House of Glory: The Battle between flesh and spirit (2)

Our Greatest Power
The flesh and the spirit cannot co-exist. They have only you in common. Salvation brings a new heart and a new spirit but not new flesh. We have to learn to walk by the spirit and deny the flesh, to prefer God's will for our lives over our own. Paul exhorted us not to conform any longer to the pattern of the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) He said that we could be made new in the attitudes of our minds. (Ephes. 4:23) He was talking about learning to exercise our greatest power to drive out the flesh.

He said that this power is like the working of God's mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephes. 1:20) He said that it's a divine power that can demolish strongholds (bad habits and attitudes) and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (bad information). (2 Cor. 10:3-5)

This power is the God-given ability to choose whatever response we desire to any circumstance that confronts us. It sounds so simple, and yet it can have a profound effect on our lives. Think of it. We can say "No" to that next cigarette, or drink, or snack, or come-on, or any other temptation. When someone hurts us we can respond in love instead of anger. We can choose patience over frustration. We can turn the other cheek, give more than is required, forgive and even forget.

Although it's that simple, it's not easy. Remember, the flesh is older, bigger, stronger. It's used to calling the shots, and won't give up easily. There's a lot of inertia to overcome. All of our lives, the flesh has been in charge. It's not going to suddenly step aside just because we've invited a new power to reside within us. As long as we're on this Earth there'll be contention between the flesh and the spirit. Remember, Isaac and Ishmael have been at it for 4000 years.

And of course there'll be times when we choose to let the flesh win. We'll be having a bad day, or be caught off guard, or we'll be out of fellowship due to some unconfessed sin. And the flesh will be "crouching at our door" just as it was with Cain. (Genesis 4:7) Like Cain, we'll forget that it's our job to master it and we'll do something stupid.

But because of the cross, we won't be banished. God, who knows the end from the beginning, foresaw this sin and nailed it to the cross with all the others. Since we've accepted His death as payment for our sins, He's chosen to always see us as we will be instead of as we are. 2 Cor. 5:17 says that in His eyes we're a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. So He's able to distinguish the person from the performance and says, "That's not my child. My child is as righteous as I am. (2 Cor. 5:21) That's the flesh that dwells within my child." (Romans 7:17) So, as soon as we confess we're forgiven, the sin is forgotten, and we're purified from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Exercising our power of choice

is like every other form of exercise. At the beginning it's a lot of effort for very little result. But as we persevere the effort gets easier and the results become more noticeable. And like other forms of exercise, it feels uncomfortable at the beginning. That's because the flesh creates feelings to prompt our choices. The person who says, "If it feels good, do it!" is speaking out of his flesh. At the beginning, feelings are almost never a good indicator of choice. The Spirit recalls the Word of God to our minds and prompts us to act accordingly. That means we'll be making "contrary-to-feelings" choices. The question "What would Jesus do?" although misused by many, was intended to remind us to act in accordance with the spirit. Though our war with the flesh won't be won until we receive our perfected bodies, God has given us the power to defeat it every time we choose to engage. (Joshua 10:25)

Time And Eternity
Defeating the flesh has both temporal and eternal benefits. In this life it's the key to the abundant life Jesus promised. The Lord's promises are real so if they're not being fulfilled in our lives, then our flesh must be preventing it, because the spirit wants for us what the Lord wants. Defeating the flesh helps remove the obstacles that are blocking the fulfillment of His promises.

Defeating the flesh also wins the victory crown in eternity. (1 Cor. 9:24-27) It's one of the things that will cause the Lord to say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!' as He hands you your crown. That alone should make the effort worthwhile.