THE OLD MAN

INTRODUCTION

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us the desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Gal.5:17

WHO IS THE OLD MAN?

The old man is that sinful nature of man that does not want to die, due to partial repentance. That is to say, you claim to have been born again but the characteristics of Jesus’ are not complete in your life rather you are still carrying the properties of the devil; the old man’s father. These properties are always contending with the new life because Christ has not occupied the whole body. The old nature of man will always desire to do evil things of the flesh which are contrary to the teachings and character of Jesus’. The old man is the earthly body that cannot be denied the earthly pleasures and wouldn’t want to conform to the will of God. The old man is the old life we were living before Christ came – John the Baptist told us to create space in our heart that Jesus is coming to occupy it, that is, old man give space the new man is coming to stay.

THE AGE OF THE OLD MAN

In this age many have claimed to have accepted Jesus but have refused to put the old man to death, the old man is evident in one’s life through the kind of fruits that is been brought forth. Christ is the only one who came to give us freedom from this sinful nature of man; by inputting his own life into us so that we can become new and bear the kind of fruits he bears. When you follow the desires of the old man the results are very clear; “SEXUAL IMMORALITY such as homosexuality, incest, bestiality, lesbianism, roasting, scanning, and the like, IMPURITY, LUSTFUL PLEASURES, IDOLATRY, SORCERY, HOSTILITY, QUARRELLING, JEALOUSY, OUTBURST OF ANGER, SELFISH AMBITION, DISSENSION, DIVISION, ENVY, DRUNKENNESS, WILD PARTIES AND OTHER SINS LIKE THESE” Gal.5: 19-21. If you still manifest any of the above it means you are still living inside the old man and the newness of Christ is not in you. The propeller of these characteristics is the evil spirit engineered by the devil who is the father of all sinners as he is been referred to by Jesus when he was warning the unbelievers, he said; “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you have to do the evil things that he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him, when he lies it is so consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8: 44

DOES THE OLD MAN DIFFER FROM THE NEW MAN?

In the same light, let us also look at the characteristics of the new  man who is powered by the Holy Spirit through Jesus  Christ “BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES THESE KIND OF FRUITS IN OUR LIVES; LOVE, JOY, PEACE PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL Gal.5:22-23.

The above are the works that are evident in the life that carries Jesus Christ. You can’t continue in your sinful nature and expect to produce the true nature of Christ which is the new life. Hear what the scriptures say; “this means that anyone who belong to Christ has become a new person, the old life is gone, a new life has begun.  2Cor. 5:17

Beloved, if you continue to sin, it means the truth of the word of God is not in you, you are merely       professing Christ but you are not manifesting his true nature because everyone who calls the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity. Jesus Christ has no sins recorded against him throughout his stay on Earth, if you believe him where then is the source of your sinful nature? The devil is the sponsor; He has failed from the beginning and he wants people to fail alongside with him, God forbid! Hear what the scripture says again; “Dear children don’t let anyone deceive you about this, when people do what is right , it shows that they are righteous even as Christ is righteous, but when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the devil who has been sinning from the beginning. But the son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family don’t make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them, so they can’t keep sinning because they are children of God.1John3:7-9. It is high time; a concrete decision is taken never to yield to the desires of the old man. Make every effort possible to put the old man to death through the help of the Holy Spirit after deciding to kill it.

WAY FORWARD

Freedom has been made available to as many that want to be free from the hand of the wicked old man, but it is pertinent to first acknowledge the works of the old man in your life.

Maybe you are born again but the works of the old life is still evident in your life, perhaps you are still taking instruction from the old man you have to do a root check because the old man has no destination order than to hell fire.

The following are the steps to getting freedom from the hand of the old man:

“Put on your new nature and be renewed, as you have learned to know your Creator and become like him” Col 3:10.

·       You must do a thorough examination to know the foundation upon which you are building your faith.

·       Acknowledge your sinful nature and repent of them all.

·       Ask the Holy Spirit to dominate your entire life

·       Flee from every appearance of evil.

God is always ready to rebuild his temple on the heart of many who are willing to come back to him; he is so merciful and loving. As Christians we should not continue to take instructions from the old man who never wanted to grow and any time you do the desires of the old man it causes you to start all over again and such person is in danger of hell fire. And ensure you learn to take instruction from the Holy Spirit for the scriptures say “The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63.

Beloved, you don’t need to be worried; God has already promised to strengthen us. God will never leave you alone because He loves you, He will direct your part and show you the way you are to follow. Hear this; “I pray from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” Eph.3:16.

PRAYER POINT

·       Oh Lord strengthen my inner man in the name of Jesus’

·       Holy Spirit enter into my heart and cleanse every rubbish in my life in the name of Jesus’

·       You the spirit of old man living inside of me, hear the word of the word of the living God, today is your end I put you to death in the name of Jesus’

The Fruitful Christian Ministries; is a ministry dedicated and committed to raising fruitful generation using God’s words to transform lives restoring hope to the hopeless.

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The Fruitful Christian Ministries; Ikeja, Lagos – Nigeria.

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