Killing fleshly desires
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5, NIV).
Man is a spirit, having a soul which controls his emotions and a body in which he lives and through which he interacts with the physical world. There are two natures that control a man: the higher nature influenced by the Holy Spirit and the lower nature controlled by selfish desires. In the Bible language, to be controlled by the lower nature is to be carnal or carnally minded (Rom. 8:6).
When a person becomes a Christian, his spirit is regenerated but not his soul or body. His soul still wants to feed on the same things it had been feeding on: lust, evil desires, greed, bitterness, selfishness, and so on. But he is expected to mortify (put to death) all these things by renewing his mind (soul) and presenting his body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God (Rom. 12:1,2).
Any Christian who is not interested in mortifying the works of the flesh might still be called a Christian but he’s a carnal one. If he remains that way, he will attract God’s anger upon himself (Col. 3:6, NIV). Some people confuse the activities of demons with the works of the flesh. If you are mortifying the works of the flesh, evil spirits can be cast out when they are trying to work through you.
But you can’t cast the flesh out like you could a demon. You will need to put the flesh to death by subduing its manifestations. So there is need to mortify the anger, unforgivingness, greed or bitterness trying to build up in your heart. Everyone, without exception, must mortify the sinful desires of his own carnal nature.
No one can do this for you. It is part of your personal commitment unto God (your reasonable service as the KJV Bible puts it) and will help you to resist the devil. That doesn’t mean the devil will leave you alone but it does mean that you have what it takes each time he comes tempting you.
Today’s corporate prayer: Lord help me to subdue the sinful desires of my flesh. In the name of Jesus!
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Also Read: Die in order to live
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OLUWAGBENRO BLESSED is a writer, musician, an evangelist, a teacher and student of the Bible. He, alongside his wife Nike, coordinates the GraceToday Foundation. Together with their team, they reach out to millions of souls everyday via various social network platforms with God’s words of grace, healing and restoration. Lots of testimonies are being received to God’s glory.
