Flesh vs. Spirit Part II
What are the attributes of the fleshly man vs. the spiritual man. Which is pleasing to God, and which attributes do you possess? There is a choice that we each have to make. You can be like the first carnal man or you may choose to become the blessed second man by submitting your will to God the father. In making this choice it is a life changing experience from that point on.
Exactly, what is it about the first man that displeases God? Let's take a look back at Cain and Abel. In Genesis 4 there was something more than a murder that took place. In my thoughts both sons were born of Adam and Eve. Surely, they both were told the stories of life in the Garden of Eden, and the events that changed their entire way of living. How through their actions sin entered into the world with the consequences of God having them escorted from their home after He shed the blood of a lamb to cover their sin to make them clothes. The first thing they realized after eating the forbidden fruit was they were naked and attempted to clothe themselves, but there is nothing we can do in ourselves that can cover our sins. God provided a covering for them with the shedding of blood. This is symbolic in itself as one day there would be a perfect lamb that would be born that would cover the sins of all with a price.
Both sons were given the same lesson, but it is what these two do with the information that makes them very different from the other. When they brought their own sacrifices to God, Cain being a tiller of the ground brings what he believes to be his best unto the Lord. His younger brother Abel interprets what is necessary to please God in bringing a lamb and offering a blood sacrifice like his own parents by God. Abel's sacrifice is pleasing to God which stirs something up in Cain that even got God's attention as in verse 6 the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. I believe God was telling Cain that even though you might have not gotten it right this time learn from it and do better the next sacrifice, but this is not how Cain took it. It is my belief that this is where God is first making a clear distinction in teaching us why it is important to be reborn by the spirit. Like in Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." We can try and try doing it our way, but it just won't work on our own we are skillfully designed with a need for our creator.
Clearly Cain is not understanding the ways of God as in the very next verse he is in conversation with Abel and before you know it sin took him farther than he intended to go and out of his anger he picked up a rock and struck his brother and killed him. I can see the symbolism here of the first man being the flesh warring against the second man the spirit as in Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Cain was not able to rationally hear his Word from the Lord. There are second chances, instead he let his failures overtake his thoughts. Abel's thoughts were on how to please God rather than being praised by God. I also see no sorrow or remorse for his murderous sin against his brother, Abel. In Genesis 4:11 God speaks out the consequences to Cain in which Cain's reply in verse 13 says that Cain said to the Lord that his punishment was greater than he could bear and was worried about everyone else trying to kill him, the one thing that he did himself to his own brother. The attributes from the first carnal man is; selfishness, pride, jealousy, envy, and deceit. It's all about himself and not the pain he caused to his brother or the fact of robbing his parents by taking the life of their son Abel. We all are born into this first carnal man, but we do not have to stay there. God made a way for us to be reborn into the second spiritual man through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18:But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
When we are reborn in the spirit something starts changing from the inside of us. As we study God's word and seek his face then we start taking on new attributes as the old man has passed away and we become new creatures in God. We begin to reflect the glory of our creator much like Moses. When Moses went onto the mountain top he was in the presence of God for 40 days and nights. He had to hide his face as it shined so brightly that the people could not look upon his face. The longer you are in God's presence the more glory you reflect of Him.
The attributes are known as the fruit of the spirit which we find in the scripture below:
Galatians 5:22-23 This but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law.
I might have been born in the flesh with a death sentence brought into the world by Adam and Eve, but I do not have to live with that sentence. I alone cannot do anything about it, but I can submit my life to the Creator and Savior of my life. I can choose life everlasting by being reborn of the water and the spirit which started for me on October 1991. Up until that time I lived in the flesh with the death sentence. The enemy did everything possible to destroy me, but God kept my mind safe. He kept me safe during my childhood and the very first time I really remember what love felt like was the night I gave my whole self over into the hands of my Creator. He knew me and chose me. I don't know why he would choose a broken, abused, and rejected little girl, but I am so glad he did. I often have to say, "Who am I that He would be so mindful of me that he would love me and protect me?" I am his chosen, I am a King's Kid. I love him because his love taught me what love is.
To close, I have to say there is a big difference in living in the flesh and living in the spirit. I have lived in both. In order to keep living in the spirit you have to feed it much like feeding your flesh. We feed the spirit by reading God's word, praying, praise and worship, and fellowshipping with others doing their best to walk in the Spirit. There will be moments of weakness, but that moment will pass. This is to those who will endure until the end. Take it one day at a time and learn to trust in God. He knows where you are and He knows your every need, want, and desire. God will lead you and guide you in all his ways.
To sum this up: In Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: Every reference in scripture the first born served the second born is symbolic of the First Man “Adam” who brought sin into the world and The Second “Adam” came to save all mankind and restore man’s relationship with God Almighty. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 “And so it is written, The first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. John 3 Nicodemus came to Jesus by night wanting to know more of Jesus. Jesus told him in verse 3 “Jesus answered him Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”Nicodemus not understanding Jesus replied again vs. 5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind blower where it listers, and nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. The first man Adam in Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground,“earthy” and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in tongues, as the Spirit gave them the utterance. Many were confused by what they were hearing so Peter “The Rock” stood up and explain what was happening. Then the people asked in vs 37 “What shall we do? 38 Peter told them how to be born again that Jesus told Nicodemus back in John 3: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We are born earthy, we must be reborn spiritually in order for the first born to serve the second born and to be joint heirs in the kingdom of God giving us the divine heritage rights.
Till next time, God Bless each one of you and may you walk each day in the Spirit.
The next study: Tempation in the Wilderness
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