Rule Over Self

This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

The reason some Christians find themselves struggling with the flesh is that they’re not living the Word (James 1:22).

The Word of God is clear: Walk in the Spirit, and you’ll not fulfil the lusts or desires of the flesh, as our opening verse states.

Some have been trying to crucify the flesh for a long time to no avail. God never told us to crucify the flesh, because the flesh has already been crucified; it happened the moment you were born again. Galatians 5:24 says, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

So, if you’re struggling with the flesh, simply stop; just act on the Word; walk according to the life and nature of God that’s in your spirit. 1 John 1:7 tells us to walk in the light, as He (God) is in the light; in other words, walk in the light of God’s provisions for you in Christ, as revealed in the Word.

For example, Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you…” ; therefore, if you find yourself struggling with a sinful habit, don’t become frustrated! Use the Word. Affirm, “I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; sin has no power over me. I refuse to be entangled by any yoke of bondage. I put a stop to this habit, in Jesus’ Name.” Make this declaration and begin to walk in its light, and sin shall not lord it over you. Hallelujah!

The flesh is basically about your senses and appetites, and the things you desire to do. And the Bible tells us, “…they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). Notice that verse doesn’t say, “They that are Christ’s are trying to or praying to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts.” For the one crying to the Lord to help crucify the flesh, he’s praying the wrong prayer, struggling for nothing!

Don’t find yourself in a struggle. If that’s the case, stop right away and say, “From this day, Jesus Christ is the Lord over my mind, over my appetites and over my desires; I have overcome the flesh and its passions and appetites; I’m Christ-minded.”

Fill your thoughts with the words of Christ; that’s what you need.

If the Word of God controls your mind, you’ll be a master. The Lordship of Jesus is the end of all struggles. When Jesus is the Lord of your body, you do what Paul explained in Romans 12:1: you present your body to Him, because your body is His body.

1 Corinthians 6:15 says, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.” Be bold and confident that you’re God’s headquarters. The body in which you live is God’s property; you’re living inside as a tenant and custodian; you’re taking care of it for God.

Romans 8:12-14 says, “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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” You live in the Spirit; therefore, walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

There are Christians who are enslaved by certain habits, which they keep praying to God to help them overcome. Unfortunately, for most of them, the more they pray, the more they find themselves controlled and dominated by those habits. This has left them confused and thinking their situation is beyond remedy. Some have even backslidden, because they thought they couldn’t be free.

But in studying the Scriptures, we find that it says in Romans 6:14, “For Sin shall not have dominion over you….” This is also unequivocal: “…they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts”; meaning that if you’re in Christ, you can’t be bound by any habit. So, what then is the problem of those who seem to be in bondage to certain habits? It’s simply their lack of knowledge.

God never asked us to fight the flesh or struggle with sin and habits; we’ve crucified the flesh; we’ve overcome the world; we have dominion over Satan and sin. So, when some Christians or even preachers counsel others to “crucify the flesh,” it’s a contradiction.

It’s fruitless to try to be who you already are or get what you already have. If God says you’ve crucified the flesh, then that’s it! Your role is to respond and say, “I don’t get, and can never be, dominated by sin or the flesh, because I am Christ’s. Therefore, I’ve crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.”

Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Since we were born into the spirit and we live in the spirit, we’re to walk in the spirit. So, simply, if you’ve not been walking in the spirit, start walking in the spirit; that is, in the light of God’s Word. Declare, “From this day, my flesh won’t control me; my mind won’t dictate to me; I refuse to be sense-ruled, for the Word of God has become my compass, and I live the Word.”

Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” How do you walk in the Spirit? It’s by walking in the light of God’s Word. It’s by walking in the truth in Christ; in the light of your righteousness and glory in Him. Hallelujah!