The flesh

Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 (KJV)
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

A seeking heart is a heart ready for a miracle and willing to let God change them. Many times we need so much we can let our needs become greed's. We can let our needs become addictions. In turn Satan will use this as an opportunity to put us into bondage to our flesh as we try to satisfy our needs and desires outside God's will. Apostle Paul calls this battle the good fight of faith.

In truth even if God met all your needs for sex, money, fame, power, food or whatever drives us we would still be in bondage because in our flesh it is never enough. What we really need is self control. Without it the enemy will drive our ship onto the rocks of destruction.

Satan wants us all to be driven by the flesh and fail God. We all have to make a decision to not be weak and believe God to stand against our flesh. Sin is when we choose to satisfy the flesh over the spirit. We all have places of weakness in our lives. It is because of this we must learn how to perfect ourselves. We must learn to get better at serving God than serving the devil and our flesh. We simply must not give in.

Our flesh and desires can drive us to do things that will destroy us. God wants our spirit to exercise dominion over our flesh. God is saying to us the character of God that resides in a born again person’s spirit must override the sinful desires ofour flesh. Apostle Paul said sin will no longer have dominion over you. We must have faith in this fact that we are stronger spiritually than the evil in our flesh. Faith is the key that turns every door in the kingdom of God. Remember to believe greater is Jesus that is in you than Satan that is in the world.

We believe what science tells us over the word of God about our genetic makeup, chemical imbalances, and other factors we have no control over. Science may be right but we don’t live in the flesh we live in the Spirit. Their diagnosis after the flesh man is true, but not for the spiritual man. I must give myself to believing the word of God and not man.

Isaiah tell us, Who has believed our report and to whom has God’s power been revealed.

God’s miracle power is able to help us. Many of our addictions today are psychological. We want the evil things of this world and think it will satisfy us. God made us like Him we will never be satisfied and complete living in sin. We can only be really happy in the things of God. We must not forget we cannot have two masters, the desires of the flesh and God. We must choose one or the other.

We focus so much on blessings in the church sometimes because there is so much need. The greatest miracle is a heart delivered from being driven by the flesh and Satan. Remember Apostle Paul said, Contentment with godliness is great gain. We forget their will be hard times in this world. Apostle Paul said, In whatever state I am whether abased or abounding I’ve learned to be content. We need to be content with God, our salvation, the things we have, our job, our wives, who we are. Satan wants us to be driven rather than be in the rest of God. Apostle Peter tells us we have escaped the corruption of this world that has come through lust. God wants us to receive what He has for us in His time, in His way, and in what amounts we can handle.

If we grasp this truth we will be content. It does not mean we cannot desire more. It does not mean we cannot ask God for greater blessing. How can we tell if we are being driven by lust? Ask yourself this question does our desire drive us more than doing right, serving others unselfishly, and loving God. You must discern when something has become an idol and a god in your life. If we are willing to do almost anything to get what we want then we are in lust.

When God leads there is a rest of faith. When God leads we are content to let Him take us wherever He wants us to go. God has many great promises and they will satisfy us.

The problem with human beings is they can have all they want and then they will still want more. The flesh is never satisfied. This is why pornographers are so successful. They understand the flesh more than spiritual people understand the flesh. Flesh merchants know you will want more and your flesh will crave more and more. The drug dealer knows it to so he hooks you on just a little at a time. The beer and alcohol companies know it. The cigarette companies know it. The fashion industry knows it. The car makers know it. How much is enough? How much is the blessings of God and how much is our flesh out of control? How much is selfishness and ego? If we can have it taken away and not care then maybe then we will know we are not bound by lust.

In the Bible there was a rich young ruler who could not trade the things of this world for a greater relationship with God. What is more important relationship with God and people or things? Even worse are people who use other people as things. There was a rich man in the Bible who was planning to build bigger barns when God said, You fool you are going to die tonight. We cannot take anything in this world with us accept our relationship with God. If you put that first you will always be victorious.

Jesus came to give us things of eternal value, love, friendship, truth, holiness, goodness. The Bible tells us what is truly valuable.

Galatians 5:18-22 (KJV)
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:23-26 (KJV)
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Are you in control? Is God in control of your life? Is sin and desires in control of your life? If the answer is God then you are blessed. It is all a control issue. If your in debt and can’t pay money is in control. If you smoke and can’t stop cigarettes are in control. Ask God for deliverance. The Son of God came to set us free.