How we Can Overcome Fleshly Desires

The Flesh and the Spirit - Part III

What is the lust of the flesh? It is the desire within us which causes us to do our own selfish will rather than God’s holy will.

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, Elohim, in the Garden of Eden, it was because they were tempted by the tempter.  Every person is tempted by pressure from our enemy, the devil. We are also tempted because of the pressure of our surroundings – the world. But we are also tempted by a nature that is within us – the flesh. James said: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1.14)

There is a real devil, but if there were not, might it be possible that we would still sin? I think so. We have all inherited an inborn propensity to go against God as we gravitate toward our own desires.

You may ask a child to do something that seems very reasonable to you, but to the child it is completely unreasonable. Whether it be to go to bed, limit his amount of sweets, say “I’m sorry” for hurting someone, or turn off his game gadget, he does not want to because he likes things his own way.

We are all much like children but maybe a bit more sophisticated. God gives us commands that we don’t like. It is our tendency to rebel instead of happily submitting.

The Holy Spirit of God tenderly (sometimes, more forcefully) moves upon our hearts to obey God and do things his way. At the same time our inner nature (the flesh) cries out for its own way. How can a believer in Jesus overcome this great predisposition of the flesh.

If we walk in the Spirit (yielding control to him), we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5.16). I don’t know that there has ever been a time, when I’m tempted, that I did not feel the prodding of the Holy Spirit and hear his whisper in my ear that my way was wrong and his way was right. There have been many times when I’ve experienced his conviction that I did not heed his warning. What we must learn to do now is; listen to his voice. Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” And also: “he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (John 10.14, 4)

If a sheep is not following, it is aimlessly wandering. Follow Jesus. Hear his voice. Let him call the shots. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

What to do When Bitten by a Brother

The Flesh and the Spirit – Part II

Have you ever met a teething toddler who wanted to bite everything ……………. and everybody, including their brothers and sisters?

I have observed the wisdom of some smart Moms who seemed to know the way to resolve this issue.

“Mommy, J.J. just bit me!”

“Well, if he bites you again, just bite him back.”

I have also seen some pretty ugly teeth marks on the arms of little children.

Little J.J. seems to learn pretty fast that biting his siblings will not be positively reinforced. While it’s really hard to argue with success, such wisdom might be questionable. And this doesn’t work in the body of Christ. Biting each other only seems to make people get angry and run away. If they do bite back, this usually starts an endless cycle of animosity within the body of Christ. If they don’t bite you publicly, they will engage in backbiting.

“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5.15). The biting mentality will not only cause us to eat up our brothers and sisters, but we also will get eaten up in the same process – “dog eat dog.”

A biting, devouring mentality among believers is used by the Apostle Paul as a showcase for fleshly behavior. What does “fleshly” mean? It means, doing things “my way” (sorry, Frank Sinatra). The flesh is that nature in us all which wants to do that which is best for self regardless of how it affects God’s revealed will or other people. It will always go contrary to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. Biting and devouring is a prime example of the flesh's modus operandi. If you are biting or even biting back, that is a sure sign that you’re working on the basis of the flesh.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5.17).

This is why it’s so important for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without that filling of the Spirit, we will continue to bite and devour. To overcome fleshly lusts, we must be filled with the Spirit and walk in him. If you are a Christian believer, he is working in you at this very moment to fill you, produce his ways in you and bring you under his gentle control.

Ask God now for his filling and watch for what he is going to produce in you. be sensitive to his tender nudge. We know for sure that it won’t be to bite someone.

The Flesh and the Spirit

Part I - How to be Filled with the Spirit

“and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissoluteness), but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5.18)

Picture yourself on an old horse drawn wagon. (You've probably seen this scene in some of the old Western movies.) The horses get spooked and run with abandon down some steep hill. You have the reigns in your hands but can't seem to control them. You are about to experience a disastrous wreck.

You almost forgot that sitting right beside you is someone stronger (hard to imagine, I know.) He has the experience, know how, and poise to handle your situation. What do you do? Do you hold on the the reins and maintain control (or lack thereof), or do you hand the reins over to the one who can take care of these horses and the wagon with no difficulty?

One of the biggest questions for many Christians is: “How may I be filled with the Holy Spirit?” We can see that the results of being filled are good. We can see that the failure to do so is bad. So, “How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?” Is it like an out of the body experience? Do I have to speak in unknown languages (as some say)? Must I wait for a big whammy from heaven at the most unexpected time?

I believe the answer is this:

God compares being filled with the Spirit to being drunk with wine. Why? This seems like a most unlikely connection. What does drunkenness have to do with the Spirit filled life? If he fills me, will I act as if I’m inebriated? Although Peter and the other Apostles were accused of exactly this on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter two), I do not think this is why we have this comparison. So what then?

What happens when one is under the influence of alcohol? The alcohol begins to control that person’s behavior. He may become much bolder and usually very obnoxious. The one thus controlled will say and do things he wouldn’t ordinarily do. I have heard of people who got married to someone (who they had no previous plans to marry) while drunk. People influenced by alcohol will often spend much more money. Others have committed hideous crimes who probably would have never done such things while sober. So, excessive drinking brings one under its influence, almost always in a negative way.

“But be filled with the Spirit.”  Whereas alcohol will influence you negatively, the Holy Spirit will always influence you positively. Whereas, left to ourselves (the flesh) we will behave ourselves badly; under the Spirit’s influence, we will behave righteously.

How can you or I attain the control that is provided by the Holy Spirit? When we yield ourselves to his management. But the Holy Spirit does not just jump in and take over.  

To return to our analogy, we must give the reins over to him.

In every situation we face, we have a choice to do things our way (the flesh), or God’s way (the Spirit). No, we are not capable of doing God’s will in our own power. The Holy Spirit, however, provides us the strength to do his will and nudges our hearts to follow. When we hear his still, small voice and submit to his control, he fills us to provide the Holy influence he wants to have upon us. At the same time his voice speaks, our flesh cries out to us loudly to have its way. This voice is always only selfish and we will surely know the difference. The choice is ours and must be made daily and momentarily.

Who or what has control in your life – the flesh or the Spirit? Give yourself to God’s filling.

Buck and Cowboy

Photo by Joshua Sharf on unsplash.com

When Sherry and I first married, I was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ignacio Colorado. It was a great experience for both of us. One of my fondest memories is that of going to the mountains with our friends Glenn and Jeannie Faverino.

The Faverinos had a cattle ranch, and in the summer took their cattle to a summer range on Missionary Ridge just north of Durango. The mountains there reach almost 10,000 feet in elevation. On horseback, we'd push the cattle to higher ground where the grass was tall, and put out salt licks. In the fall, we'd bring the cattle down to the foot of the mountain to a holding pen before loading them for transport.

There is nothing like sitting on top of a horse on top of a high mountain. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world.

After breakfast we’d saddle up our horses and ride the range for most of the day. Glenn rode a buckskin horse aptly named “Buck.” I often rode an aging quarter horse called “Cowboy.”

Cowboy was a great cutting horse and loved what he did. A high strung, spirited animal, Cowboy acted like he was in a race and could barely be held back. From the start, he wanted to go, go, go. It seemed to me that the only way I could get him to take it easy was to talk to him gently. Pulling back on the reigns too hard only seemed to make him want to go harder. Quietly saying things like “Ho, settle down. Take it easy Cowboy,” seemed to temper him enough to make the experience bearable for his rider.

Glenn’s horse Buck was the opposite. He would set a pace and maintain it all day long. Very steadfast, Buck seemed to be going just as strong at the end of the day as he did at the beginning.

Not so – Cowboy! Though unstoppable out of the gate, he was about exhausted at the end of the activities. Sweaty and breathing hard, he would drop behind the other horses. He could no longer stay up with the rest.

I have seen many Christians like this. Fast from the first but lagging at the last. My friend, Tut Jones, used to say, “They’re going to do wonders and eat rotten cucumbers.” I always took that to mean they had great intentions to really set the world on fire for Christ. Sometimes they are not to be seen later on. This happens when we try to serve the Lord in the energy of our own flesh.

I have also seen other believers who through the years and decades remained faithful servants of the Lord. These would only grow sweeter with time and seemed to have the grace of God upon them continually. Only God will be the final judge of us all, but by examining their fruits they seem to still pass inspection. Jesus said; “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

Thank God for the energy and excitement of youth, but even better are those whose fire is still burning consistently through time.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1Corinthians 15.58)

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6.9)

Promised Blessings for those who Fully Follow God

What blessings might be in store for those who fully follow God? Is it worth the wait? Is it worth the ridicule, harassment and rejection?

Caleb was forty years old when he and Joshua stood out from the crowd and said, “We can and should go into the land.” When all the others saw the giants of the land, they melted and said; “We are as grasshoppers in their sight.” Caleb and Joshua said; “They are like bread. Let’s do it!”

Have you noticed that those who accomplished much never really did fit into the crowd? Show me a person who’s like everyone else and I’ll show you that they were very forgettable. The unforgettable are the unconformable. Jesus was not a conformist. Paul was not a conformist. Neither were Joseph, Daniel, Martin Luther, William Wilberforce, William Carey and so many other greatly accomplished individuals.

But it’s not enough to just be different for difference sake. We must find out where God is going and go with him. We must love him and pursue him with all of our hearts. When we do, we will stand out without even trying.

Caleb remained a steadfast pursuer of God from that time – 45 years. At the age of 85 he wanted to possess the mountain he had seen decades ago, a mountain that flourished with fruitfulness – but also a mountain where many giants dwelled. He still believed God’s promise that it belonged to Israel and that God would enable them to conquer. He said to Joshua “give me this mountain.”

I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said."

And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb ,,, as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb ... to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.  ...

            Then the land had rest from war.

The enemies are great and mighty. The wait is long. The crowd is doubtful. The giants are enormous and the mountain is high but that’s where the grass grows tallest. Follow God fully as did Caleb and Joshua and see what great blessings God has laid up. The book of Joshua, chapter 14 in the bible says:

What blessings would God give to those who follow Him fully?

1. The blessing of finding God's fulfilled promise. Caleb saw God do what he promised he would do – bring them into the land of promise.
2. The blessing of sustained strength. God will give you the strength to do what he has called and appointed you to do.
3. The blessing of imparted inheritance. God said; "Here, I have something to give you." For Caleb, it was a magnificent portion of land. For us it may be a blessed family, or souls won to him or simply happiness in life, but bless he will.
4. The blessing of conquest over the conflict. There were great giants to defeat but "the land had rest from war." God never promised that you would not have battles in life, but he has provided the victory in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that you  and I have been encouraged to be a wholehearted follower of God and see these kinds of  blessings in our own lives.

How Am I to Handle Trials?

When you go through serious trials of affliction and adversity, how do you handle it? Notice, I said “when,” not “if.” Jesus told us so when he said: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16.33).

Paul, as well, said that we would have trials.

…no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. (2 Thessalonians 3.3-4)

How do you handle it?

You may think it strange: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” (1 Peter 4.12).

You may think it unfair: saying in your mind, “God how could you allow me to go through this? I have served you faithfully. Shouldn’t there be blessings and reward to those who follow you?”

You may think God unfaithful: but God is being faithful to bring you through exactly what he said would happen to you – that is; tribulation. And he will bring you through it.

We are to handle trials in humility. We must handle them faithfully, joyfully, trustingly, generously, patiently, prayerfully, bravely, ministering to others during their trials and we’ll be unshaken by the afflictions which are to come upon us.

(Acts 20.19 James 1.2 Acts 14.222 Corinthians 8.2 Romans 5.3 Romans 12.122 Corinthians 1.4 Ephesians 3.13

Fully Following God

“Don’t go too far!” we have often heard people say. Some feel it is sufficient to be a Sunday morning follower of Christ. For others – Christmas and Easter is good enough. We might give, but not joyfully. We might serve, but not sacrificially. We feel that we can follow Christ “from afar” as Peter did while Christ was being crucified (though Peter later repented of this).

'Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' Numbers 32.11-12

How far are we willing to go in following God? How far should we go when it comes to following the Lord Jesus? “After all isn’t this my life? I know God gave it to me and redeemed me, but doesn’t it belong to me? Surely, he would not expect me to give up anything to follow him.” (see Luke 9.23)

No, the body and spirit which God has given us is not our possession. They belong to him.

 …do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6.19-20)

What if we were to wholly follow the Lord. What might God do? For Joshua and Caleb, they were allowed to go into the land God had promised to their fathers – just two out of thousands and thousands. Those who did not completely follow God were not allowed to go in.

If we only half-heartedly follow God, what blessings might we miss? If we follow him fully, what great things would he do in our lives?

Following God completely means:

1.     Trusting him completely. Caleb and Joshua believed God would bring them into the land of promise and saw the land’s positive attributes when others saw the negative. They could see this because of what God had told them.

2.     Being willing to be different. They stood out like a sore thumb but stayed committed to what God was doing in their lives.

3.     Giving him not just a portion of our time, talents, thoughts and resources but ALL of them.

Ask yourself; “What would my life look like if I fully followed God?” and “Am I willing to do it?” God only knows what blessings are in store for those who do.