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August 20 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so. Romans 8:5-7. Christians will lead a defeated life if their mindset is upon their own condition—their own flesh, their own abilities, their own answers to life’s questions. Paul is talking to Christians who have received the Holy Spirit at their acceptance of Jesus Christ into their lives. All believers have been re-created—we are a new creation. Sadly, there is a growing emphasis in today’s Christian circles that tries to point us toward so-called deeper life experiences, such as selected gifts of the Spirit. It would be foolish to think that some of us have been given a lifeless new creation that has no indwelling Holy Spirit. God does not work that way. I have even heard some say that if you do not speak in tongues, you are not a Christian and you definitely do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. My dear friends, God is not about the business of withholding His nature to just a few, extra-special, super-spiritual members of the body. But He does ask us not to dwell on our fleshly condition. Instead we are to look to the Holy Spirit for revelation of everything that is needed in our life. Let Him decide upon the gifts that you receive. Some would say that the Holy Spirit cannot work within us until we surrender. What they are usually speaking of is the surrendering of our flesh. But this is contrary to the word of God. We are going to fail when we try to surrender the flesh—it will never give up, not will God ever use it. Instead we are to look for the growth that only the Spirit can produce. The Spirit will continually keep showing us more of Christ—that is the way to growth. From God’s viewpoint the flesh has been crucified at the cross. We are now alive in the Spirit. The new nature, the re-creation within us, is already in complete yielding to the Spirit. It is totally designed to do this, and we are to listen to God as He speaks to this new creation. He does not speak to the flesh. Dear Heavenly Father, let me focus today on the life-giving Spirit that has been sent to guide me. He, in turn, will show me more of Christ, for only He has the nature that pleases You. I will not attempt any self-evaluation. I will only seek the Lord Jesus and His guiding Spirit. My first thoughts will not be “What must I do?” Instead I will learn to ask, “What will You do?” I will not seek power, for Your power is perfected in my weakness. I only desire to experience more of Your ways. In Jesus name. Amen. |
