The Inhibition of Fleshly Lusts

A Scottish biologist inadvertently discovered penicillin in 1928 when he noticed a radius of destroyed bacteria surrounding a piece of mould in a plate culture. Since that time, antibiotics have been mass produced and used to treat millions of people with bacterial infections. This epiphany in science parallels a deep truth in spiritual warfare: the arming of the mind of Christ to the inhibition of fleshly lusts. As bacterial colonies cannot proliferate within the proximity of penicillin, so the lusts of the flesh cannot colonize when a child of God walks in the Spirit with the mind of Christ.

The “armament” of the mind in the Bible is based upon a Greek term for weapon. It denotes an ancient warrior holding a shield and javelin. In this context, the Christian fights against the lusts of the flesh which war against the soul. If the soldier is not armed for this conflict, his or her soul will be overrun and infected by the advancing troops. To guard the mind against the bacteria of sin, it must be daily renewed and armed in Christ. But how is this accomplished?

A piece of mould must be placed upon the dish and allowed to rot before it can effect the bacteria surrounding it. A death must occur to the principle of self to where the overpowering life of Another is activated. Once this power is exuded through the mould, the bacteria are expelled. In spiritual terms, this death for the believer comes through an identification with Christ’s own death and a subsequent internal resignation to the mortifying power of the Holy Spirit. As the piece of mould in the dish is immobile yet deadly to the bacteria, so the armed Christian, though dead, yet emits a Power fatal to the lusts of his or her flesh.

Every Christian should be occupied with the overcoming of spiritual contaminates seeking to enter the mind and heart through sin. To prepare for this, we must allow the Word of God to dwell within us richly, and the peace of God to rule our hearts. If we would be conquerors, we must attune our minds to engage the soft dealings of death impressed upon us daily by the Holy Spirit. As lone pieces of mould amidst perverse colonies of bacteria we must see ourselves as dead on the plate but alive to the Master who infuses our dead bodies with grace and power and overcoming life. O hallelujah! This is the New Covenant.

"...as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (I Peter 4:1-2)

Brother Paul

http://understandingmortification.wordpress.com/

That gives a whole new understanding to the words:
" Mould me and make me pure as thou art" :D

"this death for the believer comes through an identification with Christ’s own death and a subsequent internal resignation to the mortifying power of the Holy Spirit."

"we must allow the Word of God to dwell within us richly, and the peace of God to rule our hearts. If we would be conquerors, we must attune our minds to engage the soft dealings of death impressed upon us daily by the Holy Spirit."

"O hallelujah! This is the New Covenant."

"...as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (I Peter 4:1-2)

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QUOTE:
"we must allow the Word of God to dwell within us richly, and the peace of God to rule our hearts."
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This is a tremendously powerful concept: to allow the peace of God to rule our heart. It says RULE. How dominate is that? A ruler is no wimp. How often do we give the peace of God a casual glance but then make room for our own will instead. Should come as no surprise when chaos rules instead.

Yes, chaos and peace cannot inhabit the same heart at the same time.

Isn't this just like God truly...daily

"If we would be conquerors, we must attune our minds to engage the soft dealings of death impressed upon us daily by the Holy Spirit."

and...

"...as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (I Peter 4:1-2)

brings a comfort to the suffering. Thank you for this good word.

A timely post. My wife shared this scripture with me at breakfast because it was her verse for the day and it seemed to fit well with the things I was discussing with some friends this morning. I told her that I believe this verse is a part of the puzzle in understanding this subject.

It is just like the Lord for me to find it here at the end of the evening.

Thank you for sharing. Any more unpacking of these scriptures would be welcomed.

Randy

Any more unpacking of these scriptures would be welcomed.

I used to think this verse meant the physical torments of Christ upon the cross: the Roman beatings and nails and thirst. But I was wrong, as Christian martyrs in history have undergone far more excruciating ordeals for their faith. Jesus Christ was not tortured for days and then burned alive, as many believers were during the reign of Queen Mary. Even the thieves on Golgotha endured more suffering in the flesh than He; their legs were broken and they lingered on in torment longer than Jesus did, who expired so speedily that even Pilate marveled.

Peter therefore speaks of another realm of suffering in the flesh that precludes mere physical torment. Precious insight is gained when we compare I Peter 4:1-2 with Hebrews 12:4: struggling against sin even to the point, were it possible, of resisting unto blood.

Battling temptation can be a real fight in the flesh. When we deny our selfish lusts we begin to suffer. The flesh screams for its autonomy and rebellion against the Word of God. God speaks mortification in these instances, He commands us to crucify self daily in this regard (see Luke 9:24) and thus put to death our members upon the earth.

We know Jesus was tempted in all points like we are. He had a self-will of His own, like us, which needed to come under the subjection of His Father's will. We see this especially as he prayed in the garden, "Not my will, but Yours..." He suffered in the flesh and did not sin. He was a man of sorrows. And no wonder! I believe He was constantly being harassed to use God's power for Himself, to avoid the cross (remember Satan speaking to Him through Peter) and negate the very purpose for which He came into this world. Men urged Him to become a Statesman; the religious people constantly wanted Him to provide signs of God's validation upon His ministry; if He could be tempted by Satan with the corrupt opulence of the kingdoms of the world, he could also be tempted by women. If He couldn't have been tempted sexually, then we do not have a High Priest who can understand the battle millions of men fight daily in their minds. His temptation was on all points.

Yet He overcame them all and never sinned once in word, thought or action, and He consequently suffered in the putting to death of His will. We are to "arm" ourselves with His same mindset. The filling of the Holy Spirit makes it possible to resist through God's grace and win the battle in our thoughts. But like our Forerunner and Example, our flesh will suffer in the meantime. As a result, will have ceased from sin. The wonderful message of this passage is that, through the graceful suffering of flesh-denial, we can break free from the chains of lust and begin living in the fullness of God's will for our lives.

Praise God!

Brother Paul