Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
The battle with the flesh will continue every day of your Christian life. You will never be done with the flesh until you see Jesus.
You can’t get rid of the flesh, but you can weaken its position. Grasping this will really help you make sense of the Christian life.
Every time you say “yes” to the flesh—gossip, jealousy, hatred, etc.—you increase its power. Every time you indulge in pornography, get drunk, take pleasure in a lewd joke, you increase the power of the flesh. But every time you say “no” to the flesh, you reduce its power and weaken its position.
If you have said “yes” to the flesh in some area repeatedly for many years, you will find that it has gained a grip in your life and it will cause great destruction. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction.
Every time you say “yes” to the Spirit, you drain the power of the flesh.
Every act of faith, every act of forgiveness, kindness, service, or compassion deepens the work of the Spirit in your life. Every time you draw near to God in the Word, in worship, and in prayer, the fruit of the Spirit advances in your life. Every difficulty and disappointment that you endure, loving Christ still, will produce good fruit in your life. Holiness is a harvest, and it depends on what you sow.
If you’ve allowed a particular sin to build a stronghold in your life, over time, then you need to hear the alarm bell ringing today. You need more than a quick “Lord, forgive me.” You need to crucify the flesh, and start sowing to the Spirit! Do that now, because the longer you leave it, the more difficult it will become.
