Who Reigns in Your Town?
"Consuming, constant, and containing. The flesh and spirit are very similar in their strength to inhabit. As an old time western movie, there are two forces, and only one can reign in the “town.” This is the same case concerning the flesh and the spirit; only one can be in power within the human being.
When the terms ‘flesh and spirit’ are brought up in a conversation many different ideas will come to ones mind. Someone involved with the study of medicine might link flesh with the tissue of the body covering the bones and consisting mainly of skeletal muscle and fat. Or, a frequent drinker might recognize the term spirit, as a link to ‘spirits,’ an alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor. The terms to a Believer would possibly be linked to the written Word of God, the Bible. This is where the terms are defined, and are applied to ones life.
The term ‘flesh,’ is found 24 times in the book of Romans, defining its self as human nature. The Greek word is Sarx. In the story line of an old western movie, flesh would take the leading role of the bad guy. Flesh is not pleasing to anyone, but he still is in power. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)
Flesh brings nothing but greed, selfishness, dispute, and filth into the town. He who dwells with flesh become slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness. (Romans 6:19) Even though flesh has taken a strong grip on the town, and he is in a period of influence, law still exists with its weight heavy on our backs. “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” (Romans 7:5)
So how does one emerge from such a heavy life, daily dragging the condemning weight of flesh? A hopeful town member might get the idea of bringing in another ‘force,’ but this time a good force. They look and find the spirit to be tantalizing.
The ‘spirit’ is found 28 times in the book of Romans, and is defined as a current of air, or as the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is Pnema. To the people this sounds like an answer to their problems. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9) As they soon find out, the spirit and the flesh cannot dwell together. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5) They cant set their minds to more than one thing. Either the flesh or the spirit.
The truth is finally found out when the hard fact is reveled. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) The people then decide to not submit their members as slaves of uncleanness and of lawlessness, but now to submit as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (Romans 6:19)
As the flesh was thrown out, and its spot was taken over by the spirit, the heavy weight was lifted as well. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
The excitement increases when they find that with the moving in of the spirit, it brings life! “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10) The town is saved, and the spirit reigns. It is no longer the flesh that is consuming, constant, and containing, but now the spirit is entrusted with that job.
Even though western shootouts for power are only in the movies, a real battle is taking place daily for whom we will let reign in our lives. The flesh or the spirit? Death or life? Which will you choose to rule your town? Choose wisely… "
"Consuming, constant, and containing. The flesh and spirit are very similar in their strength to inhabit. As an old time western movie, there are two forces, and only one can reign in the “town.” This is the same case concerning the flesh and the spirit; only one can be in power within the human being.
When the terms ‘flesh and spirit’ are brought up in a conversation many different ideas will come to ones mind. Someone involved with the study of medicine might link flesh with the tissue of the body covering the bones and consisting mainly of skeletal muscle and fat. Or, a frequent drinker might recognize the term spirit, as a link to ‘spirits,’ an alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor. The terms to a Believer would possibly be linked to the written Word of God, the Bible. This is where the terms are defined, and are applied to ones life.
The term ‘flesh,’ is found 24 times in the book of Romans, defining its self as human nature. The Greek word is Sarx. In the story line of an old western movie, flesh would take the leading role of the bad guy. Flesh is not pleasing to anyone, but he still is in power. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)
Flesh brings nothing but greed, selfishness, dispute, and filth into the town. He who dwells with flesh become slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness. (Romans 6:19) Even though flesh has taken a strong grip on the town, and he is in a period of influence, law still exists with its weight heavy on our backs. “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” (Romans 7:5)
So how does one emerge from such a heavy life, daily dragging the condemning weight of flesh? A hopeful town member might get the idea of bringing in another ‘force,’ but this time a good force. They look and find the spirit to be tantalizing.
The ‘spirit’ is found 28 times in the book of Romans, and is defined as a current of air, or as the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is Pnema. To the people this sounds like an answer to their problems. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9) As they soon find out, the spirit and the flesh cannot dwell together. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5) They cant set their minds to more than one thing. Either the flesh or the spirit.
The truth is finally found out when the hard fact is reveled. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) The people then decide to not submit their members as slaves of uncleanness and of lawlessness, but now to submit as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (Romans 6:19)
As the flesh was thrown out, and its spot was taken over by the spirit, the heavy weight was lifted as well. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
The excitement increases when they find that with the moving in of the spirit, it brings life! “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10) The town is saved, and the spirit reigns. It is no longer the flesh that is consuming, constant, and containing, but now the spirit is entrusted with that job.
Even though western shootouts for power are only in the movies, a real battle is taking place daily for whom we will let reign in our lives. The flesh or the spirit? Death or life? Which will you choose to rule your town? Choose wisely… "
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