What Is Fleshly and Spiritual? (part 3)

Jesus defeated sin and the power of sin on our behalf. If we have been united with Him in baptism and raised with Him, we possess His power to overcome. What that means is we no longer have to live and follow our fleshly desires! In fact, one can't walk and live in their flesh and end up saved in the end (Rom. 8:13)! We need a new mind set and we determine if we will walk in the new mind set (Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus became our sacrifice and provided for us complete 100% forgiveness while giving us a new power to rise above the very thing sin used to take us down, our flesh. The question left is: Will we go after this new power?

You have a choice to make, either, walk after your flesh and your desires or walk after the Spirit and His desires. It all depends on your mind set. What is the difference on where you set your mind? The difference between life and death (Rom. 8:6). If our minds run on our personal feelings and how we have been treated or taken advantage of, that's a mind set on the flesh and it brings forth death. (Ever notice how bitterness and resentful attitudes stay with people? That's spiritual death!) If our minds are set on God, reaching to Him and His ways in every aspect, it yields life and peace. How can one be certain where their mind set is? The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God! (Rom. 8:7) It fights against God and anyone who trys to get them to give up their bad attitudes or do the right thing. For instance, when you are wrong either in attitude or action and someone tries to lead you into the life of God, if you get upset because they are looking out for your best interest, you know your mind set and it's not on God! It is hostile toward God and it might even get to the point where we say, "You can't judge me!" That's a hostile person toward God because they do not want to give up their flesh. The flesh and Spirit are in complete opposition to one another! At that point, there is no life, no peace only death. A person who's mind is set on the flesh refuses to submit and will not yield to the control of God (Rom. 8:7-8). Here is another illustration of the mind set on the flesh: While teaching a class on our attitude toward the governing authorities (Rom. 13), someone challenged that we are not to be in subjection if they are ungodly! I pointed out that Paul is not discussing the godliness/ungodliness of the government but our attitude toward governing authorities. God says they exist because of Him and their authority is from Him. God never approves of rebellion. The individual got angry and lashed out in the class. What does one learn? Their mind set did not bring life and peace but hostility, not willing to accept or sumbit and everyone in the class saw it. By the way, he was the preacher! Even though they are in Christ, they are trapped in the sinfulness of their flesh. Attitudes, behavior and thought processes show one's fleshliness.

When the mind set is on the Spirit and you are in sin or have a wrong attitude, you will humbly let it go and grab hold of God and His desires. Your flesh subsides and will not take you down. You find life and peace. A person in Christ with their mind set on the Spirit will put God's desires and interest ahead of their own. When they encounter someone who has hurt them, they only look for ways to help and not hold grudges or hurts that separate people. They have God's interest first. The first place God will lead you is away from you!!! You get stronger and better at His ways and life and peace become your nature! A mind set on the Spirit will think of ways that glorify God, that will use spiritual ways to promote the things in the church. Not external, feel good or physical attractions to gain people. Spiritual things from God are powerful and invisible! A mind set on the Spirit rises above the normal things that take us down, above the world's way of thinking and approach to human affairs and takes us into the very power of God. I wonder why so many in the church are so weak?

What do you think about? Where does your mind set run from day to day? Do you think about those who have hurt you and how badly someone mistreats you? Do you think about how to take advantage of someone? When you get stirred up, where does your mind go? Do you renew your mind by dwelling on God and His ways? Do you meditate on Scripture? To answer these questions reveals if you are fleshly or spiritual.