The victorious life is a life of victory over sin. As believers, we live in the world, but we are not of the world. The world has its system and the way they live and do their things, but as a kingdom citizen and Ambassador of Christ, your attitude and behaviour should not be controlled or influenced by the world.

Apostle Peter referred believers as strangers and pilgrims, who should not adopt the lifestyle of non-believers among whom they live, but their loyalty should be to God. Every born again child of God is a foreigner and temporary resident on earth. You are accountable to your home government where you got your letter of credence.

This earth is a temporary place and it is already passing away. “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever,” (1 John 2:17 NKJV). The earth, as it is, will disappear completely one day when God will judge it. It will cease to exist. So, if this earth is not forever, what wisdom is there in pursuing the things of this world as if this earth is permanent? This earth will cease to exist one day, no matter how long you live in it. There is life after this earth. You must have a pilgrim’s mentality and live for Christ each day of your life.

You should not be engrossed with the affairs of life or get carried away by the activities of this world; your success, your possession and all that this world offers because it won’t last. “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away,” (1Corinthians 7:31 NLT).

Peter tells us in 1Peter Chapter 2 that our fleshly passions are at war with us. It is a war for your very soul. The flesh is an enemy to your soul because its desires are sinful and does not please God. The flesh wants to lead you astray and far away from God. It aims to sweep over you like an early frost in an apricot orchard and destroy all fruit in your life while it is in the bud. You must fight the enemy of your soul, which is the flesh by putting on the whole armour of God; so that, you can be able to withstand it (Ephesians 6:11-13).

You can only withstand the temptations and evils that surrounds you by putting on the whole armour of God. You can resist that cigarette, that drink of whiskey, that act of immorality, or anything that will keep you from enjoying the companionship of the Holy Spirit by walking closely with God. Victory over sin and its allurements is only possible in Christ.

Galatians Chapter 5 urges us to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the sinful desires of the flesh. Peter calls the enemy of our soul “the passions of the flesh.” The works of the flesh are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. You are at war with these things the moment you give your life to Christ.

Today’s nugget: Put on the whole armour of God. Prayer: Lord, give me total victory over the passions of flesh.

The passions of your flesh want to destroy and consume you. The way out is to embrace a total war, total victory and total colonisation against the passions of the flesh.

• Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. (Dr.) Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.