Flesh vs Spirit -

In My Flesh dwelleth no Good Thing

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

Romans 7:18

Do you have victory over sin in your flesh? Many Christians today live only a moderate quality of life as a Christian. They have been born again but stopped after finding that they could not perform the good that they wanted to do. Whatever bondage held them back from moving forward with God has hindered them. Many have used their own will to achieve the goal of being a good Christian but have fallen back into their old habits. Every Christian will struggle against the indwelling sin until they have surrender it all to God. The burden we carry of unresolved sins sits deep within our heart and we do not understand how to resolve this issue of our own sin.

How to perform that which is good is far from our hands to do. Have we taken it to the Lord in prayer. How can our soul be converted from sin? Many tried to perfect themselves, but in the process, they have denied the fact that they cannot cleanse themselves from their own sins. The law written in the word of God was to show the impossibility of man to reproof himself. We have examples of battles in the Bible where man stood in fear of the Lord not knowing what to do. They prayed like Jehoshaphat’s who sought after the Lord along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Let your request be made known unto the Lord. They were about to be invaded by Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir. What happened? God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer and told him to not be afraid for the battle is not theirs but the Lord God’s [see 2 Chronicles 20:15]. Now you may think this does not apply, but what about the woman taken in adultery? Jesus said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” [John 8:7].

No one could cast the first stone. Jesus asked,” where are your accusers.” She replied, “no one Lord.” Jesus said, “neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” God provided a way, and it was not in the hands of men. The law points to sin, but God is saying that the battle belongs to Him. God provided a way, and it is through Christ death on the cross. Most Christians believe that Christ provided victory over sin and death, but they do not know how to apply it to themselves. We are kept by the power of God through faith. Our faith is in Jesus, for He is our sacrifice for our sins. The battle is already won through the cross of Christ. You must believe it to be so. It is done. The victory is in Christ. You must take your position in Christ and walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

John 14:26

Many just do not understand the importance of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things we need to know about Christ, our inheritance, our position in Christ, and the coming of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the anointing that we need to understand the word of God. It is the Holy Spirit who will help us to perform good works in the name of Christ. We must come to the fact that we are a wretched man who can only be saved through the blood of Christ. We must believe that He paid for our sins. The apostle Paul reveled that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death. [see Romans 8:2]. We lay down our weaknesses with confession through faith in Christ. It is the denying of our own self-will that we lay down at the cross daily in order to live and walk in the Spirit.

The law of the Spirit gives us the power over the law of sin. [see Romans 8:2].

To perform that which is good is done by the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Total surrender of our will is the only way we can allow the Spirit to work through our bodies and mind to that of Christ. Whatever we cannot do, it is possible with God. [see Luke 18:27]. By grace we are saved. And we have been raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [Ephesians 2:6]. We have been grafted into the Vine of Christ and any branch that is in us that bears no fruit will be purged in fire. We are cleansed through the word of God. God has made us able to do His will. It is Christ who made the way and said, “go and sin no more.” It is through Christ that the power of God through the Spirit that gives us life and forgiveness.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.” Amen

Pulling Down Strongholds

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds)”
2 Corinthians 10:4

Pulling down of strongholds is something we may not want to do yet is vital in our Christian walk. Strongholds are the walls we put up ourselves. It is known as self-preservation. So many negative words are spoken to bring us down to nothing, when in reality we are created in God’s image. Christ has led captive’s captive, and gave gifts unto men, [see Ephesians 4:8]. Did I know this when I first became a Christian? The answer is no. I was walking in a strange city and just learning about God and about God’s son Jesus. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ as is stated by John the Baptist in the Gospel according to John chapter one, verse seventeen. When I learned about Jesus being more than just a good prophet, I was stunned.

Without Christ we would not have eternal life. I cannot imagine not having a place up in heaven prepared for me [see John 14:2]. I saw hatred, bitterness, and those I love had turned on each other. I was confused, hurt, and lonely. Oppression had taken hold, and I was trying to get out of its control. I once quit a job because I could not handle constant swearing. Why would a person speak like that on the job? Something must have gotten a hold of his mind and heart to have such words come out of his mouth.

The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter ten is talking about divine authority. Paul tells us although we walk in the flesh, we are not to war after the flesh. We must remember the works of the flesh are listed in Galatians chapter five, verses 19 to 21, such as hatred, strife, envying, and drunkenness. The apostle Paul states, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty thorough God to the pulling down of Strongholds. Mighty through God if we obey and keep our faith in Christ. Any kind of wall that is up will be torn down in the name of Jesus. Any kind of resistance, arguments, opinions, and thoughts that are against God must be cast down.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?
2 Corinthians 10: 5-7

Anything that exalts itself is to be cast down. To cast down means to pull down, demolish and destroy anything that opposes the knowledge of God. What is important is what’s in the heart of man. We cannot be fooled by what we see on the outward appearance of man. We are to think twice if we confess that we belong to Christ. Paul stated that “we are ambassadors for Christ,” [see 2 Corinthians 5:20]. An ambassador has the highest diplomatic rank. We have been reconciled to God through his son Jesus Christ. We now have the mind of Christ, for all things belong to God. Our thoughts should be on edifying one another in Christ. We are not to compare ourselves with each other. Paul tells us it is not wise. When we compare ourselves with each other it leads to jealousy, envying, and devouring one another. We are to accept the gift that God has given to each individual in the body of Christ. Walking in the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Listen to what Paul told the Galatians.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:26

Let us not be desirous for glory, provoking one another and envying one another, for this does not profit anyone in the body of Christ. It tears down the body of Christ and weakens it to where the power of God cannot reveal the manifestation of the glory in Christ. We have a covenant with God and not with the world where Satan rules. We need to walk in the Spirit and pray for the strongholds to be brought down. Listen to what Paul told the Ephesiasn.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:12

Pulling down of strongholds through prayer is also pulling down principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness that we see in the world today. Every Christian must pray for the pulling down of their own walls and the walls of the wicked one who promotes Idolatry, witchcraft, fornication, and every kind of abuse that does not glory God. The Christians greatest weapon is prayer and the word of God. As we grow and read the word, we will know what the will of God is. Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind as Paul said in Romans 12:2. Let us present ourselves to the living God and let us pray for all strongholds to cease in the name of Jesus.

They that are in the flesh cannot please God

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8:6-8

They that are in the flesh cannot please God, exclaims the apostle Paul in Romans chapter eight. It seems somewhat appropriate to begin the New Year with this scripture. You may ask why? As we witness chaos and destruction in the world today, many are becoming confused as to what is really happening around us. We are witnessing outright hatred, stealing, shootings, and physical abuse. Anything done in the flesh cannot please God. Self-effort is in the flesh, and it cannot achieve holiness. Holiness is only through Jesus Christ. Every believer will struggle between two natures, the old Adamic nature and the divine nature that is through Christ Jesus. We must remember that the believer is not made holy by the law. Any kind of law puts the believer into living by the flesh instead of the Spirit. The flesh is linked to carnality which has been sold under sin.

The apostle Paul states that the flesh is contrary to the Spirit [see Galatians 5:17]. Paul also gives us a list of the works of the flesh.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying’s, murders, drunkenness, raveling’s, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21

We should take note and remember what the works of the flesh are and that those who succumb to these actions will not inherit the kingdom of God. That is why the apostle Paul pleads that we should walk in the Spirit in order to not fall into temptations. There is a difference between those who walk in the Spirit and those who walk in the flesh. If we are walking in the Spirit, we are taking on the character of Christ. We must be spiritually minded in order to have life and peace. Jesus Christ has paid the price through His death on the cross and therefore we have redemption. Through the redemptive power of the blood, we now are raised up with Christ by His Spirit that dwells in us [see Romans 8:11]. We are to live by the Holy Spirit, and we pray for the Holy Spirit to help mortify the deeds of the flesh. We should check to see what spirit we are living in. Are we living in the flesh or Spirit?

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
Romans 8:3

Sin is overstepping the boundaries of the law. The scriptures tell us that the law is our schoolmaster. The law is for the lawless and disobedient and not for the righteous man.

“The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.”
1st Timothy 1:9

When you live in the flesh you are not living in Faith. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin [see Romans 14:23]. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, for we confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and is the Son of God. We have not received the spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of Christ and are joint heirs with Christ [see Romans 8:17]. The Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will always point to Christ. Jesus Christ is our example. It is not I, but Christ that lives in me and produces the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 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.
Galatians 5:22-25

Have you crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts? This is only done through prayer. We must pray for the Holy Spirit intervention in our lives to conform us into the image of Christ. We must deny self, lusts, and affections in order to let the Spirit of Christ change us. We repent of our own ways and turn to God and follow His way. When we do this daily, we will have the fruit of the Spirit flow in our lives. Stay the course and walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Let this be your New Year’s resolution.