MIND MANAGEMENT: THE LUST OF THE FLESH

09/28/2022

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) The temptations of Jesus were on three points; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Yet, I believe these weren't physical temptations. They came as suggestive thoughts, which is the enemy's stock in trade. "Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3). The enemy didn't come via some random scheme, he came through Jesus' desire for food. "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1: 13-14). Desires are strings by which spirits draw people. Desires by themselves are not evil. The only thing that makes a desire evil is timing and motive. Desires, when godly, produce a lot of good in the world. Proverbs 11:23 says, "The desire of the righteous is only good..." Ungodly desires are the strings we hand to the enemy to produce sin and eventually, death. So how do we handle ungodly desires in the arena of the flesh? Exactly how Jesus handled it. Matthew 4:4 says, "But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Just spoke the written word of God to cast down that imagination. In the cause of your day, when suggestions come for you to do something, scan it with the Word, check the timing and the motivation behind the suggestion. Understand that the suggestion to check your phone while driving is badly timed and devilishly motivated. The Bible says that "This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic" ( James 3:15). Cast those suggestions down with the word, "I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD" (Psalm 118:17). Hallelujah! Faith-Filled Confession I screen every suggestion in my heart based on my desires with God's motives and timing to decipher its origin. The desires of my flesh are cast down by my confessions of God's word and there is victory for me in every decision I make today. In Jesus' name. Amen

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Isaiah 4-6; Galatians 3