What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 57

The Natural Man Receiveth Not the Things of the Spirit (continued)

We Can Exercise Control Over the Natural Man

We have seen that the Philistines embodied the antichrist activities of that old serpent, called the devil, and satan. And we have seen that that which is of the antichrist gains its strength, becomes stronger and stronger, when God's people, either individually or corporately, give ground to the devil by allow their natural man to  control their lives. Samson, in giving in to his fleshly lusts and passions, allowed the lasciviousness of is natural man to control his life. David had this problem when instead of going to war, he allowed himself to lust after Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of his own mighty men (2 Samuel 11). Solomon also had this problem who, instead of depending upon the wisdom of God, allowed himself to love many strange women, and allowed his heart to be turned away after their gods (1 Kings 11). We all need to recognize that this uncontrolled lust has always been, and is, a disgraceful problem in the Church today.

In Ephesians 4:17-20, the Bible tells us that those who are saved are not to walk as the Gentiles walk, they are not to walk as the people of the world walk. They are not to give themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness - which means self must be satisfied, self must be gratified, self must satisfy its evil desires. Hence, the Lord is warning us that, no matter how this evil lust and passion expresses itself, whether in thought or in deed, this lasciviousness that works all uncleanness with greediness must not be allowed in our lives.

 Many Christians who allow their fleshly lusts and passions to control their lives want God, or someone God uses, to deliver them of this uncleanness. But if we are saved by His grace, if we are redeemed by the Blood of Christ, we have already been delivered. Colossians 1:13 tells us that God has delivered us in and through Christ: "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son."

If we are saved, we have been delivered out of the power, out of the authority of the darkness - "the darkness," the realm which is under the rule of satan (Revelation 16:10); and we have been transferred into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son - God has transferred us into, God has set us in, the Kingdom which is Sovereignly Ruled by Christ Jesus our Lord. This is our God-given position during our sojourn on earth, this is our God-given position throughout all eternity.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 58)