Lesson 65 – Crucifying Flesh and Will

Text:

Galatians 5:16-21 KJV  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  (18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, 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.

Intro:

Galatians 5:24 KJV  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Operating in the Spirit is a necessity for those in the ministry. For that to happen, two things must be contended with; our flesh and our will. The works of our flesh will keep us from inheriting the kingdom of God. If we do not keep our flesh and will crucified, how can we help those whom God has entrusted us to lead? When our flesh is allowed to do what it desires, the devil will ensure we are aligned with his evil will. The human will is gifted to us by God but must be governed by His Spirit. Our will is our choices made from our desires. If we choose to walk in the Spirit every day, we will align our will with the will of the Spirit. If we choose to align our will with sin and carnal flesh, we will do the will of the devil.

Crucifying Our Flesh: Who Gets the Glory/Credit?

Genesis 2:7 KJV  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 3:14 KJV  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

The devil feeds upon our carnal nature.  The more a person lives according to their own preferences and desires the more liberty the devil has in their life. The devil does not need to possess you if he can control you through your flesh and will. 

Romans 8:12-14 KJV  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  (13)  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  (14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you never crucify the natural desires, if you never tell yourself no, you are living after the flesh. If we mortify the deeds of our flesh, if we DIE to the lustful and carnal desires of our flesh, we will LIVE! We must live a life that is led by the Spirit so that we are not controlled by our flesh! It is a battle but we must win it!

The more carnal people become the harder it becomes to manage our will. The more carnal people become the more they attempt to impose their selfish will on God and others. God will not allow someone to operate in the Spirit until they have dealt with their flesh.

1 Corinthians 1:28-29 KJV  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Flesh makes operating in the Spirit impossible because it causes us to want others to recognize our role in God using us. Our flesh wants the recognition and the glory for what God has done. For that reason, God requires us to crucify our glory and attention-seeking desires before He can operate through us. If God chooses to work through you, DO NOT allow your flesh to rise up and claim responsibility for what took place.

Crucifying Our Will: Do it His Way!

The trip Jesus and the disciples made to the garden was not a one-time event. Crucifying our will is not a one-time event. If we allow it, our will is going to get back up.[1]

Eph 2:1-3  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  (3)  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires (our will) of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Paul is pointing out the marked difference between being saved and lost. Lost, fulfilling our own lustful desires. Saved, doing the will of God. If left unmanaged, our will causes us to begin to demand that God and others do what we desire instead of what the Spirit desires.

1Pe 4:1-2  Forasmuch 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;  (2)  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Yes, we have a free will. This does not mean that we simply push to fulfill it. An uncrucified will always leads us away from God’s will. Consider when we are operating in the Spirit; is this what God wants or is this simply something I want? Operating in the Spirit is not pushing until we get the outcome we want. It’s pushing until we see the outcome God desires.

Conclusion:

God’s will must be done. In agony during his prayer in the garden, he cried out “Thy will be done!” It’s time to declare war on our flesh and our carnal will. This is the strongest enemy that we wrestle. 

Romans 8:6 KJV For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Jude 1:22-23 KJV  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Works of the flesh and carnality have no place in the life of an Apostolic minister. Works of the flesh and carnality have no place in an Apostolic church. Let us first declare war on our own carnal desires, then begin to operate in the Spirit in our churches. 

Matthew 16:24-27 ESV  Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  (25)  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  (26)  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  (27)  For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.