THE ART OF DEALING WITH THE FLESH

Dear Friends...Beware the flesh eating ants.

Back in 2001...I went to Kenya Africa to participate in a Discipleship Training School (DTS) at a Youth With A Mission base (YWAM) at the Kenya Island Mission (KIM). My name is Rodney Lewis Boyd (RLB)...or as my Canadian friend Red calls me...Cute Little Rodney (CLR) Sorry...I got carried away with these initials (SIGCAWTI). We had a long flight, very long and harrowing road trip...when we arrived at the base. We traveled down a long, narrow, dark road from the road... and then we had to walk down to the tents that were set up on the shores of Lake Victoria. As Don...the leader of the base and naturalist extrodinaire was leading us down into the darkness...he suddenly stopped us...shined his flashlight on the path where there looked like hundreds of large ants were crossing. He then looked at us and gave us the ominous warning, "These are FLESH EATING ANTS!!!!" Not just dangerous ants, not just fire ants, not just biting ants...but FLESH EATING ANTS!!!!" Yikes!!!Later on...these lovely ants began to make way to the tent area. The way to deal with these FLESH EATING ANTS....burn them out. NOTE: I had another run in with ants in Peru as the strategically encircled the banyo...and bit my boo-tay...but that's another story for another time.

I said all of that to say this...If you don't deal with the FLESH EATING ANTS....they will deal with you...as SUPPER. The same with with the FLESH (sarx) in your Chrisitan walk. If you don't DEAL WITH THE FLESH...it will eat you alive. If you don't RESTRAIN the FLESH...you will constantly manifest the DEEDS (outworkings) of the FLESH in your life.

Remember that we do not want our Christian walk to be ...CHRISTIAN CON CARNE (khan...with flesh)...we want CHRISTIAN SIN (seen...without flesh). We don't want to walk in immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (enchantment with drugs), outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these. (Galatians 5:19-21) The cause and effect of those who habitually practice these things...is the danger of not inheriting the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21) I'm not talking about those who slip, stumble, and fall, and repent and receive forgiveness...and go back to walking in the Spirit...but those who practice these things until they perfect them in their lives. At the very least...those who practice these things...will not inherit...righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)

PROBLEM DEFINED

"For the FLESH sets its desire AGAINST the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the FLESH; for these are in OPPOSITION to one another, so tht you MAY NOT DO the things that you please." (Galatians 5:17) Ain't that the truth!!! Your heartbeat is to PLEASE GOD...but the FLESH is in opposition to PLEASE GOD. This opposition to God, manifests itself in the way we act towards one another with the deeds...outworkings of the flesh (Galatians 5:20-21) It's like the Apostle Paul said, "For that which I am DOING, I do not understand; for I am not PRACTICING what I would like to do, but I am DOING the very thing I HATE." (Rom. 7:15)
Paul knew the source of the problem..."For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is IN MY FLESH; for the wishing is present in me, but the DOING OF GOOD IS NOT." (Romans 7:18)

GOD'S WILL IN THE FLESH MATTER

1. FREEDOM: "It ws for FREEDOM that Christ set us FREE... " (Galatians 5:1)

2. STAY FREE: "...therefore KEEP STANDING FIRM, and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN...to a YOKE OF SLAVERY." (Galatians 5:1)

3. YOU HAVE A CALLING: "For you were called to FREEDOM, brethern." (Galatians 5:13)

4. DON'T USE FREEDOM AS AN EXCUSE: "...only do not TURN YOUR FREEDOM...into an OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FLESH.." (Galatians5:13)

5. LOVE AND SERVE: "...but through LOVE...SERVE ONE ANOTHER"
(Galatians 5:13)

We can see God's mind in the matter of this flesh thang...but how do we get from practicing the deeds of the flesh...to walking in the Spirit. How do we get from NOT doing the things we don't want to do (walking in the flesh and opposing God)...to doing the things that we want to do (walking in the Spirit and pleasing God)?

NEXT TIME: Aiming at the flesh in the CROSShairs.

Love
Rodney "I Want To Be A God-Pleaser" Boyd
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