SpiritFlesh.com

IV Depravity - Starving the Spirit, Feeding the Flesh.
III Depletion - Famishing the Spirit, Starving the Flesh.
II Destruction - Sustaining the Spirit, Feeding the Flesh.
I Devotion - Sustaining the Spirit, Famishing the Flesh.
 

IV Depravity - Starving the Spirit, Feeding the Flesh.

These are people in an oblivious spiritual funk. They are lost in the sense that their quest for looking out for themselves seems to be working out for them. There is no yearning for a devotion to God, in fact they are quick to run to evil. The devil has them disqualified for now in a demonic strategy for them to unknowingly miss out.

Though, "The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being (Proverbs 20:26-28). Any conviction from God is put on hold or the message is skipped over as worldly passions continually numb, blind and attract.

Ephesians 2:2-4 explains, "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." Feed the flesh and this what you get.

If only they would fear God and see Him for who He is and pray like this, "My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws." (Psalm 119:119-121)
 

III Depletion - Famishing the Spirit, Starving the Flesh.

It may be more of a passive indifference or new age distraction from God's truth. This casual corruption, perhaps from spiritual exhaustion, blinds anyone from seeking devotion and ever discovering the possibility of blessing from God.

The bible warns of such condition when the apostle Paul references the story of creation in 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

Paul later recognized that God could use these trials as a wake up call. "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:23-25) Here is a great prayer for such a condition. "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." (Psalm 143:9-11). There is always hope with life in the Spirit even in "depletion".

II Destruction - Sustaining the Spirit, Feeding the Flesh.

This is where the battle zone is especially for the Christian who has both devotion with God, yet also gives way to temptations and is not regularly experiencing victory in their lives. Many people unwillingly stay in this area of the grid.

It is like an owner of two hungry dogs with enough food for only one. The owner divvies up the food to each of the hungry dogs here and there. This indecision and lack of a clear stand allows both dogs to remain hungry and never fully satisfied. Frustration from the foothold of the "evil" dog and conviction from the "holy" dog makes for a lack of fulfillment and failure overall spiritually.

For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. (Romans 7:4-6) 

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:17-19)

I Devotion - Sustaining the Spirit, Famishing the Flesh.

This is where the fruit is, the growth, the victory. It is where the joy is! It is what Christ had in mind in John 10:10 when He said He came to give an abundant life.

In the "devotion" area in the duel between Spirit and Flesh we commit our lives to God like this verse in Psalm 31:4-6 which Christ later referred to on the cross, "Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth."

In this still battle you’re standing firm against the schemes of the devil. One still needs to be on the wise and on the lookout. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Mark 14;37-39)

May we be like Isaiah who prayed in Isaiah 38:2-4 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes."

To survive temptation you must be plugged into the power of Christ on the cross. Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? If not, you can verify your eternal address in heaven today. The following pages outline God’s plan of salvation including a prayer asking Jesus to be Lord of your life.

HereToHeaven.com

Chase We all chase the wind with a heart of sin.

Developed by Dan & Dave Davidson
© 2001 ThinkWow.com from the book
"Surviving Temptation Island"
by Dan & Dave Davidson & George Verwer