Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We are a tri-part being spirit, soul and body. In God’s original design our soul must get instructions from the spirit and the body would take instructions from the soul. Our innermost spirit being is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus into our heart, the Holy Spirit takes residence in us. Our spirit is in communication with the Holy Spirit and the spirit tutors the soul to make the right choices and decisions. Our soul is the seat of our decision making. Our soul or personality is our emotions, intellect and desires must be in subjection to the instructions of the spirit.
Sin has reversed the order. Our body now dictates to the soul and the soul ignores the directions of the spirit and does what it wants, wills and desires. For example, our spirit wants to commune with God, but our body is lazy and wants to sleep-in. The soul is dragged by the wants of the flesh/body and disregards the voice of the spirit. This is what Jesus warned His disciples. The flesh wants to sleep, sulk and slack while the spirit is alerting us to be cautious, prayerful and composed.
A momentary distraction in David’s life turned out to be a very costly mistake. Then satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1). David was a man led by the spirit. He inquired of the Lord before he made any decision but when satan incited him to count the multitude of his army he ignored the instructions of the spirit and gratified the pride of his flesh. As a consequence of the disobedience he lost seventy thousand fighting men! There is always a war between the instructions of the spirit and the incitement of the soul.
Subject the flesh to the spirit:
1. Incite: Our soul is constantly goaded with the desires of the flesh. Our flesh is incited to follow our ‘wants, thoughts and feelings’. Those who follow soulish desires have confused and messy minds. There are demons employed full time to incite the fearful, prideful, hateful and lustful thoughts, 24/7. Don’t be dragged by the inciting thoughts.
2. Instruct: The fox we feed dominates. Fasting subjects the body to obey the spirit. Fasting ignores the hunger pangs and the appetite of the flesh is brought under control. Physical discipline brings spiritual control. The body must be tamed to receive instruction and obey; not to give instruction and dominate.
3. Influence: There are only two forces that influence a man – The Holy Spirit and satan. Don’t give the demons a voice or a say in your decisions. Do, say and walk according to the instructions of the Holy Spirit.
Messy mind is out of the control of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Prayer: Dearest Holy Spirit, I subject my body, mind, soul and spirit to your leading and instructions. Amen.
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