Inhale Confidence, Exhale Doubt

Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5; Galatians 5:16-26 We must breathe in order to live. I am reminded of this when I see Fairen in the health spa. Fairen is a Zoo Keeper. This morning she has on a Tee shirt with the words “Inhale Confidence Exhale Doubt” inscribed. Immediately, I think, where does the confidence come from? Since I am a Registered Nurse the words “inhale” and “exhale” reminds me of breathing. Breathing is the process by which we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The body cannot live without oxygen. Several medical conditions can cause our bodies to be deprived of necessary oxygen. Generally speaking, the body cannot go without oxygen more than four minutes before irreparable brain damage takes place and death may be imminent. No two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. When we breathe oxygen is carried to the cells in the body by the blood which has red blood cells (RBC) that the oxygen is attached to. When the oxygen is delivered to the cells the red blood cells attaches to carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide is carried by the blood to the lungs where it is exhaled into the air. This is a continuous process and we usually do not think about it until something happens that causes the cells to be deprived of oxygen. With this knowledge in mind I am writing this article about our spiritual life. Just as oxygen is necessary, the Spirit is necessary if we are to have life that God pleases God. We must inhale the things of the Spirit and at the same time we must exhale the things of the flesh. We will briefly look at a few passages of scriptures given to us by Apostle Paul. Before I begin addressing the scriptures let me tell about my brief conversation with Fairen. I ask her, “Where does the confidence come from?” “From lifting weights,” she replies. “So as you lift weights you gain confidence and doubt goes away,” I ask. “Yes, that’s it,” she says. I ask Fairen if this confidence that comes from lifting weights give her confidence in other areas of her life. She says, “Yes, in everything.” Now with Paul’s message. Paul writes to the believers in Rome to clarify how one can live by the Spirit. He writes that regardless of any human status all people are dead until he and she are made alive through Christ Jesus. Adam and Eve sinned and their descendants are born with a sin nature. Because of our sins we are separated from God. This separation is called death. The Jews believe that they can be made right with God (justified) by keeping the Law. Paul says that in order to be justified by the Law one must keep the Law completely. It has been shown that this is impossible for a person to do. Therefore, God justifies a person by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Those who believe in Jesus and accept His atoning death are made alive by the Spirit of God. Until a person receives the Spirit of God she and he live according to the sinful nature. Paul uses the word “flesh” to describe this state of existence. He says to the believers, “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Rom. 8:9, NASB). So, believers in Jesus inhale the Spirit and exhale the flesh. How does this affect how we live? Again, breathing is a process by which the red blood cells take oxygen to the cells. At the same time the red blood cells take carbon dioxide to the lungs where it is exhaled into the air. No two things can occupy the same space at the same time. Paul tells us that we must choose to live according to the Spirit instead of according to the flesh. There is competition between the flesh and the Spirit to control our lives. Paul writes, “For the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Gal. 5:17, NASB). If the flesh wins we die. If the Spirit wins we live. So we must make every effort to bring about this exchange of Spirit and flesh. Again, carbon dioxide is attached to the cells until oxygen replaces it. Paul explains this process in our spiritual life when he says, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 812-13). How can we have confidence that we are living by the Spirit instead of the flesh? Paul answers this question in Colossians 3:5. He says, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry” (NASB). These characteristics are made manifest in “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth” (v. 8). Further, Paul says,” Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (vv. 9-10). We can say that our behavior reflects our nature. We know that we are led by the Spirit when the thoughts, desires, and behaviors of the old man are replaced by the thoughts, desires, and behaviors of the new man. Paul describes the characteristics and behaviors of the person living in the flesh as opposed to those who live by the Spirit in Galatians 5:19-21; 22-23 respectively. Let me give us a cautious warning. Normally, the oxygen attaches to the red blood cells and is taken to the cells. However, there is another gas that can attach itself to the red blood cells. Carbon monoxide has an attachment site that looks like oxygen to the red blood cells. The red blood cells accepts the carbon monoxide, takes it to the cell to be exchanged for the carbon dioxide. This is the problem. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that causes death. We must be careful that we are not deceived into believing that we have the Spirit by pretenders. Paul addresses this possibility in the book of Colossians. He warns against philosophies that deceive (2:8). Another deceiver is religious practices. “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind” (v.18). Knowledge of philosophies, ecstatic experiences, and visions are not indications that one is living according to the Spirit. What matters is that we die to self and take on the life of Christ. In what ways are people in today’s church deceived into believing that they are living in the Spirit? The scope of this article does not allow me space to comment on all the things that Paul says to explain the difference between living in the Spirit as opposed to living according to the flesh. Let me conclude with these words of Paul. He says, “But I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). The word walk is used to describe how one lives; their lifestyle. If we live in the Spirit we have confidence that we have been made right with God. As Fairen says we have confidence for every area of our life. We have faith that God is directing our path in everything that we do. We are confident that there is nothing too hard for God. God speaks to us through the scriptures, our experiences, and other trustworthy people of faith. His words are true, and His promises are sure. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ. All doubt that God keeps His promises to us are extinguished.