Flesh Control
If your flesh is not put under control then the Holy Spirit will never gain control of your life. If the flesh never suffers then the Spirit will never prosper. Often we forget that the greatest antagonist to the Spirit is not the devil; it’s the flesh. Seldom do Christians accurately discern the voice of God because the voice of their flesh is so dominant. We should be trained by the Spirit, not trained by the flesh. Christians are calling on God for revival but are they willing to fast and pray? Every move of the Spirit is paid for by somebody. There will not be a revival of the Spirit until there is a war declared on the flesh. In these days, God longs to do amazing things for His people. But this move of God will require a greater level of consecration and dedication on the part of the Elect.
1 Corinthians 9:25 in the Amplified Bible says, “Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things…” The Bible likens our walk with God to an athlete preparing for a race. Any runner knows that they cannot do whatever they want with their body and expect to be a winner. The same is true with God. We think we can eat any way we want to and still be in God’s perfect will. God’s plan for our bodies is temperance. This means to be restrained in diet, attitude, and action. If we eat recklessly, then you will allow your flesh to manipulate you. You will sit down to read your Bible and your flesh will demand a snack. You will take time to pray and your flesh will tell you that watching TV would be better. Your flesh will prefer a nice summer morning over being in church. Your flesh will always distract you if you are always listening and obeying its voice.
I have known many people who neglect their bodies yet are seeking healing from God. They eat with reckless abandon and wonder why God isn’t healing them. It isn’t because God doesn’t want to heal them; it’s because the flesh took control and hindered the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen men who gorge themselves with food who later scorn their wives and speak sharply to them. If you abuse food or anything else you will abuse people. Your flesh will be like an out of control briar patch: Thorns will flourish everywhere and people will get hurt whenever they are around you.
Here is the solution for powerlessness for the Christian: Prayer and fasting. Jesus said in Mark 9:29, “…this kind can come forth by nothing except prayer and fasting.” There are certain things that can only happen by taking time to make the flesh suffer. Fasting is not a way to get God to give you things or to make Him love you more. It is a way to subdue the flesh to give greater control to the Holy Spirit. It is a way to control your appetites. Fasting displays a greater hunger for God than natural things. Adam and Eve sinned because of their lust for food. If you make your flesh go hungry, you will learn to control it when it wants to have wrong sexual relationships, addictions, and wrong entertainment. When we take some time to fast and pray, we are investing into this revival that is upon us.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
