The flesh is an enemy within.
Walt Kelly, author of the comic strip Pogo, created an Earth Day poster in 1970 with the quote, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” His point was that the environment was polluted by people not by some outside force.
Likewise, those of us who are in Christ can be our own worst enemy, spoiling the perfection God envisioned when He created us in His image by succumbing to the flesh. I think of the term flesh as our sinful nature which is self-focused, self-centered, and self-gratifying. Fleshly traits that prevent us from becoming the person God created.
In Christ we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual eyesight; the ability to see things from a godly perspective and walk in the ways of God.
Paul tells us: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Later in this chapter he tells us to “keep in step with the Spirit.” (5:25)
Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we see the incongruity between our behavior and the Word of God… realizing we are out of step. By repenting, turning from the flesh to the ways of God, our walk is restored. As we implement the Biblical verses the Spirit reveals, we are back in step with Him.
In repentance we proclaim “not my way, but your way God.” We turn from sin and turn toward God and His will. It is often a radical transformation of attitude and direction.1
But this victory does not come in our own strength or by our own will, according to Warren W. Wiersbe. Victory comes by surrendering our will to the Holy Spirit. The direction is in Galatians 5:18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” He explains the verse literally reads willingly led.2
Wiersbe explains—The Holy Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts3 so we delight to do His will.4 We desire to obey Him out of love.5
Another Bible commentator, Tony Evans, writes: “To ‘walk by the Spirit’ is to discover God’s view on a matter, decide to act on that divine perspective, and depend on the Holy Spirit to empower your obedience.”6
Let’s look at these steps.
*Discover God’s View
The Holy Spirit brings Scripture to mind when our behavior is out of step with the ways of God. But He can’t remind us of something that isn’t there. Our part is to study the Bible. God’s ways are remarkable and worth the time and effort it takes to gain understanding.
Most often God’s instructions are not something that come naturally. Sometimes we think, “I do that,” or “I can do that.” Then a situation comes up that requires the implementation of this Scripture and we learn we haven’t mastered it. It is not yet written on our heart.
*Decide to Act on God’s Perspective
Instead of trying to master a Scripture in our own strength, we turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him for direction on how to implement it. But we must do so with a willing heart.
Hannah Whitall Smith, author of “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life,” described a willing heart as God’s commands becoming desires springing up within us.
“They will originate in our will; we shall feel as though we desired to do so and so not as though we must,” she writes.
As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, God’s commands no longer seem like something we have to do but something we get to do.
*Depend on the Holy Spirit
When we depend on ourselves, we use our willpower to resist the flesh and walk in God’s ways.
Willpower is “the ability to control one’s own actions, emotions, or urges. Also, strong determination that allows one to do something difficult.” (merriam-webster.com) Sometimes this works, but it takes great effort and often it fails. And it is not transformative. Our behavior looks changed, if our determination remains strong.
However, striving is exhausting and we always seem to fall short of the mark. Victory comes by divine power not by willpower.
Yes, there is a war within. Fleshly desire and a desire to walk in the Spirit are at odds with each other. Paul warns us in his epistles.
Rom 7:18—”For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” ESV
Gal 5:17—“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” ESV
As soon as we recognize the flesh, we can wave a white flag signaling surrender to the Holy Spirit. In repentance turn from sin toward God and His will.
©2024 Susan Cort Johnson *All Rights Reserved
Photo from Pixabay.
References:
1-The Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois.
2-Be Free, A New Testament Study-Galatians by Warren W. Wiersbe. Cook Communications Ministries Colorado Springs, Colorado.
3- Heb. 10:14-17; 2 Cor. 3
4- Psalm 40:8
5- John 14:15
6- The Tony Evans Bible Commentary Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN.