Romans
8:12-13 tells us that we, as believers, are no longer indebted to the
flesh—which subjects people to death all the time. Before we received the Spirit we w=
ere
obligated to the power and control of the flesh and had to fulfill its
desires. This kind of living =
issued
in a spiritual death that would have culminated in a physical death for
eternity.
However,
everything changed when we believed in Jesus. When we received the Lord, the Holy
Spirit came into us. This Spi=
rit is
the very One who raised Jesus from the dead (v. 11). Death is the most powerful and fea=
red
force on earth. Up until
Christ’s resurrection; no one ever conquered the power of death. But, praise the Lord, the Spirit o=
f the
One who raised Christ Jesus from the dead now lives IN us. Now we have the power to overcome =
the
flesh with the result of living in the flesh—death.
Now that the Spirit dwells i=
n us
we are able to put to death the practices of the Body. Practically how do we do this? We do this by setting our mind on =
the
Spirit (v.6). When the mind is
under the Spirit’s influence our will is empowered to put to death the
practices of the body. We can=
see a
practical illustration of this through the apostle Paul. In 1 Cor. 9:27, Paul said, “=
But I
buffet my body and make if MY slave, lest perhaps having preached to others=
, I
myself may become disapproved.” Paul, by the Spirit, did not=
allow
his body to rule him. He, thr=
ough
his transformed mind, empowered by the Spirit, made his body his slave.
Now
let’s look at this from another angle. Verse 14 says, “For as many =
as are
led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” The word “for” can be
translated “because.” How
can one put to death the practices of the body? We put to death the practices of o=
ur
body BECAUSE we are led by the Spirit of God! What is the Spirit of God leading =
us to
do? He is leading us to put to
death the practices of the body according to His power!
The
word “led” in Greek has the meaning of taking by the hand or
holding of the hand by accompanying and guiding. The Spirit is not ahead of us. He is not forcing us. He is holding our hand, gently lea=
ding
us to put to death the practices of the body. “Sons of God” indicate=
s a
LIFE relationship. There is a=
life
within us that is more than capable to help us deal with our flesh.
The Spirit is always leading=
us
in this way. Every time the f=
lesh
rises up, the Spirit is present to lead us to put to death whatever
“it” wants us to practice.&nbs=
p;
Isn’t that wonderful?!
This is a strong proof that we are sons of God! “For you have not received a
spirit of slavery bringing us into fear AGAIN, but HAVE RECEIVED a spirit o=
f sonship in which we cry, Abba, Father!” When the flesh rises
up—“Abba, Father!”
When our body does not want to cooperate—“Abba, Father!&=
#8221; (In Greek, the word “cryR=
21;
means to scream, cry out, to call out loud.) Our Father comes to the rescue by =
our
calling upon Him; allowing Him to possess our mind, by which we are enabled=
put
to death whatever, our flesh is bidding us to do (or not do)!