Flesh & Spirit
Matthew 26
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
The Christian bear
A Christian decided to skip church one Sunday morning and go hunting. Out in the woods, he rounded a bend and saw a great big hungry bear charging at him. Immediately, he fell to his knees and cried, "Lord, I’m sorry I skipped out of church today. I’ll never do it again. Lord, please make that bear a Christian bear."
Suddenly the bear stopped right in front of him, fell to his knees and said, "Lord, bless this food I’m about to receive."
You see, getting saved doesn’t change everything. It doesn’t automatically solve all the problems or change all negative behavior.
People
Most people want to be good. Most people want to do good things. But we all seem to miss the mark.
Most believers want to serve God and give him their all. But somehow, we manage to fall short.
The spirit is willing – that is, the heart, the desire is there, but the flesh is weak – the ability to get it done falls short.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh gets in the way.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is lazy.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh makes excuses.
The war
Paul tells us of a war going on inside of us.
Galatians 5
16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth 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.
Flesh and spirit struggle for control of you. Again in Romans 7:
Romans 7
14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Thank God we are forgiven for this failure – this weakness of the flesh. But we also have been delivered from its power. How can we then escape its pull? Galatians 5 gives us the answer:
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
You have to take charge. The flesh – the sinful nature – will drive you unless you get it under control.
Paul says he got his flesh under control:
1 Corinthians 9
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
I read somewhere that if there is a question as to whether you should follow your heart or your head, you should first determine which is better – your heart or your head.
The same applies here, except we already know which is better – the spirit is definitely better than the flesh.
In our original text (Matt. 26) Jesus made his choice clear –
O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
The hard way
Man is used to taking the easy way – the convenient way – the most ‘beneficial to me’ way – but we should take the right way.
And this right way is not according to what we think is right, but what the Bible says is right. Twice in Proverbs we are told –
Proverbs 16
25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
We must base everything we do on God’s Word. If you are led by the Spirit, the Spirit of God will always lead according to the Word of God.
Sometimes the right way is the hard way. Sometimes it takes effort. It always goes against the flesh. But the flesh has to be crucified.
…I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing…
Follow the Spirit. Know the Word. Let it guide your every thought and action. God has laid it out in black and white for us to see and follow. God wrote it. Jesus exemplified it. We are without excuse.
If and when you fall, there is forgiveness. But if you will walk in the Spirit, you will fall less often.
The spirit is willing – good intentions are a dime a dozen. The flesh is weak – but you can overcome the flesh.
The ultimate solution is to purify your heart.
James 4
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Your words will reflect what’s in your heart. Your actions will do what is in your heart. If your heart is pure you will always do what is right.
How do you cleanse your heart? Submit it to God.
Psalms 139
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
God will expose your heart so you can cooperate with him in cleansing and purifying it.
Search me God. Look deep inside of me. Examine my motives and my heart. Show me what I’m made of.
Know my heart; know my thoughts. That’s a frightening thought. How would like for people to know what you’re thinking? Would you want them to know how you really feel?
Lead me. Change me. Adjust me. Fix me. Cut out the wickedness.
Jeremiah 17
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
But God knows it. And he can expose it to us if we are willing. And then we can ask him to cleanse it.
I read of a pastor who discovered that in his own heart he was jealous of pastors who were more successful than he was. He prayed, "Lord, change me. Take this jealousy out of my heart. I’d rather be dead than to live with such a wicked sin in my heart."
Are you ready to face yourself – to be exposed – and to pray that way?