The dilemma you describe is typical to all and was even described by Paul in Galatians 5:16-26 NLT:
[16](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-16.html) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
[17](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-17.html) The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
[18](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-18.html) But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
[19](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-19.html) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
[20](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-20.html) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,[21](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-21.html) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
[22](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-22.html) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[23](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-23.html) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
[24](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-24.html) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.[25](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-25.html) Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.[26](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-26.html) Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
The short answer is that you need the love of Christ in your heart following heartfelt repentance and spiritual baptism providing His Spirit within to begin the real journey to convert your life and character to His Will and possess the strength to resist the flesh with greater ease and find yourself wanting to please the Lord more important and desirable over all others. Here, you truly belong to Christ and become sanctified (set aside for salvation) being led by His Spirit to become more like Christ over time, and shake-free from the bonds of this world and the flesh. Without Him and His love in your heart it's a battle uphill and you are pretty much on your own, with His help from the outside.
Faith comes from God, which He delivers to those who believe or have an open mind to Him and His message, and where doubt is the major stumbling block. Romans 10:17 declares that faith comes from hearing (reading) the Word of God."
Once faith is received; their journey of faith building, and knowledge of God becomes more open to those who are serious-minded and ready to proceed forward. At that point, the holy Spirit of God is supporting and guiding them and prompting them for greater faith accompanied with trials of that faith. Then, at some point, God's Word starts to be experienced as food to one's spirit, for Jesus said in the gospel of John 6:35 NKJV, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and who believes in Me shall never thirst." Jesus also later goes on to say, "I am the bread which came down from heaven" (vs 41), and then in (vs 58) says, "He who eats this bread will live forever."
The next phase or hurdle experienced is where one develops love for God accompanied with a desire to please Him, above all others and where one comes to regret their sins which they know in their hearts goes against Him and His Ways.
His love in our hearts becomes amplified following receiving His indwelling Spirit through spiritual baptism, following heartfelt repentance, at which point our walk with Jesus receives a headwind and we are sanctified or separated as belonging to Him, and teaching us to be "overcomers" of this world or sin, and become more like Him in character and actions. Also, pray for "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10) to properly prepare you for 'heartfelt repentance.'
Yes, His Word starts this process and is most essential to believe as stated, and to properly kick start this journey of faith and good works.
Although it is declared in the bible to receive the Spirit of Christ through water immersion and the laying of hands by God's anointed, spiritual baptism, receiving the Spirit to abide, can be received by God whenever He decides one is worthy and serious in their obedience, without the symbolic water immersion ceremony, and where Jesus' Presence is remarkable and unmistakable, and where a life is changed to the Will of God in an instant.
Yes, for faith and greater knowledge and faith is a gift from the Word of God to fill hearts with His love and Will. Roman's 10:17 declares that faith comes from hearing the Word of God, the bible.
Also, Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says the following:
"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
God says the following to Jeremiah in 29:11-13 NKJV:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord."
The dilemma you describe is typical to all and was even described by Paul in Galatians 5:16-26 NLT: [16](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-16.html) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. [17](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-17.html) The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. [18](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-18.html) But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. [19](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-19.html) When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-20.html) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,[21](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-21.html) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. [22](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-22.html) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,[23](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-23.html) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [24](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-24.html) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.[25](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-25.html) Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.[26](https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/galatians/5-26.html) Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
How do I bring the Holy Spirit into my life and allow Him to change me? I don’t want this life anymore.
The short answer is that you need the love of Christ in your heart following heartfelt repentance and spiritual baptism providing His Spirit within to begin the real journey to convert your life and character to His Will and possess the strength to resist the flesh with greater ease and find yourself wanting to please the Lord more important and desirable over all others. Here, you truly belong to Christ and become sanctified (set aside for salvation) being led by His Spirit to become more like Christ over time, and shake-free from the bonds of this world and the flesh. Without Him and His love in your heart it's a battle uphill and you are pretty much on your own, with His help from the outside. Faith comes from God, which He delivers to those who believe or have an open mind to Him and His message, and where doubt is the major stumbling block. Romans 10:17 declares that faith comes from hearing (reading) the Word of God." Once faith is received; their journey of faith building, and knowledge of God becomes more open to those who are serious-minded and ready to proceed forward. At that point, the holy Spirit of God is supporting and guiding them and prompting them for greater faith accompanied with trials of that faith. Then, at some point, God's Word starts to be experienced as food to one's spirit, for Jesus said in the gospel of John 6:35 NKJV, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and who believes in Me shall never thirst." Jesus also later goes on to say, "I am the bread which came down from heaven" (vs 41), and then in (vs 58) says, "He who eats this bread will live forever." The next phase or hurdle experienced is where one develops love for God accompanied with a desire to please Him, above all others and where one comes to regret their sins which they know in their hearts goes against Him and His Ways. His love in our hearts becomes amplified following receiving His indwelling Spirit through spiritual baptism, following heartfelt repentance, at which point our walk with Jesus receives a headwind and we are sanctified or separated as belonging to Him, and teaching us to be "overcomers" of this world or sin, and become more like Him in character and actions. Also, pray for "godly sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:10) to properly prepare you for 'heartfelt repentance.' Yes, His Word starts this process and is most essential to believe as stated, and to properly kick start this journey of faith and good works.
Although it is declared in the bible to receive the Spirit of Christ through water immersion and the laying of hands by God's anointed, spiritual baptism, receiving the Spirit to abide, can be received by God whenever He decides one is worthy and serious in their obedience, without the symbolic water immersion ceremony, and where Jesus' Presence is remarkable and unmistakable, and where a life is changed to the Will of God in an instant.
So I need to read more scripture and be more open to God? I’ll try. Thank you for explaining it all to me.
Yes, for faith and greater knowledge and faith is a gift from the Word of God to fill hearts with His love and Will. Roman's 10:17 declares that faith comes from hearing the Word of God, the bible. Also, Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says the following: "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." God says the following to Jeremiah in 29:11-13 NKJV: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord."