"Our Flesh"

  I preach/teach on fleshliness often. It is the one thing that will destroy spiritual advancement and it is what divides the church. I fight it daily! My flesh, my desires and attitudes that are part of my natural, want to get in the way and rule me. The easiest thing we do in Jesus is allow our flesh to rule. The flesh works in those we work with, play with and have friendships with. It will be the one thing that will keep many from being with the Lord.

  There is only ONE way to stop it from ruling over us. Jesus! The letter to the Galatians addresses fleshliness head on (Gal. 5:19-21). Too many in the body of Jesus are using their flesh to voice their freedom! Jesus is trying to get us to serve through love and not our flesh. Paul speaks and instructs the Galatians that the only thing he could do was to labor again with them until Christ is formed in them (Gal. 4:19). That's the key. Christ formed in us. Many of our attitudes are not "Christ in us." 

  While traveling, a dear lady in the Lord was visiting with me. She said that there was this small group that got together weekly to study on their own. She was jealous they didn't invite her. As we spoke she said she was offended she wasn't invited. Offended! Jealous! Are these not desires of our flesh? If people have these attitudes, they sure won't help others to form Christ in them. This is nothing spiritual. They make it about themselves. That means if they did attend, their flesh would rule their thoughts and approach to God's word. I've seen in often over the years how fleshly people turn the spiritual word into fleshly thoughts!

  There seems to be those in the churches of Galatia that spoke against Paul. They were putting down his teachings, his apostleship and authority while attempting to bring the brethren under the guidelines of the Law. Paul wanted to know if he had become their enemy because he was telling them the truth (Gal. 4:16)? But throughout the whole, Paul's attitude was seen as Christ being in Him. He simply states they had done him no wrong (Gal. 4:12). They had done him in nothing right yet here is a spiritual man not taking things to the flesh venue. He didn't make it about him! It was about Jesus the Lord. 

  What about us? Why are some so easily offended? Why do some react in ways that are less than Christ? When will we allow Christ to be formed in us rather than us express our discontent that harms our brothers and sisters? When will we allow our faith to work through love rather than our feelings work through spite for another? I guess this is what keeps me preaching/teaching until Christ is formed in all of us!