The flesh nature is a difficult challenge in the life of a believer. We all struggle with its influence daily. Paul , the writer of Romans, addressed this fact in chapter 7.
Romans 7:18-24 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 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. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
The key to our victory over the flesh nature and its influence is learning to yield to the Holy Spirit of God that indwells every born again believer. The yielding process begins by understanding that our obligation is no longer to the flesh nature but to the Holy Ghost of God that dwells within us.
Romans 8:9-13 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Being obligated to the flesh will lead to destruction and death. The devil would love for us to remain blind to the fact that have been set free from this bondage. The truth of the matter is that our obligation should be to the indwelling Holy Spirit who gives life and adopted us into the family of God. The following are a few reasons why we are debtors to the Holy Spirit:
- The Holy Spirit convicted us of sin.
- The Holy Spirit showed us our need for the Savior.
- The Holy Spirit imparted saving faith
- The Holy Spirit implanted the righteousness of Christ.
- The Holy Spirit created the new nature of Christ.
- The Holy Spirit gave life.
- The Holy Spirit seals us and keeps us until the day of redemption.
- The Holy Spirit is our teacher, companion, and comforter.
- The Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf when we cannot pray ourselves.
- The Holy Spirit produces fruit: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
- The Holy Spirit gives daily witness that we are the children of God.
- Daily the Holy Spirit endures our carnality, self-centeredness, and sin – and grieves over us – yet He loves us.
- Christ died for us – but the Holy Spirit LIVES IN US
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”