28 He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. Proverbs 25:28 (AMPC)
You are a spirit endowed with power from God to rule your own spirit and everything else God made Gen. 1:26 But sad to say, most people live like a city broken down without self-defense, self-respect, and self-control. Man, lost control of his spirit to sin and Satan when he disobeyed God. Romans 5:19 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; the wise man said, but a wounded spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14 A wounded, or broken spirit is like a city out of control and without walls; a situation lacking defense mechanism and protection from destructive attacks. The wall is like protection against unauthorized access. The wall can be the military or physical wall, including every institution that can protect the life and property of the people and the nation. However, Individual Spiritual wall is our focus in this series. God created you to have rule or self-control over your own spirit. With the proper divine wall or spiritual wall around your spirit, you will have the authority of ease, to safely guard, watch over and preserve your own spirit. Your spirit man or spiritual life is your real life, everything else is like a mirage. You must rule your own spirit otherwise something else will take control. Jesus Christ talked about four powers that can rule the spirit of man which are: The flesh or self, Unclean Spirit or Satan, Sin or the inherited nature of man, and God Himself, who is the creator and giver of the spirit of man.
- Your natural human nature (yourself) is described in the bible as the flesh. Jesus said. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 The flesh is weak and corrupt because it is born under the influence sin. Therefore, self by nature is selfish, not in compliance with the will of God; even when the flesh does good or evil it often for self-gains. Paul said. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Romans 7:18
Consider the following impact of self or flesh and its works over the spirit of man:
- Addiction is a sign that spirit is under siege, like a city without walls. When a man cannot say no to self-destruction then you know he lost control of himself. It is not good for man to be ruled by anything other than God who created him to rule and have dominion. God does not want you to be sober but that you put on the new man, which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24
- Marriage woes is another sign of spirit out of order. See how quickly the love of life can suddenly end with bitter divorce and broken heart or spirit. How often you hear “I lost my temper” or “the devil made me do it” Who is charge hear?
- The last one I want to mention is pleasure. There is great pleasure in food, sex, and money. But whoever is enslaved by any of these passions is dead while yet alive.
Jesus Christ describes a man who has no rule over his own spirit as a slave to sin and Satan. John 8:44 “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:34-36 A slave serves only at the pleasure of his master. You do not have a life or spirit of your own as a slave. Your spirit, soul, and body are ruled by the master. You better be ruled by the Master of life himself, Jesus Christ. He only is the Master who gives freedom indeed. With Jesus you can take charge of your body soul and spirit and be free indeed. Jesus Christ overcame sin, self, and Satan on the cross and turn over his spirit to God. (46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46) Your spirit is from God and to God you will give account as Jesus did. Your rule over your spirit must be as Jesus said, to do the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven. Matt. 6:10 You can begin right now by surrendering yourself to God by faith in Jesus Christ. Through him you can have a selfless and self-controlled rule over your own spirit. We will continue next week with another power which can rule over the spirit of man. Meanwhile be revived, yield not to temptations, but watch and pray. God bless you
