Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s work on losing our unwanted flesh!

Today’s scripture, Romans 8:5-9 (KJV) says…
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Consider…
A common explanation that people who go on diets give is they want to lose unwanted pounds.

I believe that’s the same goal that saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost saints should have about their flesh.

I say that because Galatians 5:17 (NIV) explains…
[17] For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

That makes me think of the Apostle Paul’s confession, which is ours too. He wrote in Romans 7:15 (NIV)…
[15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

And just a couple verses in Romans 7:18-19 (NIV) he explains…
[18] For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

This explanation provides a synonym for the flesh, which is a sinful nature. As a matter of fact the New Living Translation version of Galatians 5:17 substitutes sinful nature for flesh.

Today’s scripture also uses the same sinful nature synonym in the NLT. Romans 8:5-9 (NLT) says…
[5] Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. [6] So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. [7] For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. [8] That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. [9] But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Like a dieter who has a continuous battle between cravings and discipline, believers have a war for mind control between the Holy Spirit and sin.

The troops of sin are named in Galatians 5:19-21. They are…

• sexual immorality
• impurity
• lustful pleasures
• idolatry
• sorcery
• hostility
• quarreling
• jealousy
• outbursts of anger
• selfish ambition
• dissension
• division
• envy
• drunkenness
• wild parties
• and other sins like these

Do any of those look familiar?

But when you’re controlled by the Holy Spirit the troops you’ll see are…

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness,
• and self-control

As I copied both list of attributes that reflect who’s winning the battle for our mind, I drew another comparison to dieting. The more successful diets have a coach or guide that leads the dieter by prescription and conviction. Said another they…

• tell you what to do
• assess how well you’re doing it
• and celebrate or redirect accordingly

I believe that’s the same thing the Holy Spirit does for us. It’s also why the Apostle Paul exhorts in Galatians 5:16 (NLT)…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The fact is self discipline sounds good, except for one thing, it depends on self.

So today, I encourage you to join the Holy Spirit’s flesh loss program and shed those unwanted desires. If you do, I guarantee you will see a brand new you! And when others see you, they will testify with Canton Jones that “God looks good on you”!

Today’s Song is…
My Flesh

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)