 Deep Places in God Lesson 4 Psalm 42 Walking After the Spirit and Not After the Flesh When we are born again our Spirit man is reborn. On it’s own it has no problem communicating with God. This is true as all those that are in Heaven are Spirit and live in peace and harmony with God. But here on earth, we have the flesh and the mind to deal with. And even though the Spirit is born again, our mind and body need to come in line with God and His word. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Ephesions 4: 22-23 That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your mind Many Christians struggle in their christian walk because they do not realize that the real battle in Spiritual growth is bringing these two elements into line with God and His word. We do not just get born again and all our troubles float away. It is not a bed of roses the moment you get saved. It is a struggle between your flesh and mind and your spirit. Romans 7:14-25 This is a passage of Scripture that Paul talks about the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. Basically what he says is this I know what I should be doing, because my spirit man tells me. But I do what comes naturally instead, even though I know it is sin and I feel terrible after I do it. It is a constant struggle of the mind and flesh fighting against what is right and godly and it is a never ending cycle. And when my intentions are to do good and what I sincerely plan to do, somehow the flesh overcomes me and I don’t do it. “For I delight in the law of God in the inward man, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death?” It seems like an impossible thing to please God. The battle never seems to be over. But thank God for the next verse “I thank my God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” So the object in this battle is to let the Lord take over and to allow the Holy Spirit to help you renew your mind to the word of God and to bring your flesh under subjection. It is not easy. I would be lying to say it is. It is a constant battle. We must always be on our guard for the enemy of our soul, who would love to drag us back down into that mess. So how do we do it? Does the Holy Spirit just take over our mind and we instantly do not have to control ourselves? No! We need to get the scriptures down in our heart in abundance and have them coming out of our mouth so that when things arise to tempt us, we can speak the word and have the strength to resist them. If we are not entering into the Deep Place in God, we need to question why. Is our flesh and mind hindering us from hearing from God? We know all the scriptures, we can say them by heart, but if we do not have our body and mind under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit, they will foul us every time. Doubt and fear can come in. This is when we need to remember Philippians 4:7&8 “And the peace of God which passes knowledge shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” Keeping our mind on the things listed above will be our strength in times of weakness. Negative thoughts surround us every day. The devil will see to that. But that does not mean we have to focus on them? We need to focus on what is good and pure and holy and cast aside anything that will bring us down or cause us to dwell on the problem, instead of the answer. If we can get our spirit and mind in harmony, our body will come in line. It only responds to what it is fed. If you feed on the lies of the devil, your body will react. If he tells you that you are weak and your mind believes it and communicates it to your body, you will be weak. The same applies to sickness and whatever else he would try to send your way. But if your mind is renewed on the scriptures that teach us Let the weak say, I am strong! And let the sick say I am healed! Then these things cannot take over your body. The battle is in the mind. Once we start to walk in the realm of the Spirit, spirit, soul and body, then we will enter into the Deep Places in God. God cannot fellowship with someone that is not willing to let the Holy Spirit take over the job of renewing your mind and bringing your body under subjection to the things of God. But if you will make the step to do this, that is all he requires. He needs a willing vessel. It is not going to happen overnight. But with His help, we will come to a place eventually, if we continue to yield to Him, then resisting the flesh and the lusts thereof, will be a part of life for you. The temptations and trials will never cease until we get to heaven. So it is important to keep a constant guard up and continue to yield to the Holy Spirit every day and rely on him for guidance and strength to see you through. And then instead of yielding to every evil thing that comes are way, our reaction will be as Jesus’ “Get thee behind me Satan”
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