Put On Christ

Part 2

Make No Provision For The Flesh

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

We see three instructions in this scripture. They are not suggestions, but God is giving us commands.

* Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Make no provision for the flesh.

*Do not fulfill it’s lusts.

*We put on the Lord Jesus Christ by having His behavior and attitudes, in all circumstances. Our old mind sets change as we learn to obey and follow Him.

*We will make provision for our flesh where and when we are the most tempted. Our flesh is our old nature, our unrenewed mind. We are meant to depend on God. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”.

*Lust is a strong powerful desire or passion for anything that is sinful. It wages war against your soul. Fleshly desires and passions pull us away from God’s will for our lives. You have to take control of your lusts and desires, don’t let them take control of you. When we continue in them, they become a habit.

The Works of the Flesh

or Acts of Our Sinful Nature

Galatians 5: 16–21

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.

But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Sexual immortality

Impurity

Sensuality

Lack of self-control

Idolatry

Witchcraft

Sorcery

Hatred

Variance

Emulations

Jealousy

Fits of anger

Disputes

Wrath

Strife

Rebellion

Heresies

Envying

Murders

Drunkenness

Riotous behavior

And such like :

Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

WARNING

We see that God is giving us a warning. He does not want us doing these things. He wants us to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Our Old Nature Fuels Sin!

When we are born again, our spirit man has received the Holy Spirit. Our soul is the same until we begin the process of change, the ‘metamorphosis’. Our old nature will cause us to act in an un Christ-like way. The sad news is, some stay like this and don’t renew their thinking and behavior.

We have all met Christians who, when they don’t get what they want, they act up in an unseemly manner. We are to be the ‘Jesus’ that people see in their every day life. Our words, attitudes and love for people are cleary seen and felt if we are displaying our Lord’s behavior.

Change Is Coming

Change will come to those who have crucified the sinful nature with it’s passions and lusts.

As we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, a wonderful change will happen in us. People around you will see and feel it. You will be aware. Religion will not do this for you. Religion is not a relationship with Jesus, but a set of rules and regulations. As you get to know Jesus intimately, you will want to change. Your love and thankfulness to Him for what He has done for you, will be a motivator for you to change.

There’s No Change Until There’ is Change !

Good News

Those Who Have Crucified The Flesh Have Changed !

They have Put On The Lord Jesus Christ!

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with it’s passions and desires.

The Fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ.

This ‘fruit’ has to be cultivated in our soul. We are given a seed of the fruit of the Spirit, when we believe and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is called ‘the borne again’ experience. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our spirit being. Remember we are a three part being, body, soul and spirit. The fruit develops in our soul as our character is becoming Christ-like. This happens as we discipline ourselves to behave as God has instructed us to.

A Process!

Remember: Developing Christ-like behavior is a process. It’s a process that you have to work at. It doesn’t happen by magic. You have to desire to change; to stop responding in the flesh/ the carnal self. Our old self. Make no provision for the flesh.

I encourage you to start or continue on in your ‘metamorphosis ‘.

Fruit will begin to develope in your life. It is an exciting journey. Your life will be transformed for all that God has for you. You will move closer to your destiny.

The choice is yours:

Fruit and more fruit.

OR

Self and more Self!

I pray for all of you that you will chose Jesus and His plan for your life.

Bless you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Barbara. 2/23