Who controls who in you?

Romans 7:21 – 8:8. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to 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 will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Wow, what a powerful portion of scripture. Paul is saying that in the flesh we cannot please God. We cannot overcome sin and we are powerless to its bondage. The law offers no freedom but acts as a constant reminder of our sinful behavior. My flesh wages war against my mind. I know what I should do but am incapable of overcoming on my own. Paul then shares with us that through Christ we can overcome. God sent His Son into the world to have victory over the power of death, and to give us victory. By ourselves we cannot control our behavior and life that is filled with sin but with Christ we can and will have victory. The Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit and if we allow Christ to come into us and fill us then we will be more than conquerors. What does your mind think about? Do you think about the flesh or the Spirit?

1 Tim. 4:8. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

About 8 months ago I started working out and I feel better than I have for a long time. But I can’t help but to be reminded of this scripture. This body will die. It will go back into the ground and will return to where it came from. No matter how hard I work I will not be able to live for ever in this body. And though it may feel good, and even for some of us look good, it will not last no matter what I do. But feeding and building up my spirit in the things of God will be lasting throughout eternity. What I gain in my spirit will go with me and will become a part of who I will always be. God promise that seeking Him will be profitable now and forever.

Gal. 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Every believer is crucified with Christ in order to die to sin, the law, and this present evil age. When we repent of our sins and invite Christ into our lives we also invite Christ to live in us spiritually. The resurrection power of Christ is at work in the life of the Christian. So then, it is no longer I who live but it is the Spirit of Christ that is alive in me and by my faith in the Son of God I will continue to grow and walk in His Spirit. He gave Himself for me, what am I willing to do for Him? Is our love for Christ strong enough to live and die for Him if called upon to do so?

1 Cor. 9:26, 27. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

There are going to be times when we just don’t want to do what we know we should do. For instance, reading the word of God. Do we let our flesh tell us what to do or do we live in the Spirit and gain victory over our flesh and do what the Spirit is reminding us to do. The same can be said of our prayer life, or going to church or being involved in ministry. Do we preach and live our lives by example or do we preach and not live by example? Are we so filled with the power of Christ in our lives that we are willing to discipline our bodies at any cost? Do we believe that we are in the right faith and if so then are we fighting to keep the message of God at the forefront of all our thoughts and in all our actions? Do we preach to our children but give them the wrong message by our actions? Do we practice what we preach or are we hypocrites in our faith?

Who controls who in you?

I pray that God will reveal the power of His Spirit in you and that the life we live will be in His Spirit. That we will walk in the newness of His life in us and that we will seek to practice at all times to bring our bodies into subjection, no matter the cost, and to be obedient to His will reminding us always of the greater purpose to which we have been called.

God bless Kevin.