BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Until the flesh is brought into obedience by the spirit, there is war waging in you. The flesh wants to dominate you, and the spirit is endeavoring to suppress the flesh. But you can win that war! “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Overcoming Sin and the Flesh The way to overcome sin and the flesh is not to try to stop sinning. You dominate the flesh by walking after the new life that God put within you. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). “Mortify therefore your [flesh]...” (verse 5). “And [you] have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (verse 10). Walk after that inward man and your outward man will come into subjection to the Spirit. It takes knowledge of God, and knowledge of God comes by spending time in His Word and prayer. Now, remember that our destination, or goal, is to be like Jesus. Romans tells us that we are predestinated to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). How are you going to get there? Romans 8:1-2 tells us that it will be by walking after the quality of life we have received: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” We have enough of the resurrection life of God to walk in glorious liberty while we are still on earth. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven for freedom from the law of sin and death. The life that is in Christ Jesus MAKES you free from that other law! “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (verses 3-4). The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us as we walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. “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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (verses 5-7). The Church will never have dominion over death as long as we are carnally minded. The spiritual mind brings forth life. A spiritual mind marshals itself under the command of God, either by the written Word or by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual mind is open and ready to hear reproofs and corrections from the Spirit of God. To know and experience the resurrection power of God in our lives, we must constantly conduct ourselves within the sphere of the Spirit. As we do, this constant conduct prompted by the Holy Spirit will make us free from the law of sin and death. If the Spirit of God is directing and controlling us, then there is no condemnation, or judgment, for us. Again, it’s conditional. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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 (verses 11-13). The Spirit of God is in us to raise us up from dead works. He will quicken our flesh. If we will give ourselves over to Him, resurrection life will dominate and subdue the flesh. The Holy Ghost subdues and quickens our mortal flesh. The life of God in us by the Spirit of God permeates outward until the flesh is in subjection to the Spirit. When Jesus was crucified, our old man was crucified. The Spirit of God is in us to enforce the death of our old man. But the Holy Spirit will not subdue our flesh on His own. He helps us when we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. He is in us to teach and train us how to live habitually after this divine life that we have been given. It starts with our everyday life. We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the everyday affairs of life and lead us into mortifying the deeds of the body. If you don’t know how to be led by the Spirit, make a decision to learn. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. He will teach you. Tell the Lord, “I want to hear Your voice. I want to do what You tell me to do. I want to walk in Your resurrection power. I desire to experience the power to live a new life every day. By a decision of my heart, I put down the dictates of my flesh and mortify the deeds of the body. By the power of God, I receive a Holy Ghost refreshing in my life. In Jesus’ Name!” Then put into your life things that you know are the will of God: time in prayer and in the Word. Then be quick to hear and adhere to the written Word and the promptings of the Spirit within you. V * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * With enough of the Word in your heart, you can be BLESSED in good times and bad. Even when the world is going through bad times, God’s will for us is good. Psalm 145:9 Faith to receive the good things God has for you comes through His Word. Romans 10:17 Invest in the Word by spending time in it and putting it first place in your life. Proverbs 4:20-21 Don’t wait for God to chase you down and speak to you; go after His Word. James 4:8 There’s nothing more beneficial you can do than invest your time in God’s Word. Galatians 6:7-8 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BVOV : 11

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