How do I deal with my fleshly desires?

Yesterday

We saw:

The source of conflict (external or internal) is one’s uncontrollable desires;

There is a group within the church who have a dead faith, are ungodly, who can’t control their desires.

Today

We will shift our focus to those with genuine faith, the godly, and see how they deal with their desires.

Open GODcha to the Book of James.

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Let’s Pray

O Lord, we come to You today because we love You Lord, and we want to know You. We want to understand Your will and ways. Help us today to see what You are saying to us, and grant us the understanding we need to apply these Truths to our lives. Thank you!

 

LOOK at What God Says

Let’s pick up from where we left off last.

Let GODcha point the way.

Where shall we begin?

READ God’s Word

Read James 4:1-5 again, asking the 5W’s and H.

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What are the 3 conflicts?

 

Let’s reflect on verse 1 and bring everything we learn together.

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

Do you remember pleasures means lustful desires?

 

So how do those with true faith deal with their lustful desires?

Let Truth Explain Truth About 

Those of Genuine Faith and Their Pleasures 

1. What do you learn about a person with genuine faith and the pleasures of their life?

Those with genuine faith: 

a. Were in bondage to the lusts of their flesh;

formerly lived in the lusts of their flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath… (Eph 2:3); (2Ti 3:4); (Tit 3:3)

 

b. Are  new creatures in Christ; the old has passed away, the new has come. (2Co 5:17)

 

c. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. (Rom 13:11-14) 

We see: Those with true genuine faith formerly lived in the lusts of their flesh, but do not live and act like they did before Christ.

Understand: They are new creatures in Christ.

Understand: Those with true faith have put on the Lord Jesus, and have the power to make no provision for their flesh.

LISTEN…

What might the Spirit be saying to you?

Am I still indulging the lusts of my flesh?

Or, am I a new creature in Christ, no longer indulging the desires of my flesh?

Respond to God…LIVE it out!

 

2. How does one of faith battle the pleasures of life, the lusts of the flesh?

a. At the beginning of Rom Ch 6 Paul explains that those who have genuine faith are dead to sin, no longer slaves to sin, under sin’s power. Therefore, they are not to let sin reign (control) their mortal body obeying its lusts.

So now he says they do not go on presenting the members of their body as instruments of unrighteousness . . . (Rom 6:12-14)

Understand: Before Christ we are slaves to sin. But now, sin still exists, but believers are dead to sin. God’s Spirit is within giving believers the power to no longer let sin control them. Sin is a choice!

Understand: Believers now have the power to present the members of their body as instruments of righteousness.

 

b. If we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desire of the fleshFor the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition to one another.  (Gal 5:14-18)

Understand: There are only 2 ways to live: — by the flesh or by God’s Spirit. One is sinful, the other is holy.

Understand: There is a constant war within between the flesh and the Spirit. BUT believer’s have the power to walk by the Spirit, and say NO to the flesh.

 

cIf we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit(Gal 5:24)

THINK: What does living by the Spirit look like? What is the the fruit of the Spirit?

One displays love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

Do you see any of the traits of God’s wisdom in this list?

 

d. Believer’s live the rest of the time ‘in’ the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1Pe 4:2)

 

Understand: our fleshly desires war against the Spirit, but those desires no longer control a believer. We have the power to control our fleshly desires, and live for the will of God.

LISTEN…

 

Do I desire to live for the will of God?

Do I live in such a way to bring honor to the One who set me free from the lusts of my flesh?

What must I do to live by the Spirit, for the will of God, and say ‘no’ to the lusts of my flesh?

Or, am I living to fulfill the desires of my flesh?

What desires of pleasure, lusts of the flesh and mind, am I indulging in? 

Respond to God…LIVE it out!

 

What Did We LEARN

Sum Up It Up!

The Context – there is a danger when a person is a friend of the world’.

We LEARN:

Desires for one’s own pleasures cause conflict.

A Conflict with others; 

A Conflict within.

 

We LEARN:

James is looking at 2 groups of people in the church:

1. Those who have a dead faith, who are slaves to their pleasures.

2. Those who have genuine faith that works, who formerly lived for their pleasures.

 

We LEARN:

Those With Genuine Faith:

  • Are dead to sin, so they have the power to just say ‘no‘;
  • Have the power over sin and choose not to obey the lusts of their flesh, and not to present the members of their body as instruments of unrighteousness;
  • Live according to the Spirit of God; and
  • Live to do the will of God.

 

Let’s Call it a Day!

Chew on God’s mighty truths, savor every morsel of what God taught us about those of genuine faith and their pleasures.

Save Your Discovery

As we bring this day to a close, journal your discovery and communion with the Lord in your Notes – save them forever!

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Turn What We LEARNED into a Prayer

Perhaps…

OH GRACIOUS ALMIGHTY FATHER , You who have given us life and power, we praise You for who You are! We thank you Lord Jesus for what You have done to set us free from sin, and that we who believe are dead to sin. That sin no longer controls us! Oh hallelujah! We thank You Holy Spirit for indwelling us and empowering us to say no to the lusts of our flesh and not use our bodies for unrighteousness, but now we use them for righteousness. Oh Spirit of the Living God, help each one of us follow Your leading and guidance to say no to sin, and live to do the Father’s will. May we yield to You! Fill us so we may truly display Your fruit. May every aspect of our lives bring honor and glory to You, Father God, and our Lord Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen!

 

Are you amazed at what God has shown you? You are doing fantastic!

Next: Hang in there, we will continue to LOOK @ this Conflict Within.

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