Power Struggle

Sanctification involves growing in a right understanding of God's control and authority and knowing more completely and accurately how we relate to God. If we profess God to be our Lord and Savior, are we letting him be the Lord in our lives? Are we letting him call the shots? Is he a nice thought and a comforting feeling, or is he our master?

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

Take this verse, where Paul is declaring freedom from the control of the sinful desires he has and combine it with the following:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 (ESV)

This verse, also written by the apostle Paul, commands us not to fall under the influence or control of wine, but to be under the influence and control of the Spirit. See, we are all influenced and controlled by something. When God gives us his Spirit, we have a new influence that we can choose. We are commanded here to be filled with the Spirit, which is to say we must choose to follow the influence of the Spirit so we will not be dominated by things that are not helpful, lawful though they may be.