Friday, September 26, 2014

Refusing to allow the flesh to sin

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

I Peter 4 ... 1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

We "suffer in the flesh" by refusing to allow our flesh to do what is natural for flesh to do.  Therefore we "make the flesh suffer".  It wants to hate, we refuse to hate.  It wants to argue with people.  We refuse to allow it to do that.  It wants to beat other people and win out.  We stop that and go another way.  And when we are younger it wanted to commit fornication and adultery.  The flesh suffers when we do not allow it to do what it wants to do.  That is what is meant by suffering in the flesh.  Christ suffered in the flesh for us and we, who belong to God, cause our flesh to suffer because we refuse to yield to our flesh and we turn and go another way by the Spirit of God.  It is a deliberate act on our part of refusing do to the works of the flesh.  In the midst of the temptation we can turn to God and ask HIM for wisdom and take the way of escape provided by God.

Here is what the flesh wants to do ...

Gal. 5 ... 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

We once allowed the flesh to do some of these things and rule.  We served the flesh.  But now we not longer do that.  We keep our flesh crucified with Christ so we are now able to serve God.

Peter says ...

3For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
 

4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 

6For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
 

7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  

9Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4