Talk Tuesday - What Does 'The Flesh' Look Like In 2015?

As Christians we are all called to be free. The Bible says,

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13 NIV)

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (Galatians 5:16, 17 NIV)

What does the Bible say about the acts of the flesh?

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV)

We might say that this applies to people in the New Testament. In 2015 how many of us look at tv shows and movies that glorify sex outside of marriage? You say witchcraft?  No one does that anymore. Do you read the horoscope or go get your palms read? How many of us get into fits of rage or harbour hatred towards people? Did not Jesus say this was like murder? What about Facebook? Am I saying Facebook is a sin? How many of us sit on Facebook and get jealous or envy the people that seem to have a 'better' life than we do. Let's not talk about drunkenness and the wild parties people go to.

The Bible cautions...

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21 NIV)

This is a scary thought. Why do we indulge the flesh? Because the devil is deceptive.  All these things have become acceptable in today's society, but until we see them as sin, we will continue to do them.

We are asked not to walk in the flesh but to walk in the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)

Love,
Your Brother in Christ,
Andrew

Talk Tuesday-Live According To The Spirit

We live in a culture in which it is becoming increasingly more difficult to live according to the Spirit. Our trendy postmodern society inadvertently pressures us to accept all things as good, while frowning on any stance against sin or the desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. While our brothers and sisters face overt persecution in the 10/40 window, we in the Western World face persecution of a different kind. It is the covert pressure to renounce God's truth in exchange for the idea of living 'peaceably' with our neighbour. What we share in common with our fellow human beings is our 'sinnership'. What distinguishes us from the world is not our own righteousness, but Christ's righteousness imputed to us. The Apostle Paul tells us that, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God," 2 Corinthians 5:21. "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe," Romans 3:22.

Let us, therefore, encourage one another to live according to the Spirit of God who created us for His honour, glory and purpose. Do not become weary of living out the Gospel of Salvation. Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Luke 5:32. In the same way, He left us with the Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20, to go and make disciples of all nations. Our peace, lies in loving GOD wholeheartedly, which will direct our hearts towards obedience in His Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:14-17

Talk Tuesday-Denial of the Flesh

Jesus wisely warns us about what to expect as we soldier on through the pilgrimage of life.
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" John 16:33.

King David reminds us that, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" Psalm 34:19.

Suffering, in its nature, is truly abhorrent to the flesh. It denies our carnal nature the comfort of appeasement. When we fast, we lay aside our earthly desires in order to pursue communion and fulfillment with the LORD. As one sense decreases, the other increases. It is like that as we wait upon the LORD. We choose to TRUST HIM, despite our circumstances. We choose to tell our flesh-our physical sight-that we do not allow it to lead our FAITH, but our FAITH will guard our hearts. It is a denial of the flesh and inherent in that DENIAL, is the subordination of our sense of entitlement to the WILL OF GOD for our lives. As I sit here, journalling before the LORD, I wonder about Job and Jesus.

How was Job able to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" Job 13:15 or Jesus able to concede, "Not my will, but Yours be done?" John 22:42.

I cannot explain these things to the non-believer. I cannot explain them to one who does not know the Son, because without the Son it is impossible to know the Father. Yet, once you know the Father and the Son, you know the Holy Spirit. You step out of the realm of the natural, into the spiritual. As Paul writes, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

So let me encourage you, as I seek to encourage myself. Let us spur each other on, to finish the race, and to finish it well. If you are suffering, know that it is not in vain. If you are waiting, know that it is unto a purpose. And if you are fasting, know that you are exercising your spiritual discipline. The DENIAL of the FLESH for the sake of the LORD will result in sweeping rewards. Continue to tenaciously hold to His promise, because GOD DOES NOT LIE!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9