As I live my life daily, as an individual believer as well as in the context of my call and role as a pastor, I am fully aware of the challenges that we face daily with temptation. The enemy of our soul never ceases in his attempts to derail our Christian walk. The thing that troubles me however is how easily and often we cooperate with him in thought, word, and deed because of where our minds are set. As I was meditating on this, I was led in my spirit to Romans 8:5:
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
In the Amplified Bible it reads:
For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [a]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [b]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
This verse clearly tells us that we are controlled by the desires that we set our minds on and pursue. Therefore, we are controlled by the flesh is that’s where our minds are set, and by the Sprit if that’s where our minds are set.
This leads us to the question we must not only ask ourselves, but also answer, “On what have I set my mind?”
If we find ourselves constantly sinning, then we must face the truth that our minds are set on the things of the flesh. To overcome, we have to change our focus to think on and pursue the things of the Spirit.
The Apostle Paul, unlike many of us, didn’t run away from the reality of the challenges he faced with the flesh. In Romans chapter 7 he writes:
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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.
Like you and I, Paul faced the same challenges in the flesh. He acknowledd the challenge. However, he didn’t accept the dominance of the flesh. He gives us answers to empowered to overcome (read Romans 8:1-13). You and I can never allow ourselves to accept sin in our lives as normal. We must begin now to tap into ‘the law of the Spirit of life’ that is available to us in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This requires a decision on our part. Our minds must be changed to focus on the things of the Spirit. Our minds must be changes to focus on and live by the Word of God.
Look at something else Paul says in Romans 13:11-14:
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Notice verse 14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” It is our responsibility to make sure that we are not giving place to the evil desires of the flesh.
Look at the same verse in the Amplified Bible.
But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
We must clothe ourselves in Christ. We must muke no provision for the desires of our flesh by no longer thinking on the evil desires or cravings of our flesh. The responsibility belongs to us.
Let us not think for one moment that we cannot do this. God has not left us alone in this battle. Not only has God given us His Spirit to help us, He has also given us grace (His ability at work in us to do what we cannot do by ourselves).
Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may[a] serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Today’s Flashpoint: Galatians 5:16, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Tags: controlling thoughts, mind renewal
