The Flesh Cannot Beat the Flesh

Scripture Read: Colossians   2:20  Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21  "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22  These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23  Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Application

Application: This is a great principle. You cannot control sensual drives through sensual disciplines. This is the natural step that we would normally head to. This is a subtle way though for the flesh to keep it’s power. You appear to be moving toward holiness but in reality you are doing nothing more then moving back into fleshly living. This does not appear that way because the direction of the move appears toward God. That’s the deception! In reality you are functioning in the flesh, not faith. To overcome the flesh we must yield to the Spirit. Only through the channel of faith can we empower the new man to avail himself of the power from the Holy Spirit. This is more difficult. It would be easier to try to develop holiness through fleshy disciplines. This does not mean that the spiritual battle for the flesh will not involve discipline to the body, it will. The issue here is how do we approach that? It must be by faith through the power of His Spirit to our spirit. Help me Lord to live this principle.