September 2, 2007

The Enemy Within

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For some strange reason, I thought my body (or flesh) was my friend. Since we share the same ‘space,’ I figured we would seek the best physical, mental, and spiritual health possible…and I WAS WRONG! Because of this reasoning, I didn’t always ‘fight’ with my flesh. I figured the fight (spiritually speaking) was solely with the devil and didn’t include the inner me.

Galatians 5:17 – 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.

The flesh is not an ally! It seeks to satisfy its lust! Whether the lust refers to sexual acts, eating, speaking, or thinking, the flesh wants its way…AT ALL COSTS! The flesh isn’t concerned about your spiritual well-being; it only wants to be satisfied.

Now, because I didn’t ‘fight’ my flesh, I often kept my mental ‘defenses’ down and allowed all types of tempting/sinful thoughts roam free. I gave my ‘enemy’ an all-access pass to win my affections and actions toward sin.

James 1:13-15 – Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Be on your guard against the wiles of lust within your flesh. Don’t allow your flesh to roam freely. Keep it in check by making decisions to thwart its schemes of fulfilling sinful pleasure.