1 Peter 2:11-12 ... Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Exhortation: Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Can't we remember what we were like before we were born again? Didn't we try to please ourselves? Didn't we pursue that which our flesh found desirable?
But after we were born again, nothing mattered but the Word of God. We had found a pearl of great price and we gave up all to be able to obtain that pearl which is the Word of God.
The fleshly lusts do war against the soul.
Thus Paul said: I am crucified with Christ. Gal. 2:20
Paul reckoned his own flesh to be dead now with Christ so he would not have to serve his flesh as he once did. Romans 6
Now Paul is free to serve God.
And so are we who are born again, created as a "new" creature who lives by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.
My neighbor was dying and he looked at me and said: "I've decided it really doesn't matter who wins the Super Bowl." (It seems like it matters but it doesn't matter.)
Recently there was a championship given in soccer ... the World Cup. I watched the people, the fans in the stadium shown by the TV cameras. As you saw their faces it really "seemed" to be important. The losers cried. The winners greatly rejoiced. All the time I thought how this seems to matter but it doesn't matter.
To the flesh, adultery and fornication seem to matter but these are the road to hell. Deliver us from evil. How many times have you cried out to God for help and really meant it?
Deception is so deceptive. It seems to matter.
But all that really matters is the Word of God.
Mt. 13 ... Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.