If we don’t crucify our flesh privately, our flesh will crucify us publicly.
& the reason why we don’t crave God is because we are so full of ourselves.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
God must increase & we must make a decision to willingly decrease in the flesh.
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, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6-8)
The flesh & the Spirit of God are always warring against one another.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
We can’t cast out the flesh… but we can crucify the flesh.
& the goal is not to fight flesh with flesh. You’ll never win this way.
We must walk in the Spirit so that the flesh will not be fulfilled.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Our focus must be on Jesus.
This is why we must get right with God and set our minds on the things above!
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
We can’t be people who love the world more than we love God.
We either love the world or love God more!
Because we cannot serve two masters at the same time.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Will
Way
When
One of the best ways to start focusing on the Lord, is to focus on His word!
God’s will is found in God’s word.
Carnal Vs. Kingdom
Contaminates vs. Purifies
Confuses vs. Clarity
Challenges boundaries vs. Creates boundaries
Runs away vs. runways
Resists vs. Surrenders
Fall in love vs. Walk in love
Self vs. God
Takes vs. Gives
Impatient vs. Patient
How else do we audit carnal Christians vs Kingdom minded?
Our conversations to them about the things of the Spirit of God.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12)
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
Apostle Paul was explaining an example that believers still deal with today.
Another way is through fruit.
We must discern the difference between fruit and flesh.
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