Text: Romans 6:5-16
Memory verse:
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
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There are two ways to live, either to live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. God has called us to walk in the Spirit. Today, many believers are still being dominated by the flesh. One of the ways to know if someone is walking in the Spirit is how he or she is submitting to the authority of the word of God. Those who walk according to the flesh are guided by the desires of their flesh or by the tradition of men. They esteem the traditions of men above the word of God. “For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” (Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
I was impressed recently by the testimony and life of one of our sisters in the Lord whose husband suddenly passed on to glory. She and her husband were very close during his lifetime on earth. Without any problem in the previous night, she woke up in the morning to discover that her husband was no more. What a rude shock! After the doctor confirmed his death, she just went down on her knees to begin to praise God. As many people started thronging into the house to encourage her and especially the words of hope from godly men and women, she was strengthened the more in faith. However, a few days after, as the reality of her husband’s transition got done on her, the spirit of fear suddenly gripped her. With this, she started feeling sickly and depressed. In the midst of the full house, she decided to withdraw to a corner to pray. While she was praying, she felt led to go on a fast and by the time she finished the thirty days fast, unexplainable joy and holy courage had replaced the spirit of fear and depression. Her health was perfectly restored. She became a source of inspiration to her family, relatives, and all those who visited to comfort her. Following her pastors’ counsel, while still staying at home according to tradition, she never missed Sunday worship service. Being in the presence of the people of God gave her comfort and speedy recovery.
Rather than walking in the flesh and allowing the devil to take advantage of the situation, she chose to walk according to the spirit and then resisted the devil. Walking in the flesh and esteeming the tradition of men above God’s word will open the door for the devil in your life. “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Rom‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
Friends, cast your burden on the Lord and don’t take it back again; submit yourself to the authority of the word of God and you will enjoy life, peace, health and courage in the midst of your trials.

Prayer points
1. Father, please forgive me in any way that I have not been submitting to the authority of Your word, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, have Your way and help me from today to walk according to the spirit, in Jesus’ name.
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Today’s declarations
1. I live in the spirit, and I don’t esteem the tradition of men above the word of God.
2. I resist the devil, and I close the door against the spirit of depression, fear, and sickness by walking according to the spirit.