Lust of the Flesh

This is something every believer struggles with at times and probably more times than we would like to admit, we lose the fight when we are tempted and give way to the lust of the flesh.  When we walk in a way that dishonors the Lord we are walking in the flesh.  The Spirit and the flesh are always at odds with each other and can never be in agreement with one another.  Think about how many times you have given into the flesh when temptation rears its ugly head in some way.  We like to blame the evil one for all the temptation we face but sometimes temptations come because of our own lusts, resulting from our own thoughts that haven’t been taken captive.

In God’s Word Paul said this and more while defending his authority when his authority was discredited in 2 Corinthians 10:1-5, “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

Taking every thought captive is something believers should do on a daily basis which would help keep us from being drawn away by our own fleshly desires that war against the Spirit within us.  If you are skeptical that this happens, read this in James 1:12-15, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

One place temptation never comes from is God, it always comes from another source and some of it comes from within.  Taking every thought captive takes practice and will take some time but it can be done, if done diligently.  One thing you shouldn’t do when you are tempted and fall into sin is play the blame game.  You may be tempted to use these excuses, the devil made me do it or it was just a mistake or everyone else is doing it.  Believers need to take responsibility for their own actions and confess their sins to the Lord.

In case you don’t know it, there is a whole list of things that are works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Let me remind all of us that are believers that when we were united in Christ from a born-again experience, we crucified the flesh with the afflictions and lusts being set free from sin and the hold it had on us.  We still have a struggle with temptation and sin at times but if we continually walk in the Spirit we have the power to overcome the temptation that wars against us, so we have no excuse.  

Read this and be encouraged, it is in Galatians 5:16-18, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

If we are walking in the Spirit we should have these things in our lives, found in that same chapter of Galatians verses 22-25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

We all struggle with temptation and sin at times, like I said, and I am so thankful for this verse in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So be sure to always confess your sins and repent and walk close to the Holy Spirit and with the help of the Holy Spirit you will be able to resist and overcome temptation and sin.  This is something to meditate on and I hope you will.  May God bless you and yours and may you have a splendid day!!