Text: Romans 13:11-14
Memory verse:
”But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.“
Romans 13:14 NKJV
It’s often said that no cancer cell is too small to be ignored, for if left unattended to urgently, it can destroy the whole body. Likewise, no work of the flesh should be pampered, tolerated, and treated as ordinary. No matter how spiritually inclined one may be, tolerating the flesh in any part of your life can make a ruin of a beautiful destiny.
Trying to tame the flesh through self efforts will result in greater frustration (Rom 7:19). Thus, the cross is the only way out of the trouble. Our body of sin, that is, the flesh, has been crucified with Christ. We have been freed from slavery to the flesh through the cross. We are no longer debtors to the flesh. This is the true state of every believer (Rom 8:12-13).
This state must, however, be enforced and maintained. That is, we must daily, through the Spirit, not self efforts, put to death the flesh. This is living the crucified life. This is what Jesus meant when He said, ”…let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.“ (Matt 16:24). This is what is also meant by to “put on the Lord Jesus”, according to our text. It is to be clothed with Christ, not just externally as in clothing. Rather, it is to choose to think of the way Christ thought and to live the way He lived. It is never to conform to the desires of the world but to love what He loves, want what He wants, and hate what He hates. “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Rom 13:14 NIV). It means, rather than allowing your heart to plan ahead to fulfill fleshly desires, derive joy in planning ahead to fulfill godly desires!
The second thing to do is not to make provision or room for the flesh to fulfill its desires. The flesh desires and seeks a room to express them. No matter how stubborn a weed is, if you starve it of water, it will naturally die. The ultimate power of the flesh has been broken at the cross, and it has no power on its own to dominate the believer except through the strength we provide for it. Thus, we make provision for the flesh when we feed, indulge, satisfy, and gratify it. We empower it to dominate us.
Friends, put on Christ as your armour, and don’t indulge and don’t spare the flesh!
Prayer points
1. Father, please help me to live daily, the crucified life, and never to leave any part of me out of Your cover, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I receive Your wisdom never to indulge, satisfy, or gratify the flesh in any way, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. The power of the flesh has been destroyed, and I won’t empower it anymore to dominate me.
2. I clothe myself with Christ and won’t leave any part of me to be outside His cover.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng