Wed 4.3 – Flesh vs. Spirit

Today’s Readings: Col 3.3-7; Romans 8

As we prepare for tonight’s service, I wanted to take a lighter approach to the devotion this morning. Throughout the DIRECTIONS study, we have been talking about the DIRECTION God gives us for our everyday lives. Much of that so far has centered around the things we SEEK and the things we SET OUR AFFECTION on. That is such a big part of the Christian life that we spent a few weeks on those topics making sure they were clear and understandable. You will notice that in Col 3.3-4, God repeats some key truths as to HOW and WHY we should be seeking and setting our affection according to His plan. Then comes verse 5.

There is a major word in verse 5. We must always give attention to this word when we study our Bibles if we hope to understand it properly. The word…THEREFORE. Notice that God gives all this doctrine through chapters 1-2, and summarizes His plan for that in 3.1-4. Now in verse 5, He tells us “therefore” , or BECAUSE OF THESE TRUTHS, we are to MORTIFY or MEMBERS which are UPON THE EARTH. Let me remind you again, what was it we are not to seek and set our affection on in 3.2??? It was THINGS ON THE ERATH, right? Well that’s what verse 5 is saying about our bodies, they are THINGS ON EARTH, and rather than seeking the things that please them (as we naturally do) we are to forsake them to seek things above.

The truth of the matter is, when we MORTIFY the flesh (which we explained yesterday in 4.2) we must have strength that is not our own. I am no match for my own flesh. I am just as weak as my flesh is. I am just as feeble as my flesh is. So, how then do I overcome it? Through the Spirit! God’s spirit inside of me is a limitless supply for doing his will. That power of God residing in me, keeping me and preparing me for the redemption of my body at the return of Christ, is also in me strengthening me to live my life TODAY!

If you were going to summarize what we have learned so far in this study, it we be (1) that we need to talk to God daily about the PURSUITS AND PURPOSES of life. That’s those 4 things God said were above that we are to seek, and the 4 things we have set our affection on that cause us to seek those first 4 things. We are getting ready to step into the second major concept of the directions study, and that is (2) to talk to God daily about the passions of the body. Until we admit the needs, we will never seek the help to overcome them.

As you close your time with God today, read prayerfully through Romans 8 and ask God to show you keys to MORTIFY the flesh and to LIVE according to the Spirit. He has called you to a spirit-filled life, and God never calls you to something He doesn’t first equip you to do. You may want to use these questions as a guide:

• What is the condition to escape condemnation currently? (8.1)
• What is going to occupy your mind if you are living after the flesh? (8.5)
• What relationship to God do those who are carnally (fleshy) minded have with God? (8.7)
• Can the flesh please God, and how often? (8.
• What should cause us to groan as we wait for it? (8.22-23)
• Who’s image did God predestinate that believers should be in? (8.29)
• What can separate us from the love of Christ? (8.35, 38-39)
• How do we conquer the flesh? (8.37)