THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 3 of 3 How can we be victorious in our battle with the flesh? How can we be successful in walking in the Spirit? Is all of this to be accomplished by mere human discipline and religious regimen? Are we left to navigate the treacherous sea of life alone? Is it true, as some people affirm, that we have the Bible and our minds, and that is enough? Of course, faith is essential for without it the Word brings no personal profit. As it is written, "but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Heb 4:2). While faith is possessed by men, it does not originate with them. It "comes" (Rom 10:17), and is "obtained" (2 Pet 1:1). No person should doubt the need for Divine involvement in daily spiritual life. – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
Although I have frequently referred to Colossians 2:20-23, it is appropriate to bring it to bear upon our present subject. In that text, the Spirit reveals the impotence of human power, wisdom, and discipline, in all of its facets, to achieve spiritual results. Nature, regardless of how it is disciplined and cultured, cannot produce or maintain spiritual life. Thus God's people are chided for relying on lesser things to achieve spiritual superiority. Here is how the Colossian text reads in the Amplified New Testament.
"If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world's crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? Why do you submit to rules and regulations? [such as], Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. [Isa 29:13.] Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh the lower nature. [Instead, they do not honor God] but serve only to indulge the flesh" (Colossians 2:19-23, Amplified Bible).
If a person desires to overcome sin, it is essential to recognize that rules and disciplines are impotent to accomplish such victory. Rules, disciplines, and procedures do require effort. However, they do not require faith, nor are they dependent upon the Lord. They cannot take away the appetite for sin, or cause sin to become distasteful – and before ever a soul can triumph over sin, those things must happen. Instead, as the Colossian text teaches, rules and disciplines are actually an expression of the flesh, and not the Spirit. You can have codes without Christ, discipline without Deity, and rules without righteousness. The heart is not changed by regimen, and spiritual sensitivity cannot be induced by regulations.
Faced with a recalcitrant nature and no inherent ability to subdue it, we stand in need of assistance – Divine assistance. The realization of that aid is called "walking in the Spirit" and "minding the things of the Spirit" (8:4-5). Let it be clear, there is no such thing as an individual who can conquer the flesh, or "the old man," in the energy of nature. No amount of discipline, however rigid, can make us adequate for the assignment of subduing the flesh. Bringing our bodies under subjection (1 Cor 9:27) will require more than personal discipline. Crucifying the flesh (Gal 5:24) cannot be achieved by rote, or following a mere procedure. Until this is learned, we are shut up to defeat and a defiled conscience. There simply is no such thing as a salvation that does not require the consistent involvement of Deity.
In this series of devotions I will affirm that the present and effective ministry of the Holy Spirit is the appointed means of subduing the flesh and perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, and by Your matchless grace, teach me to rely upon You for living effectively, and not upon my own self.