Keep watch and pray, so that you will not
give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" --
Matthew 26: 41 (NLT)
A great deal of the time within
Christian circles we like to over-devilize things. Quite frankly we give the
enemy too much credit for the desires of our flesh. The devil cannot make us do
anything; if he could he would kills us. All the devil can do is present us with
a choice but the choosing is always up to us. He will present the choice in
concert with the world system that will agree with him and playing to the flesh
nature we all have. Other extremes see Christians encasing themselves in a
bubble to protect them from the very people they are supposed to witness to.
Neither side however gives the proper credit to our flesh nature, born as a
sinner. When Cain murdered Abel it was his flesh that rose up in anger. When
Achan hid the devoted items under his tent it was his flesh that lusted them. Sure
the world system and the enemy played their part but we seek to dismiss the
flesh too easily so that we can play the victim. In the
So what is the answer then? With so
much coming against us, how can we expect victory? Well, I have saved the best
news for last. For even though we see these three things working together for
our detriment -- we also have the Holy Spirit inside of us working for our good.
The devil does not stand a chance. The world does not stand a chance. Even our
flesh does not stand a chance when matched up with the same Spirit that raised
Jesus Christ from the dead! The odds are in our favor beloved if we would ever
learn to completely trust the God that we serve. Is the world system going to
still be there fighting against us? Yes but here is what God reminds us today:
I have told you all this so that you may
have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take
heart, because I have overcome the world." -- John 16: 33 (NLT)
Will the enemy still be working his
pitiful schemes against us? Absolutely. He does not sleep. He does not stop.
But greater is He that is in me then he that is in the world. Once again, God
instructs us:
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash
your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided
between God and the world. -- James 4: 7-8 (NLT)
Note the difficulty we usually have
with the two imperatives God gives us here. If we were honest with ourselves we
would admit that we can have a difficult time humbling ourselves before God or
anyone else for that matter. The devil feasts on our pride. As for resisting --
we practically invite the devil to stay in our homes with what we watch on TV
and online. This is a spiritual war beloved and the victory starts with
humility and resistance. But even then, what can we do about the very flesh
that we live in? What do we do with that natural sinful nature we were born
with?
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you
have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by
its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
children of God. -- Romans 8: 12-14 (NLT)
