Crucify the Flesh
The flesh was crucified with Christ but for each of us that is only true if we apply the “truth” in our daily life. A man was watching a chicken run around with its head cut off — “It’s dead but it just doesn’t know it.” That’s the problem with many of the bride of Christ; their flesh is dead
but they don’t believe it and they continue to allow their soul to pursue their former lusts.
John Stott, in his book on Ephesians, had this to say about crucifixion: “It was a brutal ugly death handed out by the Romans. It was incredibly painful and it’s always painful when we crucify the flesh. It was permanent—no one lived through it; no one climbed down off the cross.”
Walk in the Spirit
In Galatians 5 the Spirit is mentioned 3 times:
5:16— Walk in the Spirit.
5:18—If you are led by the Spirit.
5:25—If we live in the Spirit.
If we walk in the Spirit and are led by the Spirit, we will live in the Spirit — and where is that accomplished? In the Holiest Place.
So, how do we gain victory over the flesh? Look at what is influencing our life and note what comes from our soul’s pursuit of its former life. Deal with those influences ruthlessly and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we do, we will find that we are replacing our character with
the fruits of the Spirit as God replaces our old character with His new one.
Remember that it is not just a matter of “stopping things.” Just tearing out the weeds in your garden isn’t the end of the job. You must let God plant new seeds for a crop of “spiritual fruit.” And He tells us what to replace the weeds with:
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
And that means — “take up the full armor of God.”
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
But just remember: You can resist all you want, but without “submitting” Satan isn’t going to flee. If you spend all your time trying to crucify your flesh again you will never follow the Spirit and you are going to lose the battle every time by following “dead” desires … just the opposite will happen when you don’t follow those old desires – Satan will flee.
Wake Up and Rest – The Real Holy War … Free Electronic Download