DELIVERANCE ?
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
What a blessed promise! And as sure as it is blessed, it’s blessing is to everyone who believes.
Think of the lust (carnal desire) of the flesh. How all-pervading it is! How stern are its dictates! How oppressive its rule! How dismal is the slavery that it lays upon man! Everybody has experienced it — longing to do the good that he would, yet doing only the evil that he hated; having ever a will to do better, but how to perform it, finding not . . . .
Delighting in the law of God after the inward man, yet finding in his members (the flesh) another law, warring against the law of his mind and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin which is in his members; and at last, crying out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Romans 7:14-24.
“For the Words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life !” John 6:63. “That the blessing of Abraham might come on (generate, bring to newness of life) the gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through faith . . . !” Galatians 3:14
Think of the lust (carnal desire) of the flesh. How all-pervading it is! How stern are its dictates! How oppressive its rule! How dismal is the slavery that it lays upon man! Everybody has experienced it — longing to do the good that he would, yet doing only the evil that he hated; having ever a will to do better, but how to perform it, finding not . . . . “For the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are yet in the flesh (begotten only once) cannot please God !” Romans 8:7-8
. . . Delighting in the law of God after the inward man, yet finding in his members (the flesh) another law, warring against the law of his mind and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin which is in his members; and at last, crying out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:14-24.
Thank the LORD, there is deliverance! It is found in Christ Jesus and in the Spirit of our God. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then now with the mind I myself serve the Law of God (that of self-sacrifice and love); but with the flesh I serve the law of sin” . . . “for the wages of sin is death,” therefore “I die daily !”
Romans 7:25, 6:23 & I Corinthians 15:31
“And Jesus said unto them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me !” Luke 9:23-24
And the law of the Spirit of (and) Life in Christ Jesus having made you free from the law of sin and death (in Adam), then “walk in the Spirit, in His Words by faith, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Romans 8:2-4. There is not only deliverance from the bondage of corruption (ruin, decay); there is also the glorious liberty of the children of God for every soul who receives the Spirit and walks in the Spirit.
“If ye abide in Me, and My Words . . . which are Spirit and Life . . . abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. For herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit !”
John 15:7-8 & Galatians 5:22-24
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust (carnal desires) of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16. See the list of the workings of the lust of the flesh: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like.” Galatians 5:19-21. None of these shall you fulfill . . . . over all these things you have the victory, when you walk in the Spirit. It is the faithful Word of God !
“For whatsoever is born (begotten) of God, overcometh the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) . . . . And this is the Victory which overcometh the world, even our faith !” “And faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God !” I John 5:4, 2:16 & Romans 10:17
“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: It shall not return unto Me void, but It shall accomplish that which I please . . . Christ in you, the hope of glory . . . working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure . . . And It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent It . . . !” Isaiah 55:10-11, Colossians 1:27 & Philippians 2:13
Is not that a most desirable prospect? Is not such a thing as that worth having? And when it is had for the asking and the taking, then is it not worth asking for and taking?
Accept the deliverance that Christ has wrought out for you. Stand, and stand fast, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free !” Galatians 5:1. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” “For everyone that asketh receiveth.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with the Spirit,” yea, “Walk in the” “Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption !”
– A.T. Jones – RH Mar. 14, 1899