PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
"BUT PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFILL ITS LUSTS."
Romans 13:14 (NKJV)
What a believer should do is said in the text of this teaching: " . . . PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFILL ITS LUSTS" (Romans 13:14 NKJV).
How would a believer put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
It is done through the practice of God's Word (James 1:22-25) and by walking the way Jesus walked whilst on the face of the earth: "HE WHO SAYS HE ABIDES IN HIM [Jesus Christ] OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK JUST AS HE WALKED [whilst on the earth]" (1 John 2:6 NKJV).
The major aspiration of a believer is to walk or live the way Jesus Christ did when He was here on earth. Believers are to look onto Jesus being the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He should be our standard, the person we aspire to be like. Whatever you are doing now that is unfitting, you should candidly ask yourself; "Would Jesus do this that I am doing If He was the one in my situation? If Jesus would not do whatever you are doing or about to do, you also should not venture into the doing of it.
How does a believer make provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts?
a. You make provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts when you create a conducive atmosphere in your life for the flesh to exert or put out its power or desires.
b. When you hangout with the ungodly friends, carousing and revelling, you are making provision for the flesh. In other words, you are making it easy for the flesh to carry out or manifest and fulfil its lusts or desires or plans or longings.
Do you know that If you are not found in a circle of certain people or friends that are doing some things, you would not think of committing certain sins.
For example: If you are not found in circle of keggers; those who carouse or revel you certainly would not think in that direction.
Likewise, If your mind is not exposed to certain content online or television or whatever, you might not think of engaging in certain dirty or unwholesome things—sins.
Thus, whatever you are doing or engaging in that are not biblically based, which would not edify you; you are ignorantly or unknowingly making provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts.
Whatever would arouse the flesh to sinful acts which you did or practiced or participated in, is a way of making a provision for the flesh. Including trending content you ignorantly exposed your mind to; what you watch, read, or listen to, are ways of making provisions for the flesh.
I have heard some young people saying sin are rampant nowadays which could be affirmed. Perversions that were not celebrated or proud of then are now seen as norms—normal. Thus, living in sin is made cheap in the contemporary time, because there are many things that can easily move the flesh to do contrary to God's Word; but the truth is, where sin abounded or increased, grace also is much more abounded: "GOD'S LAW WAS GIVEN SO THAT ALL PEOPLE COULD SEE HOW SINFUL THEY WERE. BUT AS PEOPLE SINNED MORE AND MORE, GOD'S WONDERFUL GRACE BECAME MORE ABUNDANT" (Romans 5:20 NLT).
In other words, the grace or unmerited favour being given to believers in twenty-first century is much more than the one given to those who lived in twentieth century. Besides, If you are truly of Christ your longing would not be how to fulfil the lust of the flesh but to crucify it: "AND THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES" (Galatians 5:24 NKJV).
If you are still being led or controlled by your flesh, take a step now and work on the crucifixion of it because the onus or responsibility lies or rests on you: "THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE ON THE EARTH: FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, PASSION, EVIL DESIRE, AND COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY" (Colossians 3:5 NKJV).
You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace.
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