“Our Biggest Fight: Dying To Self OR Become an Enemy of God” Part 4

As I was reading the word the other day, God really wow’d me. I’ve been truly seeking God about breaking bad habits, renewing my mind and recommitting myself to being obedient to my calling and completing my physical transformation. As I read Romans 8:5-8, He pointed out some harsh truths in this scripture:

Romans 8:5-8 (GNT) says,

5 Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. 6 To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. 7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God’s law, and in fact they cannot obey it. 8 Those who obey their human nature cannot please God.

I can end the post right there and that’d give you enough to feast and think on. As I prayed about this scripture, He broke it down for me very simply:

If you follow you’re flesh, you’re flesh will control your mind, hence, you become it’s slave
If you follow your flesh, your flesh will lead you down one road, YOUR OWN DEATH!
If you follow your flesh, you’re behaving as an enemy of God.
If you follow your flesh, you can not and will not please God.

All I have to say is WOW! WOW! WOW! That sounds really harsh, but it’s true. I know in my lifetime, there’d been plenty of instances where I let my flesh have it’s way and the next thing I knew, I was walking down a dark road unable to control myself heading for trouble. I know even now, when I let my flesh have it’s way with food, it’s like opening up Pandora’s box. Once I give my flesh the green light, the enemy kicks down the door and the areas I’ve gained victory over once before, I’ve now lost ground and battling even harder. This is where I am today and the enemy is fighting me tooth and nail.

I know with every fiber of my being, I vehemently don’t want anything controlling me and I love Jesus with all my heart. But, when I surrender to my flesh, my flesh now dictates what I do, I’m now a miserable human being AND, I’m behaving like an enemy of God which is unthinkable. Battling your flesh sometimes is worse than fighting the enemy and it’s absolutely tormenting. I’m realizing now more than ever, when I allow myself to selfishly obey my flesh, I’m walking as an enemy of God which grieves me and I’m now walking out my own demise.

But here’s our saving grace for those who really want to overcome:

Romans 8: 26-30 (NIV) says,

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[m] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[o]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As long as we’re in this flesh, we’re always going to struggle with something. Sometimes, deliverance isn’t difficult, we make it difficult. I’m learning everyday that our breakthrough comes to us moment to moment, second to second and it’s a process which always starts with a choice and a two letter word, NO!

Because He loves us, He’ll help us and all He’s looking for us to do is have enough courage, boldness and resolve to help ourselves, say NO and Heaven’s help is available and always accessible. As we say No, the angels come to tend and comfort us as we resist and get enough strength to fight again. Be encouraged, no matter what you’re going through, we have power, we just have to believe we do and use it…WE CAN DO IT IN JESUS NAME!

Continue to join me as I share with you what Christ is sharing with me about overcoming. As always, Be Encouraged, Stay Connected, Fight and Let’s become free together.