How To Battle The Flesh?

26 Aug How To Battle The Flesh?

Posted at 10:13h in English Service, Featured by Pastor Vincent 0 Comments

Pastor Vincent - 17 October 2013

Beware Of The Influence Of Sin

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Man often understand sin loosely. To many, sin is committing adultery, telling lies, taking drugs, murdering and more.. But sin is more than just the action of committing the wrong doings, it is the spiritual problem inside man that slowly creeps into us, without us knowing, that drives us away from the truth of God. It takes away our wanting to approach God fearlessly and stripping away our desire to come to Him. Sin is Satan's strongest weapon against evangelism. Because the moment you separate from the love of God, you lose the conviction in testifying for God. As a result, the world attracts you for it fulfills the desires inside you; the word gives you pressure and make you feel accused, for you know the truth but you cannot do it. Slowly, we are captured by fear than love. One day, we even lose the ability to love self and others. In fact, the most frightening thing in this world is not sinning but the unconsciousness of sins. It is through regeneration in Christ (born again) that one comes to realize the depth of our sins and the immense power of the finished work on the cross. If you want to overcome sin, you have to become a new person, born again in Christ. With a new life, there will be birth of new desire - and that is to seek God always and pursue Holy Living. Come to Lord and tell Him about your sins. Taste the sweetness of repentance today and leave Satan with no room in your heart to accuse you and toy your emotions. For Satan drives you away from God using the sins, God is still loving you and waiting for you to return, just like the prodigal son. Those forgiven much, love much. A person who has tasted the immense depth of God's love will hate sins and yearn to be in sync with God and testify for Him.

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Do not buy into a comfortable Christian belief. The flesh is not totally annihilated after regeneration. It merely took a backseat in our life. Yet its always waiting for the opportunity to spring up again in activity. So a true believer does have a real war going on within him, yet that is the glorious process of sanctification. Find out how to battle with your flesh!

* <1 Pe 2:11>: Brethren, I urge you to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”

* <Gal 5:16>: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Do you understand the notion of “flesh” differently from the non-believer?

* Flesh = Sinful Nature
⟹ All born in flesh are given to sin, and thus under the accusation of Satan.

Verses to read:
<Romans 13:11-14>
<Galatians 5:16-25>

Deeper understanding of the Flesh:

Saint Augustine of Hippo – Confession
The crime of Vandalism
Audiences witnessing the gluesome sight in the Colosseum

1. The triads of the Christian enemy: The world, Flesh, Satan

1) The World – That external environment by which it is used to either persecute or tempt us

2) Flesh – That nature in us which loves every bit of the world for ourselves. It seeks a joy and pleasure without God and His truth.

3) Satan – The Accuser. The Evil one who accuses everyone who lives or succumbs to the flesh, thereby condemning them before God and tormenting their conscience.

2. Fallen state of humanity – Born in the flesh

Flesh Vs Spirit ≠ body Vs mind.
Flesh Vs Spirit ⟹ The power of sin in our natural fallen humanity against the influence of God (Holy Spirit)
After regeneration, a warfare started! And that brings sanctification and struggle.
The Flesh is not totally annihilated. It merely took a backseat in our life, but always waiting to spring up in activity.

3. Battling the Flesh

1) God started the War, and HE will win it.

2) Live by the Spirit, so as not to gratify the desires of the flesh

For some, it could be a relatively painful process because of strongholds.
Yet, it is never a seamless process for anyone who is truly regenerated.

3) Enjoying the Fruits of the Spirit

Against such thing there is no law…if you’re led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Once we continually bear and feed on the fruits of the Spirit, the temptation of the world loses its attraction on us.

4) Overcome the accusation of Satan.

* <Rel 12:11>: They overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony (i.e. the word of God).

<Rn 10:17> says: Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Assurance of forgiveness comes from faith in the word rather than feeling of the heart).
Finally, know the truth about God’s complete forgiveness upon us in Christ. Seventy-Seven times of forgiveness. Thus do not accumulate our sins.
<1 John 1:9> says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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Pastor Vincent Choo

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Vincent serves as the President of The Blessed Run Church. He is also the Senior Pastor of The Life Church and Missions (Singapore) and is an ardent missionary to the Chinese World. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, Qiufen, and has three kids, Mary, David, and Caleb.