OUR BATTLES AGAINST THE FLESH (continued)

God's battle instructions...

Lay aside the old and put on the new. "In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self ... be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new self.” Ephesians 4:22-24. It is more than demolition. It is renovation. Tear out the old ... and build in the new, Colossians 3:9-10.

Set your mind on the Spirit and not on the flesh. "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8.

You must put no confidence in the flesh ... not in your body, not in your age, not in your strength, not in your heritage, not in your race, not in your ethnicity, and not in your nationality. "Put no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3. Your confidence should be in God, Proverbs 3:26.

Stop yielding to the lust of the flesh. Run away from the lust of the flesh. "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11. "Now flee from youthful lusts.” 2 Timothy 2:22. Put to death the deeds of the flesh, Romans 8:12-13. Crucify the flesh with its passions and desires, Galatians 5:24.

Make no provision for the flesh. Do not lay up supplies for the traitor. Don't feed your old nature. Starve it. Don't provide your flesh with friends that tempt it. Don't go to the places that provide opportunity for the flesh. Don't do the things that lead to sins of the flesh. Don't create your own temptations. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Romans 13:14. Stop presenting your body to unrighteousness ... present it to righteousness, Romans 6:11-20.

Think of yourself as alive from the dead. You were dead before you believed in Jesus. "You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air.” Ephesians 2:1-2. Our attitude should reflect the great news that once we were dead, but now we are alive. "Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead.” Romans 6:13. You are alive from the dead. You are alive by the Spirit. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galatians 5:25.

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IN THE WAR 5    PAGES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15    
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