US - PART 1 - THE FLESH

 

                       THE STRUGGLE WITH THE FLESH

                                                 (a short study)

 "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh..." Philippians 3:3 NIV

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23 

PART 1 - THE FLESH

INDEX:

OUR FLESH, OUR HOUSE

WHY THE CORRUPTION?

THE FALL OF MAN - CORRUPTION AND DECAY

OUR ORGANIC AND PROGRAMMABLE NATURE

WHERE THEN DOES THE DESIRE TO DO GOOD COME FROM?

CONCLUSIONS WE CAN DRAW CONCERNING THE FLESH

GREAT TOOLS OF THE FAITH

DISCIPLINES AND DELIVERANCE

CONCLUSION

“Watch and pray, least you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38

  From this statement by Jesus, notice the obvious difference between our flesh and our spirit. There is a constant ongoing battle within all of us, choices between right and wrong, wisdom and foolishness, selfishness and duty, and especially for us as disciples of Jesus Christ, the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another so that you may not do the things that you please..." Galatians 5:17 NAS

   Our flesh is our number one opponent (so to speak) because we live in it. It is in our flesh where most of all our temptations comes through, and through which the devil can most easily get at us. Now let us look at this in a little more detail.

OUR FLESH, OUR HOUSE - "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens...for we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." 2 Corinthians 5:4

  Again, as the statement goes, we are spirits which have a soul, and we live in a body. I will also repeat what one preacher says, our bodies are our earth suits. In other words, for us as spiritual beings to be able to live and function in the natural world we need a physical body; however, we are far more attached to it than that. As God has designed us, our physical bodies also helps define who we are and plays a huge role in our personality development and service to God, which is one  reason why the redemption of our bodies and our resurrection is so important. WE HAVE NOT BEEN CREATED TO BE WITHOUT OUR BODIES. Our responsibility is that we are not to let the drives and passions of the flesh (our bodies) rule us, but we are to rule it. "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified). 1 Corinthians 9:27

 With this being the case, our flesh/our bodies are not evil in themselves, but the drives and tendencies can be, and if it is not redeemed, it cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Corinthians 15:50

WHY THE CORRUPTION?

  God did not design us with corruption or evil. He did not make or create anything corrupt or evil. He did, however, create freewill agents with the ability to chose and to act, both we and the angels alike. God did not create devils, they are angels who have willfully turned against God. In these two verses, God is speaking to Satan. "You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty...You were blameless in all your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you...Ezekiel 28:12,15, "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star (Lucifer), son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my thrown above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, and the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." Isaiah 14:12-14 NIV

  In these two prophetic passages of the Scripture, God gives us a glimpse of Satan's rebellion and fall. In the book of Revelation, He reveals that the devil took a third of the angels with him Revelation 12:3-4. I do not wish to elaborate on all this lest we lose the focus, but that you may know for certain that God did not create or cause the evil. Because God is Holy and Good, if we or the angels chose to go against Him, well the only thing we can become is unholy and evil. Our choices and actions are not His doing.

THE FALL OF MAN - CORRUPTION AND DECAY

  God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden perfect. They were sinless and immortal. In fact everything was perfect. But when Adam and Eve sinned, God gave them over to corruption and the death sentence lest they lived eternally in that state, but with the promise of redemption. The earth was also cursed, and in fact, so was all the universe, yet also with the promise of complete redemption "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One Who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay (corruption) and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." Romans 8:19-21 NIV ,  "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13

  To the point, because of the fall into sin, the physical separation from God, and the bondage of corruption, our physical bodies are dominated by the tendency to self gratification, which is a base/perverse form of self preservation. All its appetites, drives, and tendencies have no leaning to moral right, spiritual concerns, let alone submitting to any other will and desire of our Creator; therefore we Christians say, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO confidence in the flesh." Philippians 3:3. Although the apostle Paul in this passage is referring to his social and religious status, the truth of not trusting our flesh holds true in every aspect of our walk.

  So, understanding this, we can see that our natural tendencies and movement in this world will be toward self gratification in some form or other, and it will always be so outside of Christ.

WHERE THEN DOES THE DESIRE TO DO GOOD COME FROM?

 "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Genesis 1:27 

  This is so amazing! In spite of our present fallen nature in the flesh, every man, woman, and child, are created in the image and likeness of God. (Therefore every person is worth hearing His plan of redemption through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ). Though in our flesh we cannot be trusted, in our hearts there is still the desire to be good and to do good. The only problem is making it happen. "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me...For I know that in me (THAT IS IN MY FLESH), dwells no good thing." Romans 7:19-20,18 For sure then, saint and sinner alike can and will do good.  " And the islanders showed us unusual kindness. They build a fire and welcome us all because it was raining and cold." Acts 28:2 The story of the Good Samaritan is another example of genuine human kindness - Luke 10:25-37

  Know, therefore, that every good thing we do or want to do, must pass through our flesh. That is almost scary since it implies what the Scripture states, "that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." Romans 7:21 Which means that even my very best intentions can have a selfish motive, or certainly a temptation to surrender to it. Does that mean that I cannot do good without having some sinful or selfish motive? Not so, "but if by the SPIRIT (of Christ) you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13 So by the Spirit of Christ we can do acts pleasing to God wherein we cannot boast, He is glorified, and people are blessed. I would say ever further, that because mankind was created in the image of God, that any person that is not a Christian can do good out of a pure motive. John 3:21 How wonderful is that! I would like to add further that we cannot accurately judge ourselves with regards to our deepest motives, let alone the action of others saint or sinner, because of the struggle within all of us. You can be sure that the most unlikely people (in our mind) may actually have the best intentions deep within. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yes, I judge not my own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."

  Because of this ingrained downfall of ours, do we refrain from doing good unless we are certain the Holy Spirit is guiding us? We need to wake up! Practically speaking, as we  abide in the commandment to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as our self, then to not help someone in need would be going against His will, unless of course the Holy Spirit specifically directed us not to, which can happen. What then about the flesh's tendency to  glory? When we feel the temptation to be proud or whatever, we do not agree with it. Instead be kind, and leave the results to God. If we are going to be covetous about it (we have all done it and likely more than once), someone will still get blessed and we will lose out (even thought we should not doing anything for any gain or credit whatsoever). Instead we serve simply out of faith and the love of God.- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, So let us not give up! "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16 "And let us not weary in doing in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

OUR ORGANIC AND PROGRAMMABLE NATURE

OUR ORGANIC NATURE: Our flesh has natural (and God given) drives, needs, and impulses. Many of our appetites fall under that category, like the need to eat and drink, the desire to reproduce, the need to rest. However, all these must be harnessed (for saint and sinner alike) or they can damage or destroy us and others if we cater too careless to them. As followers of Jesus they should never dominate our affections or intentions. "...for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:32-33

OUR PROGRAMMABLE NATURE: Our flesh is programmable, and as we all know, we can develop certain, appetites, behaviors, responses and reactions, including time punctuality. We can develop tastes for various foods. We can develop tastes or distastes for certain types of stimuli, and activities. This goes for religious activities too. In the flesh especially, we gravitate to rituals and routines quite easily. Our flesh, in part, functions more easily with routines, and as I mentioned before, there can be a critical safety in healthy routines and traditions. Many of these things we tend to engage in regularly may be more than organic (natural drives) and involves outside influences, and or our soul and spirit to provide the motivation and drive. In other words, we sometimes assume that certain tendencies, behavior, interests, and desires  are simply "who we are,"and thereby justify ourselves when needing to change.  Well not necessarily so. But yes, there may also be natural inclinations. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Still, justifying certain habits and tendencies may not hold up as a viable excuse since it can be developed or taught into us. Which means that it can also be untrained.

  What this implies is that not every impulse or urge is an actual need, or a God given drive; herein we must be careful so as to not feed a monster. When the flesh has its way unbridled, its appetites become demanding, excessive, insatiable, and even extreme. When the flesh is out of control, we are giving room for demonic control. That is where we need God's Word and the Holy Spirit to step in to help us.

CONCLUSIONS WE CAN DRAW CONCERNING THE FLESH

For a general overview, we can conclude that:

- We are capable of doing any good as well as any evil. So the greater issue is the state of our heart and our thinking. 

- Our natural tendencies and impulses cannot be trusted.

- We are responsible to train and control our behavior.

- Because our body, soul, and spirit are so intertwined, it is sometimes hard to discern the source of our motives, drives, and impulses. Let me elaborate on this a little. "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness(indecency), idolatry, witchcraft..." Galatians 5:19, "Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions." Colossians 2:18..." Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!...Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Colossians 2:21-23 NIV.

 What is imperative to point out here are some of the activities named. Obviously some are clearly the works of the flesh, like adultery and fornication, but idolatry, witchcraft, having visions, strict disciplines on the body as a form of worship, are these not all spiritual activities? They are sometimes so powerful and supernatural that many people can be deceived that they are having a truly spiritual experience, and maybe so, but not an experience prompted by the Spirit of Christ. For instance idolatry and witchcraft, as the Scriptures teach are activities that are inspired by evil spirits, "They sacrificed to devils, not to God." Deuteronomy 32:17, "But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God..." 1 Corinthians 10:20 Yes, there are spirits behind these things, but they are evil spirits and can only appeal to the tendencies of the flesh. It is the same with man-made worship, which may include the harsh treatment of the body, but is still all only the works of the flesh in the attempt to please God by and through the flesh. It may sound spiritual, but if it is not the working of the Holy Spirit, or if it goes contrary to the instructions of the Bible/Word of God, it is still only the works of the flesh! 

 What about visions,? Again, God gives visions all through the Old and New Testaments, but the enemy has counterfeits, and only by the Spirit and Word of God can we discern the difference. 

 THEREFORE -We need the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to enable us to discern what is of the flesh, and what is of God, and to put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh. "For the Word of God is quick/living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"For if you live after the flesh you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify/put to death the deeds of the body you shall live." Romans 8:13

 OUR FLESH GETS TO ENJOY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You: my soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is..." Psalm 63:1

  If living a Holy Spirit led life, wherein our flesh is subject the the guidance and influence of the Spirit if Christ, in our flesh we get to experience the Lord and a taste of HEAVEN. In our flesh we can experience the presence of the Lord. The Holy Spirit can actually use our flesh for miracles, like laying hands on the sick for them to recover. Imagine that, God's Holy spirit can actually work through our flesh for His glory!  "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh(people); and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18

GREAT TOOLS OF THE FAITH

 LOVE, HUMILITY, FAITH, PATIENCE, GODLY DISCIPLESHIP   

  Aside from the absolutely indispensable power of the Bible/God's Word, and God's Holy Spirit, He has also given us other tools to work with and to help us in our exercises of faith while warring against the impulses of the flesh.

LOVE - Because the flesh has a self-gratifying nature, love (the genuine care for and putting others first) helps put the impulses of the flesh in its proper place.

HUMILITY - Again, because the flesh like to exalt itself, humility helps crucify that self-centered nature. Humility also helps us be correctable and teachable.

FAITH - Living by the faith in Christ Jesus also runs contrary to our Adamic nature because it does not depend at all on our own personal abilities, but rather completely on the Lord.

PATIENCE - Patience is a huge tool for helping us keep the drives and impulses of our flesh under control. These drives and impulses desire immediate gratification, but patience puts a rein on them.     

GODLY DISCIPLESHIP - This is a beautiful grace of God, and unfortunately perhaps more difficult to find. We all need help from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Like an apprentice learning from an experienced tradesman, so some of the best learning we can receive is from those who have known and walked with the Lord for a long time. Many hard earned experiences of others can help us avoid a multitude of pitfalls of our own. Along with that is the immense treasure of the fine tuning and honing that we receive from more seasoned disciples with regards to our character development and expressions of faith."That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12

AFFLICTION - "Although He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things He suffered." Hebrews 5:6 The lack of ease and comfort in the appropriate times and ways, helps keep the drives and tendencies of the flesh under control, and pain and affliction (again divinely directed) helps keep the urges of the flesh bridled. "...he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of  God." 1 Peter 4:1-2 Our flesh indeed abhors discomfort, hardship, suffering, and pain. All these physical afflictions render it, for the most part, unable to engage in it's indulgent tendencies and helps train it to rein them in. It is quite the school of discipline. Have you not already noticed how many lessons you have learned by some hard knocks? Two guys in particular that I knew personally who ended up in prison, each for a very serious behavior issue both told me after they were released that, "I'll never do that again!" Nor did either of them ever, even though they were both diagnosed as mentally damaged and dysfunctional. Physical discomfort and pain can be a very convincing instructor.

  Now on that note it is important to say that, we humans realize this to some extent, and sometimes afflict ourselves thinking that we are doing our bodies good, especially spiritually. This can be a deception, because improper discipline can be damaging, and not only to the body. So please be careful what you assume, who and what you follow, and what you allow to be done to you. 

DISCIPLINES AND DELIVERANCE

DISCIPLINES

DISCIPLINE THROUGH TRAINING - The typical first line of discipline is the training we receive, or should receive in our upbringing. From infancy, our tendencies are selfish and self-willed. "The rod of reproof gives wisdom, but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame." Proverbs 29: 15

 In parental discipline there needs to be a blend of gentle, consistent instruction and guidance with firm, yet wise, reasonable, and consistent correction. A parent's discipline should help the child to not be selfish, inconsiderate, but rather thoughtful, kind, and gracious. The discipline must also train the child to be obedient, submissive, teachable, co-operative, and self-controlled. When a parent fails in these, it will likely mean that he or she will be facing harder lessons the older he or she gets, if they even learn at all. Furthermore, much of this kind of discipline, when properly carried out becomes ingrained into our very character without even conscientious effort. We can often actually think, when we observe the poor behavior of another that we are actually good-natured by comparison, and give little thought that without the proper upbringing we would not likely be any different. Although I do not in any way intend to minimize the absolute importance of good parental discipline, but there are many that I have encountered who are very well behaved by the world's standard and therefore find it hard to feel they need Jesus for their salvation. How many times you have heard people say (or even yourself for that matter), "I am a good person."? The solution in parenting is to raise them up also knowing the laws of God and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then the Word of God and His Holy Spirit can bring to light their need for the Savior.

SELF-DISCIPLINE - This next type of discipline is also critical, but must be regarded with suspicion with regards to our confidence and righteousness. "He that trusts in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 

 It is so important that we put our best foot forward in disciplining ourselves with regards to controlling our drives, appetites, and behaviors. "No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV.  

  THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY! As adults, we can not blame our parents or anyone else for our behavior. Self-control is a must for all people, especially for a disciple of Jesus. Our lives can be so quickly ruined, not to mention the people we will likely hurt, if we do not keep our appetites, drives, and desires under control. This is so critical that God gives us help in this by His Holy Spirit through one of the fruits of the Spirit - temperance/self-control Galatians 5:23. We must be ever so careful while enjoying the grace of God which we so greatly depend on in Christ Jesus, so as not to let our guards down and give unbridled opportunity to our flesh. "For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, by by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

  Now as we put our whole heart and mind into bringing the impulses and drives of our flesh under control, we must also beware of the snare in trusting our own strengths and abilities. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12. The other challenge we face with self disciplines is that sometimes we develop them by controlling our situations and environment. But we all know that that is not always possible. We can be brought into situations which we cannot control, where we do not have the ability to change the situation. Then all of a sudden you may find that you are not as strong and as invincible as you thought. All our efforts must be by faith in Christ, and not in any confidence in the flesh lest we find ourselves in deep trouble.

GOD'S DISCIPLINES - These are more priceless treasures of the covenant of our faith in Christ. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, 'My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, not faint when you are rebuked of Him: for whom the lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons: for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?...but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness." Hebrews 12:5-7,10

 As we set our sights on Jesus and follow Him, you will no doubt find that He has work to do in you, that sanctifying process we all so badly need in order to conform to His Holy nature. The thing is, sometimes all the study, teaching, and instruction which you may diligently apply yourself to is still not sufficient enough to break that attitude or habit which is deeply lodged in your character. Guess what, there is great news! God can and will do it if you are willing to yield to His faithful and loving discipline. Actually, He may be doing it without you even knowing that it is Him. You may go through a very hard situation thinking all the time that that certain someone is a real trouble maker, or worst. And he may actually be. But meanwhile, or through all the pain, injustice, and suffering, you may find yourself a better person and more like Jesus than you were before. I want to stress that these life changing situations which will conform you more into the image of Christ, only He can orchestrate, and not you or any man. Sometimes, human reasoning and effort can do more damage than good. So humble yourself, fear God, and walk in love.

 The other aspect about the fruit of His disciplines is that you will find that there is NO ROOM FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS! You are the better for it, everyone else is relieved, and He gets ALL the Glory! Now how beautiful is that?!!

DELIVERANCE

  After celebrating the glories and virtues of disciplines for keeping our flesh under control, it is time to discuss something far more glorious and special - THE SOVEREIGN DELIVERANCE  BY THE GRACE OF CHRIST! Not only does He get all the glory and credit, "if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36, but your heart's cry and prayers for help and deliverance are answered (and perhaps those of others too)! This is so absolutely wonderful!!!

  Let us be clear about this, that if we could save and deliver ourselves, Jesus Christ would not have needed to suffer and die for us. To be sure, no matter how hard we try, how earnest we may be, how gifted and strong we think we are, without Jesus we can do nothing John 15:5. There are things in all of our lives that we can only say, "But for the grace of God..." Now I am not making any excuses for laziness and the shirking of responsibility, but we must be perfectly clear that any and all success we may have in any victories in our lives, and against the flesh, the world, and the devil, is because of Christ, and Christ alone. And to Him be all the praise and glory with thanksgiving!

 Some of the deliverances come instantaneously, and others over time. Some may come without us even asking, and others may come through much humbling of ourselves, prayer, confessing, and even fasting, But you can be certain of this, that all deliverances are by His miraculous power through His grace in our lives. Take a look at Jacob's life, how he manipulated and almost connived his way through life, until he wrestled with the angel while seeking deliverance from the wrath of his brother. He came to the end of himself and knew that his only help and hope was in GOD HIMSELF. He came out crippled, but giving all the glory of his success to God. "...God, before Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil..." Genesis 48:15-16

CONCLUSION

  In all the struggles and wrestling with our flesh, our carnal nature, we must remember that it has been given to us for His glory, and our use, Along with that He has provided the grace and power of His Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill His will and carry our His purposes through it and thereby glorify Him in all our weaknesses. As the apostle Paul said, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 So even with and through our bodies we can GLORIFY GOD. They are His handy work and a part of us.