Flesh & Spirit [Part 1]
FLESH is on the OUTSIDE… not INSIDE.
Have an ‘OUTER’ man. Have an ‘INNER’ man.
Have an ‘OLD’ man. Have an ‘NEW’ man.
Have a ‘HIDDEN MAN’ of the Heart.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV
He ripped us from the world (in our spirits) like he ripped Israel from the world.
“And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” – Leviticus 20:26 KJV
But He wants every part of us separate from the world.
1. In Our THINKING…
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” – Romans 12:2 NLT
2. And our BODIES…
“3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 NIV
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” – Acts 26:18 KJV
Our spirit and soul are encased in our body.
‘OUTSIDE’ is being the one CONNECTED to the WORLD…
‘INSIDE’ is being the one CONNECTED to the SPIRIT OF GOD.
“If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 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. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind.
(Ampl. – But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason)), and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” – Romans 7:16-23 KJV
Your ‘REASONING’ is where DECISIONS are MADE about your LIFE, LIFESTYLE, ACTIONS, ETC.
SUCCESS is lining the MIND up with the SPIRIT and not the FLESH.
The mind is important and it needs renewing.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3 KJV
“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. ” – Isaiah 26:3 AMPC
GOD AND THE DEVIL ARE BOTH FIGHTING FOR YOUR MIND!!!
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” – Acts 26:18 KJV