognise their presence in our lives. We must honestly admit them, or else we will not be able to escape their effects. Pretending that they are not there is not the answer. Just like a physical ailment, recognising the disease is an important step towards securing a cure. Secondly, we must come under the “slaying” influence of the Spirit. From our text, apostle Paul stated clearly that pandering to the flesh will lead to death, but putting the works of the flesh to death will lead to life. The force that makes this happen is the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit helps us to conquer the works of the flesh, He introduces the fruit of the Spirit by which we can live acceptably before God.