In Ephesians 4 where Paul deals with the sins of the flesh in the context of the old man and the new man, he inserts this warning: "Neither give place to the Devil" (Ephesians 4:27). This warning indicates that when you commit sins of the flesh, you give place--literally a claim--to Satan in your life.
As you have learned during the past month, the world, the flesh, and the devil with his demons combine their evil forces to war against you. Each force can operate independently, but these three forces of evil are often combined in their attacks. Satan uses the world with its illusions, charms, philosophies, and ungodly systems, to gain access to your flesh. He uses your flesh to gain access to your soul, mind, and spirit. Then he tries to conform you to the world rather than to God.
So how do you combat the forces of the world and the flesh: The Apostle Paul declares:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
You are not to be conformed to the world, its philosophies, and its standards. You are not to yield to the appeal of the flesh. You are to present yourself to God--body, mind, heart, soul, and spirit. You are to be transformed by continually renewing your mind in the Word of God.
You must present yourself to God as an act of your own will. In the Old Testament when a sacrifice was given to God, the person who offered it had no further control over it. It was given totally to the Lord. Instead of conforming to the world and the flesh, you must be transformed-- totally changed--by the renewing of your mind.
God has equipped you with spiritual weapons to conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
Your quest to achieve destiny demands obedience. It demands transformation. You are in the world, but you cannot be of it if you are to receive the manifested promises of God in your life. You are in the flesh, but you need not operate in the flesh. The devil is real, but he has no power over you. You have the supernatural, God-given power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
PRAYER:
My FATHER, My God, this year let my life reflect the blessing of the Lord, I shall not be static, I decree PROGRESS, FAVOR, HONOR, AND INFLUENCE are my portion. My life is SALTED, My speech is SALTED, My Home and Business are SALTED in the name of Jesus.
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