Denying-the-Flesh-and-Its-Desires-in-Christian-Living

As we journey through this earthly life, we're constantly reminded that our flesh, with its sinful inclinations, wages war against the Spirit of God within us, as Paul so aptly describes in Galatians 5:17. To deny our flesh, then, is to embark on a path of intentional surrender, where we, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, choose to relinquish control to our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is not a one-time event, but a daily, even moment-by-moment, decision to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires, as we're exhorted to do in Galatians 5:24.

As we abide in Christ, we're called to walk in the Spirit, not gratifying the desires of the flesh, which, as Romans 8:13 reminds us, leads to death. Instead, we're to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, that we might live. This is a process of sanctification, where the Spirit of God works in us to will and to work for His good pleasure, as Philippians 2:13 so beautifully expresses. We deny our flesh by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame, as Hebrews 12:2 so powerfully illustrates.

In this pursuit of denying our flesh, we're not left to our own devices; rather, we're empowered by the indwelling Spirit, who helps us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires, as Romans 13:14 instructs. As we surrender to the Spirit's work in us, we'll find that our affections, our thoughts, and our actions begin to align with the will of God, and we'll experience the freedom and joy that comes from walking in the Spirit, rather than being controlled by the flesh. And so, let us press on, dear believer, in this journey of denying our flesh, knowing that our Savior, who has begun a good work in us, will bring it to completion, until the day of Jesus Christ, as Philippians 1:6 so wonderfully assures us.