What happens to the believer who gives their flesh everything it wants? These things don’t have to be necessarily bad things like fornication, lying and stealing; but much simpler.
Cravings: A powerful desire for something, a longing, yearning, hunger, thirst, urge.
Food 1
Everyone has cravings but some have more discipline over their cravings than others. Like food, some people eat moderately, and some overeat. The issue with overeating is that is causing health issues for the individual even shortening their life span once they become obese from overeating. Why do we see so many obese people, they lack self-control over their cravings for certain foods.
Shopping 2
We all need to go shopping for clothing when things get old and need to be replaced. Some people are frugal with their shopping, getting only what they need, and others buy everything else except what they need. The issue with this is this individual has now wasted money that could have been used for more important things that need to get done. This person does not have the discipline over their craving for new and fresh outfits and looking nice, so they over buy and waste money each week on clothes they will never wear and wonder why they are broke. And this is not just clothing anything you can buy and become obsessed with.
Social Media 3
In the 21 century it's impossible almost to due without technology and smart phones most people have them and use them for digitally contacting others and keeping up to date with everyone. These days people have become obsessed with social media apps and body image and how they look, chasing an unrealistic image of a person online. People's craving to be desired and seen by others has made them go to the point of pretending to be another person even photoshopping themselves so much that their actual face is gone. They allow social media to consume their lives making it their new reality instead of real life. The issue here is that people have not disciplined themselves to only use social media for what it's for, connecting with friends, they use it to feel worthy and wanted, there is no limit on how far you can go. The craving for attention has led them to become different people than they ever expected to be and misuse a product that was meant for good.
If we can't discipline ourselves in these small areas then how can we expect to have discipline when it comes to spending time with the Lord, something that kills the flesh. When our flesh always gets what it wants and instant gratification everyday with food, shopping, social media, and much more. How are we to then have self-control and spend time with God, our flesh does not want to spend time with God. It wants what it wants and instant pleasure and gratification on every sensory level. But time with the lord is spiritual so we must become more spiritual and kill the cravings of the flesh that do not please him
What is the Solution?
Hebrews 12:11
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
1 Corinthians 9:27
But I discipline my body and keep it under subjection, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
How can we ascend with God in glory if we can control our small cravings and temptations? The problem with this statement is that in of self we can't control ourselves. The flesh is sinful and will always be in enmity with God. Jesus and his spirit are the only thing that can keep us from continuing in sin. No matter how much we struggle to be holy, righteous and sanctified. We would always fail if we don’t look to Jesus as our strength.
What Does it Mean to Subject one's Body?
One who is under the rule of another or others, especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler. Biblically speaking, to freely follow the will of the father forsaking your flesh. The Lord Jesus makes us Holy, Righteous, Purified and Sanctified when we trust him to be our strength.
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is aIsaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me
Ephesians 3:16ble to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless, faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To God our savior who alone is wise be the glory and majesty dominion and power both now and forever amen.
When we look to Jesus he is the one that keeps us from making mistakes and satisfying every desire of the flesh. When we look to Jesus the things of this world no longer satisfy us, then we only seek to do the things of our father in heaven. Our cravings no longer have power over us. Our flesh begins to die, and our inner man begins to come alive with in us, then is manifested in this world. This is our true identity. The life of the inner man not the flesh. Now that we understand that looking to Jesus is the only way that we can be kept from satisfying every craving of the flesh. We add the scriptures about discipline in. It becomes much easier to just walk with Jesus and you wont even accidentally fulfil the desires of the flesh. Because of what Jesus did on the cross know that you are not becoming but you already are in your inner man purified sanctified and holy, and you are learning to bring what's inside you out.
Romans 5:1.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:12.
So, Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
1 Peter 1:15
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.
Acts 17 :28
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
When we understand that apart from him, we can do nothing but with him we are everything he has called us to be. We begin to ascend with him in glory. When we seek him with a pure heart, he opens the realms of heaven to us. When we behold Jesus and all his glory, we become like him. And this true identity is manifested in everything that we do, think and speak.
What I have learned so far about myself
John 15: 5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Holy Spirit has shown me that I was trying in my flesh to live to the standard of our Lord Jesus, but that can only be done through our spirits. The spirit that is holy, pure, justified and sanctified. I was wrapping myself up in being more holy and pure, but I didn’t realize that I physically cant be that in my flesh. I would beat myself up over every small thing that wasn’t what I considered Holy. The life that I want to attain can only be attained by Living from the realm of my inner man the pure and holy spirit. The Lord showed me that I have been measuring my flesh to the spirit and wondering why I cant be better. There is no measure in comparison with the flesh and the sprit. A fallen flesh can never become holy like our spirit. The spirit is from the lord and our flesh of this earth. When I learn to focus on my spirit life and behold Jesus, this flesh/soul becomes subjected to the spirit. When I live from the realm of my spirit every issue I had in the flesh begins to melt away. The flesh then understands that the spirit is Lord and has the final say. Apart from the Lord Jesus and his spirit in me I can do nothing. My righteousness is like filthy rags before him.
Amen!
