Are You Controlled by Christ?

What controls you? Are you controlled by Christ?

There are a number of things that try to control us, but as Christians the only thing that should control us is the Spirit of God.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

– Galatians 5:24-26

This tells us that though we are saved and in Christ, it is possible for us to walk in things other than Christ. It makes sense that the Bible tells us us to renew our minds so that we are able to know what is the perfect will of God for our lives (Romans 12:2).

The less we read our Bible, the more likely we are being controlled by something other than Christ.

We all have a fleshly nature that will so easily take over if not put in check. It’s a daily walk to kill the flesh and submit to the Spirit. If we are not intentional in submitting to Christ, then it is very likely that we are being controlled by a number of other things. As Christians, we all have 3 enemies that constantly work to keep us from walking in the Spirit:

1. Satan. 2. The flesh. 3. The world.

We can never let our guard down.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

– I Peter 5:8

1. Satan. Though we don’t physically see Satan as a lion in this world with our natural eye, he is here. The fact that most don’t acknowledge the reality of Satan actually gives him more power. Satan’s kingdom is darkness and many of the people that are blinded by him don’t even know it. If we’re not careful, then even as Christians we are likely to take his bait and believe his lies- allowing him influence and control in our lives.

Dark, spiritual forces seek to destroy us (Ephesians 6:12). Think about it like this: Enemies never come to our face and say I seek to destroy you. No, instead they eye us and look for our weak spots. Some even try to get close to us to really learn us. Enemies have strategies. It’s the same in the spiritual realm.

We must be controlled by Christ.

We must move in Him, think in Him, live in Him so that we are able to effectively maneuver in this world. If we are not controlled by Christ then we will fall short in so many ways without even realizing it.

2. Our flesh. We are wrapped in a sin nature that will naturally do wrong, which is why we are told to take off the old man and put on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

3. The world. As Christians, we are in the world but we are not of the world (John 17:16).

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

– I John 2:15-16

We must never forget that daily we all encounter influences that attempt to control us. It may be wrongful thinking, wrong mindsets, unhealthy emotions, anger, insecurities, control, envy, or many others. The key is that we identify those things and cast them down in the name of Jesus.

Every thought we think should line up with God and His Word (II Corinthians 10:5).

We must replace the lies that we’ve believed with God’s truth. It is a journey, but it’s well worth it. What’s the alternative? Living in bondage?
I think not.