Hebrews 4: 15 « For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. »
Romans 7: 18 « For I
know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. »
1 John 2: 16 « For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. »
We Christians must
live in holiness, and seek to do what is right, just, and pleasing in God's
sight. We must do this not only for our souls, but also to preach to our
neighbors by example (1 Corinthians 8:9). How can we convince others of the
great transformation that the Holy Spirit operates within those who accept
Jesus as Lord and Saviour, if we have not been transformed? This transformation
is inevitable for those who obey the teachings of the Holy Spirit and follow
His ways that lead to the righteousness and justice of God. Man cannot achieve
holiness through his own strength; his weaknesses prevent him from doing so.
Therefore, it is essential to be in communion with the Holy Spirit, allowing
our spirit to be continually renewed by Him and not influenced by our fleshly
weaknesses. For, when we fail to identify and overcome these weaknesses, we are
susceptible to committing various sins (defilements)
Galatians 6:8 « For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. »
To avoid sin,
which is the expression of one or more weaknesses, it is essential to identify
these weaknesses. This will help us to better direct our prayers and understand
the Holy Spirit's guidance/instructions, which are our greatest strength throughout
our journey towards perfection.
How to identify our weaknesses?
We
must stop lying to ourselves!
Matthieu 26: 41 « Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak. »
We all know the
famous phrase: “A problem well put is half solved”.
Being Christians,
as long as we live in this body, does not imply that we are without fault. Yes,
we are saved in Jesus, delivered from the condemnation of sin, but neither is
it license to live as if sin no longer exists or that the weaknesses of our
flesh have disappeared. The bad news is that they're still there, to cause us
to flinch as soon as we stray from God's Word. Therefore, we need to be very
vigilant about these weaknesses. But how
can I be vigilant about anger, for example, if I can’t admit to myself that I'm
someone who often loses his temper at the drop of a hat? How can I avoid sexual
sins, for example, if I can’t admit that I have a sex addiction and that I
should avoid exposing myself to pornography or certain compromising situations?
etc. In short, how can I avoid the temptation to a type of sin, if I don't admit
to myself that I have a particular weakness in my flesh that can lead me to
commit that sin? Let's be honest with ourselves and admit our weaknesses
outright so that we can be vigilant and avoid them leading us towards what is
displeasing to God, i.e. sin.
We
must stop lying to others!
Hebrews 3:13 « But
exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
We all have a
responsibility to support and build one another up through prayer and teaching
in a respectful and gentle way. We must remember that each of us is a member of
the Body of Christ. A body cannot function effectively if all its members,
without exception, are not functioning as they should. So we must all bear the
burden of souls by loving them as Christ loves them. We must all remember that
we are not competing with each other for a place in heaven, but that we have a
common struggle, facing a common enemy whose main weapon is sin. Supporting one
another in exhortation and prayer, without judging one another, in love and
understanding, must be a formidable weapon for preserving holiness and harmony
in the Church. I can't applaud my neighbor, flatter him by telling him how
beautiful everything is, when I know that he leads a life of debauchery, that
he has addictions that can destroy his life. To exhort him for the good of his
soul is a proof of love, of benevolence towards him. Since we have only one Lord, we must all live
by the same rules, His rules, to benefit from the same promises. No one wins
stars or extra points when their brother or sister sins, but the Bible tells us
that Heaven rejoices when even one soul returns to Christ. Let us be fishers
of souls, as Jesus recommends, not judges who condemn people. Luke 15:7, 10
We
must trust the Holy Spirit
Psalm 143:8 « Cause me
to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to
know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.»
Just because we
have been baptized and received the Holy Spirit doesn't mean that we are always
automatically holy, in all circumstances. This misunderstanding of baptism
sometimes leads us to forget that no human being is holy and that only God the
Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are holy. In this sense, any holiness to
which we aspire is only possible when we are one with Jesus; when, as the
Apostle Paul put it, we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. And to reflect this spiritual level of
intimacy, we must, like Christ, do the Father's will. And His Will is only
revealed to us when we listen to the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that only
the Holy Spirit knows the things of God and can teach us the ways of God (1
Corinthians 2:11-14).
Our walk in
righteousness and justice depends solely on the teaching and leading of the
Holy Spirit. Therefore, let's be attentive, let's not be afraid to express our
concerns in prayer (Ephesians 6:18), and let's not be ashamed to confess our
weaknesses in prayer and seek the Holy Spirit's help, even when we know He
already knows them. Let's put our trust in Him, for there are no better guides
or counselors than He.