3 of man's greatest enemies are his flesh, his soul and the devil. The devil feeds on the two. Way back in the garden of Eden, a curse was pronounced on the serpent(devil).
Genesis 3:14
And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all [domestic] animals and above every [wild] living thing of the field; upon your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust [and what it contains] all the days of your life.
Genesis 3: 19
In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.
There is a correlation between vs 15 and 19. God told the serpent that also represents the devil that he was going to feed on dust. In vs 19 He told the man that he was going to return to dust because he came from dust. We all know that the part of man that comes from the dust is his flesh. Again we know that the devil does not eat dust but feeds on eggs and weaker animals. God was trying to say that the devil was going to feed on the perishable part of man which is his flesh. The devil continuously feeds on the human flesh. He stirs up emotions such as greed, selfishness, anger, pride and so on and so forth.
Galatians 5: 19-21
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The works of the flesh also means the bi-product of the flesh if it is given the opportunity to yield. In order words the fruit that the flesh produces when given the chance. That's why the bible tells us to crucify the flesh daily.
Romans 12: 1- 2
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Here the apostle Paul takes about two things which instructs they go under transformation. First he talks about the body that must be presented as a living sacrifice. Secondly he talks about the mind that must be renewed. The mind is a sub of the soul. Often you will find believers who are truly born again but they have missed these two elements needed in their walk. The sacrifice and the transformation of the mind. The mind is renewed by knowledge of God's word that's why King David said that the entrance of God's word brings light.
Psalm 119:130
The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.
Again in Psalm 19: 7a King David wrote the law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul. In Romans 7 the apostle Paul talks about the law and the knowledge it brings about sin. Let me be a bit practical. Lets say before I only knew that fornication or adultery was a physical act then one day I read in my bible that mental fornication is a sin. At that moment I have been exposed to the truth and my mind has been enlightened. This truth will go a long way in changing the way I think. Another example of winning metal battles can be found in Luke 4: 1-4.
Then Jesus, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit
2 For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted ([a]tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry.
3 Then the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread].
4 And Jesus replied to him, It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone [b]but by every word and expression of God.
After Jesus had fasted for forty days the devil tempted him. As to whether the devil appeared to Him physically or he was playing mental games with The Lord the bible did not state but I believe it was more of a mental game. Assuming Jesus did not know the scriptures, He would have lost that battle. The devil comes around looking for loop holes so he can tempt us. He stirs up an emotion in our bodies and feeds our minds with evil thoughts that's why it is very important to study the scriptures. Sometimes he impresses thoughts which looks like your own. Be careful of the thoughts that you entertain. In my personal observation, I noticed that there are so many things in our hearts that are hidden and it often comes out when we are in a state of ecstasy or in an angry mood. Sometimes we make utterances that we never thought we could make. Why?
I have come to understand that the very evil thoughts and emotions that were not cast out sometime ago manifests in another form and it comes out more dangerous. Check the thoughts that occupy your mind. Check the emotions that you feel. If you often feel lustful you should know that sometime ago you opened the door for lust. If you are feeling so much hate and anger know that sometime ago you opened the door for them. If you are feeling envy know that you didnt take control of your thoughts and emotions when that seemingly harmless envious thought crossed your mind. We should learn to guard our hearts at all times. We should constantly bind and cast out evil thoughts that flood our minds. We should stay away from the things that easily tempt us. We can bind and cast out evil thoughts in Jesus' name. Our minds can be transformed by the entrance of God's word. What about our flesh?
The flesh needs the cross.
1 Peter 4 : 1
So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having [the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],
Galatians 2: 20
I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
First Peter talks about Jesus suffering in our place. Secondly he talks about arming ourselves to also suffer in the flesh and have the mind of Christ. What was the mind of Christ? His mind was to put to death our sinful nature that He bore in His body. What are we to do? Peter talked about the suffering of Christ in the flesh and we arming ourselves. Why are we to arm ourselves? Because crucifying the flesh is painful. It takes suffering. As the flesh continues to suffer on the cross it dies. Lets consider Paul's statement in Galatians 2: 20. He had come to a stage in his life where his flesh had totally been crucified. After his flesh had died there was a resurrected Christ living in him. The resurrected Christ in him was empowering him. Paul was not living by his own will but by the will of Jesus who was living in Him. Mortification of the flesh is not easy but it is possible.
Father help us to crucify our flesh daily. Give us the grace not to follow the dictates of our hearts. May your word lighten the dark parts of our minds as we read and hear it.
Glory To Jesus
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