Mortifying Your Flesh

PP: We need to prepare ourselves to go above and beyond our limits to kill our fleshly desires, by relying on the strength of God and being honest with your brothers in Christ about struggles

Kill Your Fleshly Desires (vv. 5-8)

Why sex and anger

Sexual sin (porn) is having an impact on our culture 1 Cor. 6:18

Anger

Then and now

See the impact of sex and anger related sin

1st list - acts to motives, 2nd - motives to actsCoveting (wanting something that doesn’t belong to you is the root issue of sexual immorality)Contentment is the opposite of coveting2nd against other people - social

1st list sexual sins

Idol worship/Covetousness

Greed/he desire to have more than what’s needed

Evil/Desires Passions

Lust/Strong desire to have something of someone else

Impurity/Sexual Immorality

Every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse outside of with your wife

Porneia and graphe - Pornography - writing or picture of sexual immorality

2nd list - social - involves others

Anger/wrath

leads to malice

mean/aiming to harm

Slander

insult someone. Impact reputation

Obscene talk

filthy language

Matthew 12:36

English Standard Version Chapter 12

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Mortify fleshly desires now or God will later

You once walked - you left for a reason

Jesus said the same in Matthew 5:29-30

English Standard Version Chapter 5

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

God’s wrath is coming (maybe not immediate) - stroring up wrath

(Romans 2:5)Present and future judgementNo one escapes the consequences of sin

Battling with the WordJesus did in the wilderness

Eph. 6:17 - sword is the word of God

Be willing to do whatever it takes

Kill sin before it kills you

If we love God we do not act like those that are storing up wrath. We do everything we can because God is far more important.

Know where you are weak and prepare daily to battle sin

Eph. 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

If you are a Christian you’ve been given the tools to kill your sin

Romans 6:12-13

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Confess Your Sins (vv. 9-10)

Understand Christians are going to be tempted

Romans 7:14-25 - It’s a struggle, Paul understands that

Confess sins and let others pray for you and hold you accountable

We lack confession because we want to be viewed as more godly than we are

Romans 2:4

English Standard Version Chapter 2

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

We lie when we say all is good and things are not clearly good. God put every man around the table in your life for a reason

John 8:44 - Satan father of lies

You are not alone and can’t do this on your own

Have a renewed mind focused on Christ

Renewed focus more like Christ

Holy Spirit help us, not us. No Holy Spirit, impossible. It’s why Non Christians can’t see it happening

Christ absolute image of God, and we are created new in Christ to be more like him. More like creator.

Phil. 4:8 - Whatever is true, honorable...

English Standard Version Chapter 4

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This “new self” needs constant renewal or refreshing—it is being renewed (pres. tense), in order to keep it victorious over sinContinued renewal of the mind:2 Cor. 4:16Romans 12:2Eph. 4:23-24

Embrace Your New Team (V. 11)

We are all one team in Christ

All being equal is counter cultural

Christ is the focal point