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REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “Where the law is powerless, the Spirit has power” The law is powerless means that disobedience and fleshly desires render the law to be ineffective in our lives, However, the Spirit has power means the Holy Spirit enables us to live a righteous live to fulfill the requirements of the law through Jesus Christ. We shall reflect on the fact that we need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be righteous and to overcome the desires of the flesh that render the law powerless in our lives.

Beloved in the Lord, the law became powerless because of the fleshly desires of sinful humanity. God’s purpose in giving the law was to make us righteous but the law has become powerless because of our disobedience and fleshly desires. God needed to provide an ultimate and permanent remedy for humanity’s salvation and righteousness since the law had become powerlessness thereby making the attainment of righteousness impossible by those who are led by the flesh. John 3:16 assures us of God’s remedy to save sinful humanity, hence “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). It was for this purpose that Paul assures us again through his letter to the Church of Rome when he wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4) In other words, we have become unrighteous and rendered the law powerless. Nonetheless, God provided a second and final path for us to be made righteous. He did that by giving us the opportunity to have a new nature in Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit indwells in us, He cleanses and makes our bodies the temple of God thereby ensuring that we please God by living according to the very nature of Christ who is the fulfilment of the law. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His sanctification of our body and minds to live in Christ Jesus, renders us righteous “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1). This is the summary of the Gospel or the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, that when we repent and have faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour we are saved and the Holy Spirit continues to live in us and to empower us to follow the perfect example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear friend in Christ, the law can no longer save us because it has been rendered powerless through sin or our fleshly desires. If we refuse to repent and allow Jesus to save us thereby making our bodies righteous through the indwelling of the Spirit, we shall be destined for the second death or eternal destruction. Paul admonishes us that “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:5-9). Beloved in the Lord, are you being led by the fleshly desires of the world or the Spirit of God? What governs your mind, your fleshly or sinful desires or the Spirit of God? To obey the law and become righteous, we need to follow Jesus’ teachings and examples and be empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is for this reason, Jesus gave us the assurance that “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:23-26).

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Where the law is powerless, the Spirit has power” We have learnt that we need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be righteous and to overcome the desires of the flesh that render the law powerless in our lives.
Shalom.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, we constantly need You in our lives to empower us and give us victory over the desires of the flesh which are meant to render us unrighteous before God. Strengthen us to continually follow the teachings and the perfect example of Jesus Christ in fulfilling the law so as to remain pleasing to God and be counted worthy of the Eternal life. Amen.