Die to Flesh
A good brother of mine gave me a book titled ”Model Man” by Larry Stockstill, and I have not been able to put it down. The second chapter discusses the war on sexual purity for men. In it, Larry references Galatians 5:17, which says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Here's what I took from this verse, that our body will continue to wrestle with the spirit, just as it did with those before us, Adam (garden of even), Noah (being drunk after God used him mightily), David (with Bathsheba), the list goes on. So what then do we do to flip the switch and ensure that the spirit man takes the lead? We must subject our body to discipline. Fast, exercise, tell your mind that your spirit is in control, be disciplined in your diet, etc.
How then do we juxtapose this with 2 Corinthians 10:4? It says “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds." If the weapons of our warfare are not fleshy (canal), then why do we struggle? Here's what I landed on: that where God has planned for us is a higher ground that simple fleshy indiscipline must not be in the way. For us to access the spiritual weapons to pull down strongholds, we must be free from canal (fleshy) struggles. We must subject our bodies and subdue the flesh so the spirit may thrive. It's like trying to be a quarterback in the NFL when you can't overcome measly 150 lb line-backers in middle school.
Our Lord Jesus Christ modeled this as an example for us in Mathew 4 as He overcame temptations post fasting. He had subjected His body for 40 days, so when the spiritual warfare came, He was ready for it, He was able to summon spiritual weapons of warfare because His flesh was out of the way.
Die to flesh my brothers and sisters, that you may be elevated in the spirit realm, that you may access the weapons needed to pull down strongholds, that your spirit man may lead you to your trial before the testimony, that you may show yourself approved, that you may be ushered unto your God-ordained throne.
Best wishes,
L.B.