「加拉太书5:17」因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争，这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能作所愿意作的。
老的性情和新的生命总是在每一个信徒的心里持续斗争。老性情非常活跃，它会抓住所有的机会，运用一切的武器来攻击新生的恩典。但另一方面，新的生命会一直保持警惕，抵挡并击败他的仇敌。恩典会用祷告、信心、盼望和爱将魔鬼赶出去。他会穿上神所赐的全副武装，奋勇争战。
只要我们还在世上，这两个对立的性情就永不会停止争战。
圣徒和“亚玻伦”（参启示录9:11）的争战只要三个小时，但圣徒和自己的争战却要从窄门一直到约旦河边。仇敌牢牢地纠缠着我们，以至于只要我们还在肉身之中就无法摆脱他。尽管我们被仇敌穷追不舍，也常常陷入激烈的鏖战，我们却有一位全能的帮助者，就是我们救恩的元帅耶稣，他与我们同在，他也保证我们最终要藉着他得胜。
有这样的帮助者，我们里面新的性情会得胜有余。
你今天是否在和仇敌争战呢？撒旦、世界和肉体是否都在对抗你？不要泄气，不要恢心。奋勇吧！因为上帝与你同在，耶和华尼西是你的旌旗（参出埃及记17:15），耶和华罗非是你伤口的医治者（参出埃及记15:26）。不要害怕，你必得胜，因为谁能打败那全能者呢？奋勇吧！“仰望耶稣”，虽然争战严峻且漫长，但那得胜的喜悦无比甘甜，那应许的奖赏也无比荣耀。
“靠主力上加力，儆醒祈求争战，黑暗权势全被消灭，高歌同庆凯旋。”
附英文原文
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.”
Galatians 5:17
In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the “whole armour of God,” and wrestles earnestly.
These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. The battle of “Christian” with “Apollyon” lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes.
Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “looking unto Jesus;” and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.
“From strength to strength go on; Wrestle, and fight, and pray, Tread all the powers of darkness down, And win the well-fought day.” (From the hymn of “Soldiers of Christ, Arise”)
