Starve Your Flesh, Feed Your Spirit (I)

[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

[6] For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace

Romans 8:5-6 (KJV)

As a true Christian whose goal is to live out heaven’s purpose on earth and reign with God eternally when life’s curtains closes on us, you must live in the spirit.

For a majority of us, we grew up satisfying the desires of our flesh; eating and drinking whatever we wanted, however and whenever we wanted it.

Having our own way always; Running after sexual perversions; kicking others aside just to reach our goals, unperturbed by how much we hurt them and how deep the wounds we inflict on them.

It was all about “me, myself, and I”, no place for God and certainly no place for man, even when it was to our own detriment. But now, we are in Christ, Our spirit man has come alive in Him, and Mr. Flesh has been sent packing.

And, as our Spirit man thrives and blossoms, Mr. Flesh is hurt. He feels betrayed and won’t back down without a fight. He wants his place back, but you say to him:

“No fleshy, I’m a new creature
in Christ Jesus now. We can’t
be partners in iniquity no longer.”

So Mr. Flesh is vexed. He fights tooth and nail to kick your Spirit man out – if possible, kill him – so he can have you all to himself.

Therefore, you are believer, a new creature in Christ, but you are still battling with the weight, loads, and build-up of the flesh in you before you met Christ.

You desire to walk in righteousness, yet it seems to be far cry. That which you despise, you find yourself helplessly engaging in it. Like Apostle Paul, you cry out;

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from The body of this death.”

Romans 7:24 (KJV)

My answer to your cry is the sweetest invitation you’ll ever read from the purest heart to have graced the earth – Jesus.

He says;

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28, 30 (KJV)

Jesus is the One you need: The word who was made flesh (John 1:14) to sanctify us and make us as pure as light (John 17:17-19,23a). The Word who is the Bread of Life sent to quench every hunger and craving of the flesh, that His Spirit might have full expression in our spirit, soul, and body (John 6:35).

It is worthy to note that living a righteous life (a life dead to the world and alive in God) is not by a function of our strength and human resolve.

For by strength shall no man prevail.

1 Samuel 2:9b (KJV)

We must put off our cloak of ‘DIY’s,’ and submit to God. We must humble ourselves and yield to the demands of the Spirit; feeding fat on His life giving bread (the word), drinking daily from the wells of His living water, that we might be sanctified, purified, thoroughly purged and void of every blemish and spot.

Only then can we continue to blossom in the Spirit, bear viable fruits, and remain dead to the carnalities that try hard to pull us away from God’s fold.

Feed fat on the word and starve your flesh of the worldly dainties it craves for.

Change your diet!

(Read the next part of the article here.)