No middle ground

Ephesians 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

When we disobey, live in sin, or follow the desires of our flesh, we are obeying the devil. Although we have a free will, we are called to choose two paths. We can choose to obey God or we can choose to obey the devil. There is no middle ground. Many people and Christians think when they are choosing, they are being led by their own choices. But in reality, when we follow the desires of the carnal nature, we are actually being led by Satan. Sometimes, the desires of the carnal nature can also be viewed as benign or harmless but, in realty, we are actually deceived thinking we are making our own choices. When we lust after the things of the world over God, we are being led by the spirit of the world. Yes, we are in the world and not of it. Therefore, we must choose and be in control of our priorities. Our main time is focused and spent on who we serve. Many Christians deluded themselves by mixing God and the worldly things to justify their time with the world.

However, our choices or free will is granted and surrendered to God or the god of this world. When we are truly surrendered to God, we will begin to walk with the Spirit of the Lord. We will do what God desires for our lives. When we are not fully surrendered to God, then our heart or some areas of our heart will be surrendered to Satan. When we sin or give into temptation, we are surrendering and choosing to obey Satan. If we do not change, then in the end, the wages of choosing to obey the god of this world will be death even for saved Christians who have lived a life of disobedience and rebellion.

Romans 8:5-9 NLV 5 Those who let their sinful old selves tell them what to do live under that power of their sinful old selves. But those who let the Holy Spirit tell them what to do are under His power. 6 If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.7 The mind that thinks only of ways to please the sinful old self is fighting against God. It is not able to obey God’s Laws. It never can. 8 Those who do what their sinful old selves want to do cannot please God.9 But you are not doing what your sinful old selves want you to do. You are doing what the Holy Spirit tells you to do, if you have God’s Spirit living in you. No one belongs to Christ if he does not have Christ’s Spirit in him.

Pastor Steve