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Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The word ‘flesh’ in Greek means ‘meat’. When the Bible says we are being fleshly minded’, it is almost literally saying we are being ‘meatheaded’!
You know, I’ve met Christians who have been saved for decades, that still haven’t learned the importance of not being a meathead (fleshly minded). When your mind is constantly on what makes you comfortable, or what is pleasing and gratifying, or what you selfishly crave/want – you are living according to your flesh. However, when you live according to the Spirit, you’re not even thinking about what your flesh wants!
It makes you wonder, how many revivals have been stopped prematurely because the congregation members ‘got in the flesh’. How many prayer meetings that should have continued were ended because of the flesh? How many Sunday services stopped at before a great outpouring of God’s power because the flesh is used to service being out at 12:00 – 12:30?
How many moves of God in a city have never happened because the leadership at a Church minded the flesh more than the Spirit.
As a Pastor of 11 years, I can tell you, almost every week I’m battling one or two people in their flesh during the service. They are ready for me to shut up and end the service so they can go get some lunch! The Bible warns about those ‘whose god is their belly’ and live by the desires that their flesh wants. There are times I’ve seen a look on their face like, “Oh no, not another altar call!” “Oh boy, here he goes again, he’s going to lay hands on people”, “Oh no, MORE JOY?? We had that last week! I’m tired of that!” No different than the Children of Israel who were tired of Manna from Heaven. Thank God, at The River, this isn’t the norm, nonetheless it exists even here at times. You know why? Because everyone has a flesh, and when it’s not crucified you’ll let it affect you and everyone else around you.
Romans 8:6-8 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
“Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God!” You can’t please God in the flesh! Romans says your flesh is enmity against God. That means your flesh is ‘hostile’ and ‘opposed’ to the things the Spirit wants. Pay attention next to your flesh reacts to the spiritual things. Instead of yielding to it, crucify it! If your flesh gets grumpy because the Holy Spirit is giving people Joy, or touching people, you (as a Christian) don’t have a demon, you have a major issue in your flesh that needs to be dealt with.
Galatians 5:24-25 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [a]we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
it’s time now to grow in the things of God, crucify your flesh with it’s attitudes and desires and walk in the Spirit. Don’t be a meathead in 2024!