Fighting Temptation - The Word Way by Bryan Amit Prasad

Author:Bryan Amit Prasad [Prasad, Bryan Amit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781490858609
Publisher: WestBowPress
Published: 2014-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

The Flesh

The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and pride of life, though three, can turn into one entity the Bible calls the flesh (the carnal nature, the old man.) Let me show you how it can hinder prayer and lead to unanswered prayer. Along the way, we will clarify how to realize the desired results to answered prayer.

Without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Hebrews 11:6)

So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. (Romans 8:8)

Now this makes this very clear that you may claim all the faith it takes to receive mighty miracles. Still, God said that if you allow your flesh (carnal nature, unrenewed self) to live, then you are not pleasing toward God.

Some answers we receive from God because of His mercy, but pleasing Him is another issue altogether. God is pleased with us because of the sacrifice of Jesus, yet even that has to be received with an attitude of faith and not a temporary feeling.

The flesh is always in opposition to the walk of the spirit and vice versa. Living in the flesh is living with death along with all the miseries in life. God will not keep allowing blessings in a person’s sinful state, working against the thought that people can continue in sin and be blessed.

Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. (Romans 8:6)

Living in the flesh is living in hostility with God and in rebellion against God.

[That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. (Romans 8:7)

Paul gives a very good example of a person when the flesh controls his life and keeps him from doing what is right before God:

We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin.

For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns].

For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]

For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.

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