Me, Myself, and I
1 Thess 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF MAN THERE IS THE NEW BIRTH – WE FEED OUR SPIRIT.
FOR THE SOUL (MIND) THERE IS THE ONGOING PROCESS OF RENEWAL – WE RENEW OUR MIND.
FOR THE BODY THERE IS COMPLETE SUBJECTION – WE CONTROL IT.
NKLV Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
WE ARE CARNALLY MINDED WHEN OUR THOUGHTS CENTER PRIMARLIY ON THE PHYSICAL REALM.
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
IF WE DON’T RENEW OUR MIND AND USE IT TO STUDY AND MEDITATE GOD’S WORD, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY GRAVITATE TOWARD WHAT WE CAN SEE, TASTE, HEAR, SMELL, AND FEEL.
THE BODY HAS TO BE CONTROLLED... IT IS THE SERVANT.
WORKS OF THE FLESH...(Gal 5:19) STRIFE, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, DRUNKENESS, IMMORATLITY, SENSUALITY... ETC
Rom 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh;
Gal 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
EVERY TIME WE SAY NO TO OUR FLESH WE ARE CRUCIFIYING OUR FLESH... Rom 12:1
Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
YOUR FLESH LOOSES ITS POWER AS YOU TAKE CHARGE OF IT.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
THAT NEW MAN IS TO TAKE CHARGE AND SUBDUE THE FLESH.
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD THE FEELING OR DESIRE DOES NOT MEAN YOU DID THE ACT... (TEMPTATION IS NOT SIN)
IT’S THE CHOICE THAT TRUMPS THE FEELING...
CONVINCE YOURSELF THE TEMPTATION TO SIN NOT WORTH THE CONSEQUENCE
THE NEW TESTAMENT COMPARES OUR BODY TO A HORSE.
James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
THE KEY TO CONTROLLING YOUR BODY IS THROUGH YOUR SPEECH.
THE WORD OF GOD IS THE BIT AND BRIDAL.... AS WE PUT THE WORD IN OUR MOUTHS IT DIRECTS US... IN THE WAY TO GO