Spirit_VS_Flesh

I need to thank my pastor, Kyle for giving me the intro to this week’s post.
I don’t know exactly how to phrase it but when I was younger, certain passages in Scripture confused me. But not how you think: They actually made sense in a way and I was happy enough thinking to myself, “I understand” but now that I’m older, I now give more value to things that I can understand AND ALSO apply rather than just getting a correct intellectual or theological viewpoint.
This is what I mean. In a reflective way, I didn’t realize that there was more sense to be made of so many things - Only now can I admit to a disconnect that I didn’t even realize was there before. So keep reading The Bible and keep praying for wisdom. The verses will have a way of pulling you higher as you mature.

Here’s The Word;

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

It’s one thing to come to grips with our duality – spirit and flesh. But then what?
In the verses prior to Matthew 26:41, we see Our LORD in heavy sorrow about his impending crucifixion. He asks Peter, John and James to watch and pray with him but they all fall asleep. I imagine His heaviness mixed with gracious pity as He asks “You couldn’t even give me an hour?” – Then He says, “Be careful for yourselves; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Paraphrased)

How much time, attention and discernment do we give to our opposing natures?
This is a piggyback of last week’s “Suffering” where we allow, or rather permit or engage ourselves in the strengthening of our spirit by denying what we usually give in to.

Here’s the benefit of that hindsight viewpoint: The Matthew verse says that the flesh is weak, and of course that’s true. However, in a different sense, it’s not that the flesh is weak, it’s that it’s SUPER STRONG in valuing its comfort and seeking after things that provide quick satisfaction. The disciples fell asleep because they were SO tired. Has the strength of your tiredness ever won over your responsibility to do something you needed to do?
Our only answer is to start living different: Give favor and precedent to one and to starve the other. Well, maybe not starve but to be fully aware of the “temptation” that lures our flesh to fall.

The flesh and the spirit are of two different minds and it’s a daily fight to suppress flesh and promote spirit. And thanks be to God because I would not have you misled, it’s not easy, but it gets easier if that makes any sense. You simply have to recognize the ways that flesh falls and fails us when it comes to strengthening our spirit.

Here’s The Word;

1 Peter 4 1:2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

2 Peter 2 18–19 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Here’s a few differences between the flesh and spirit – I’m sure after reading this list, you’ll see a few more from your own lives:

The flesh looks to be affirmed, where the spirit looks to be consecrated. The flesh makes shady deals, where the spirit stands in integrity. The flesh’s strength is in its desires, the spirit’s strength is in faith. The flesh is anxious, where the spirit is patient. The flesh is wanton, where the spirit is satisfied. The flesh is boastful, where the spirit is humble. The flesh speaks spitefully, where the spirit speaks considerately. The flesh looks to be pitied, where the spirit is sober. The flesh complains about being shamed, the spirit rejoices in being corrected. The flesh worries about lack, where the spirit is generous. The flesh is scared, where the spirit casts cares. The flesh knows guilt, where the spirit knows pardon. The flesh embraces envy, where the spirit embraces contentment. The flesh is tired, where the flesh is inspired. The flesh looks to conceal, where the spirit is free through confession. The flesh is reckless, where the spirit is wise. The flesh is subject to anger, where the spirit promotes peace. The flesh wallows in despair, where the spirit shines in hope. The flesh rejects subjection, the spirit follows The Shepherd. The flesh will end up as a victim where the spirit leads to victory!

The strength of the spirit is The Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; According to this, you have to give effort to keeping your spirit filled by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

In Him,
Cros