Figuring Out the Flesh in Faith - Part Three
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:32 (KJV)
Are you aware that Florida's nickname is “The Sunshine State,” adopted officially by Florida legislature in 1970? Florida is now the third most-populated state in the country and its beaches draw thousands of tourists every year. Most of the state has a humid subtropical climate, except for the southern part below Lake Okeechobee which has a true tropical climate.
I know that the opening paragraph presents itself as like brochure from the local Chamber of Commerce. However, I endeavor to have you consider the state of the Son (Jesus) in your life because His truth sheds light on the facts about figuring out the flesh and how to combat its influence in our lives.
Our opening passage points to the fact that Jesus is the only One that can liberate us from the longings and mastery of the flesh. Through Him, we have been delivered from its dominion.
Deeply Loved of God, if you have a vacuum of leadership in your heart the flesh will fill that vacuum voraciously. That is why we have the biblical mandate to not let any person, place or thing to have mastery over us!
In the scriptures the psalmist prayed “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133 KJV).
In light of this truth, we understand that we must seek to take steps in our lives that come from the divine directives in the Word of God. All of us that have followed in faith for any period of time know that Jesus is the perfect personification of the Word as well as the perfect presentation of God.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (KJV)
The word “dominion” mentioned in Psalms 119:133 means to govern, to bear rule and to have power or authority over.
Therefore figuring out the flesh involves you fixing and fundamentally elect and elevate the Son –Jesus Christ as your Master. The Lord Jesus, who exercised His eternal mastery of the storms, decimated the destructive influences of demons, disease and death and has delivered an immeasurable number of soulswith His death, set us free from the strength and slavery of sin.
What do the Scriptures say?
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-7 (KJV)
Therefore, one has figured out the flesh when he knows to place his faith in the facts about Jesus’ work and ministry in our lives and not by the flesh’s falsehood or work of misery and mastery. I close with this thought: Without the Son, a soul is in the state of being distorted, disobedient, damned and thereby dead. When we live in a Son-shine state, we are delivered!!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR