Say NO To Our Flesh

The Bible says that the grace of God which has appeared to all men

teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us fom all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14

What are the works of the flesh? The worldly passions mentioned in this passage? The book of Ephesians has a whole list of them! They include bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, malice (Eph 4:31) and sexual immorality, greed, obscenity, foolish talk and idolatry. (Eph 5:3 – 7).

Why is it important to say NO to our flesh?

Because if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, then it is no longer (us) who live but Christ who lives in (us)! Gal 2:20. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. We should therefore live as children of light, not of darkness.

Is it easy? Not by a long short! The longer we have been saying “yes” to our flesh, the more difficult it is to say “no”. It has become a habit!

What are some examples?

If you often seek refuge in food, you are saying “yes” to your flesh. Or if you often shop to relieve stress, you are again saying “yes” to your flesh. Or if you shout at the children coz it just makes you “feel” better, then you have said “yes” to your flesh again!

Notice something? All these things make you “feel” good or better for a while only. Then you have to do it again and again and in greater and greater quantities to get the same “high”.

So what are we to do?

We go back to the Bible. It says :

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Gal 5:16

and

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Gal 5:24-25

Is it easy? Again, I repeat – nope! So do we give up trying? Nope again! Because in Galatians Chapter 6, there is a warning and a hope held out to us.

The warning :

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

The hope :

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9

So let us encourage one another to say NO to our fleshy desires and to live by the Spirit and walk in step with the Spirit. Keep on reading the Word and listening intently to His voice. Then choose to say NO to our flesh!