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Beating Down the Flesh

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The Lord showed me a humorous image as we were worshipping in the Spirit.

It was of the arcade game where the heads of moles popped up out of holes and you had to hit them back into the hole with a padded mallet. He then explained why He was showing me the image.

He said that many of us are standing proud because of how we have grown in the eyes of the world. We have become mature in the ways of the world, for we know how to do the things of the world (Galatians 5:19-21):

  • Be sarcastic
  • Twist people's words against them
  • Wait for an opportunity to put people down for the sake of humor
  • Hold grudges

But the Spirit is saying that we should not be proud of this, because being grown in the world is nothing to be cherished—it is sin to be rejected (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) (2 Corinthians 12:20). For we have become immature in spirit, so that we neglect the true way of living.

15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. Galatians 5:15-17

In order to reverse this condition, we must hit down our flesh when it rises up like this, seeking to stand proud in the world. We must use the Holy Spirit as our sword to beat it back, to put it back in its place (Ephesians 6:17-18) (Romans 8:13).

25Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, 27but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

When we do this, our spirit will rise in its place nearby. We will then be able to grow in the Spirit, to become mature in the ways of the Kingdom of God, to do these (Galatians 5:22-26):

  • Be gentle with others
  • Speak words of grace, rather than twisting someone's words
  • Speak the truth in love, rather than putting one down
  • Keep no record of wrongs

We should not be proud that we are mature in the eyes of the world, but become as babies in those things. Rather, we should mature ourselves in the Spirit, growing in love, becoming set apart from the ways of the world, being proud that we are different—because the world is opposed to God and its way of life doesn't glorify Him or His things (1 Corinthians 2:12).

18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

Use the Spirit as your sword, then, by praying in the Spirit, to smash the flesh as it rises against the knowledge of God, and it will disappear as your spirit inside begins to grow and show itself as the image of Christ it was created to be.

20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20

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The Good Message

As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.

But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.

This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, Christ Jesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.

You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.

God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.

That Son, Jesus Christ, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.

His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.

The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.

So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.

Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!