Saying no to the flesh

I often quote the scripture (one of my favorites):  "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."  (Galatians 5:16

 

As I walk in the Spirit, I become dead, D.E.A.D to the temptations of the flesh - and dead men/women can't be tempted!

 

One disclaimer today or rather one word of explanation about this verse.  Paul doesn't say that if you walk by the Spirit you will not have the desires of the flesh (the "flesh" being your sinful nature that wants to sin) - but only that you won't gratify them or give in to them.

 

Sometimes the enemy of our souls (the devil) will pound at us with the idea that, "If you were really a spiritual Christian, you wouldn't even want to do this sin."

 

But don't be surprised by that thought or upset and frustrated. 

 

Don't get frustrated because your flesh keeps wanting to do what's wrong.

 

Your flesh will keep wanting to gratify its desires until the day you die.

 

And the flesh is extremely experienced and good at it. 

 

Your flesh will say, "you've got to have it," and you begin to feel that way.

 

Although you will continue to have fleshly desires, the Holy Spirit's promise is that even now you can have the full power of God to say no to them.  You can tell your flesh what to do instead of the flesh telling you what to do.

 

Finally, put the proverbial "cart before the horse" with this verse."

 

You don't try to put the flesh to death so you can walk in the Spirit; rather, you walk in the Spirit, which give you power and victory to overcome the desires of the flesh.

 

Just a thought for a Wednesday.