* Old Life Passed Away

 

And that ye put on the new man, which after God 

is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Ephesians 4:24

The "old man" refers to the flesh or self nature. Apostle Paul writes:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24

The word of God tells us after we have surrendered our lives to God we become new creatures.  Old things pass away.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.   2 Corinthians 5:17

The holy spirit activates the process within us by cleansing us spiritually, but there are some things that we, being born again, must do:

Ö     PUT YOUR FLESH TO DEATH:

The flesh must be crucified. It will not die a natural death. We must crucify it by refusing to be controlled by it:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7

For I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.   Galatians 2:20

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  Galatians 5:24

Ö     WALK IN THE SPIRIT:

Our daily walk (how we live) can be controlled by Satan working through our flesh, the world, or demon powers if we permit it. We do not have to be controlled by the world, the flesh, or the Devil. We must learn to walk in the Spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Galatians 5:25 

To walk in the Spirit means to let God's Holy Spirit control our conduct and life.

Though at times it seems like it, the flesh is not more powerful than the spirit. If we let the Holy Spirit manifest His power in us, He will quicken our mortal body of flesh. To "quicken" means to endue with life.  We do not have to live in the bonds of sin. God can quicken our spirit to new life:

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.   Romans 8:10-14

To be led by the Spirit we must have the Holy Spirit within us. 
We must be born again by the Spirit

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  John 3:6-7

We must also be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

It is the Holy Spirit who gives us power to walk in the spirit rather than the flesh. It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of the Holy Spirit in overcoming the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Through the Holy Spirit, we are led by the Spirit instead of the flesh.

Ö     LET YOUR SPIRIT SPEAK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:

God communicates to our spirit by the Holy Spirit:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  Romans 8:14

The Holy Spirit also communicates directly to God from  our spirit:

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.   1 Corinthians 14:2

When we speak in the unknown language, which is the physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), our spirit is communicating directly to God. When this happens, one of the important functions of the Holy Spirit is to pray according to the will of God:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  Romans 8:26-27

Ö     DEVELOP THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

In contrast to the works of the flesh, develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This includes..

. . . love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance. . . Galatians 5:22-23

Ö     DO NOT LIVE IN CONDEMNATION:

Satan uses the weaknesses of the flesh to make us live in condemnation. But Apostle Paul said:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.    Romans 8:1

If we fail and engage in fleshly conduct, do not remain in condemnation. Repent and ask forgiveness:

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  2 Corinthians 7:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

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