BIBLE READING: Leviticus 13; Mathew 26: 26-50
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” -Matthew 26:41 (KJV).
While redemption empowers the spirit man quickening it from death, the flesh remains unchanged by all that. It is the responsibility of the believer or the new creation to allow salvation to affect the body by presenting it as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord. The desires of the flesh are carnal, not spiritual. As long as one continues to gratify the flesh of its desires, weakness will continues to reflect in one’s Christian life. Death reigns in the flesh but life reigns in the spirit. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6 (KJV).
The only way to overcome the weakness of the flesh is to starve the flesh or deny it the gratification of its desires. Anyone that fails to discipline the flesh will live a weak Christian life. Victory will elude such a person until the flesh dies at the altar of sacrifice. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” – Romans 12:1 (KJV). The defeat of so many Christians is traceable to their inability to put the flesh under control. Victorious Christian living is only possible as one submits the body to the leadership of the spirit. “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.” – 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV).
To overcome the flesh will require:
i. The discipline of fasting
ii. The discipline of prayer
iii. The discipline of meditating on the word
iv. The discipline of fellowship with the brethren
v. The discipline of self denial
vi. The discipline of communion with the Holy Spirit.
vii. The discipline of preaching the gospel.
The more one submits to these discipline the more one wins in the battle against sin and other weaknesses of the flesh.
Prayer: Thanks be unto God who gives me the victory in Christ.
Rev. Vincent Diolu