Good Morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Have you ever told a child not to do something, but then they did it anyway? Maybe you told them not to play with matches, but one day when you weren’t looking, they took some box matches from the kitchen cupboard, went outside in the backyard and began lighting them off one by one. Eventually they accidentally dropped one on their shirt which caught fire, and before they knew it they had severely burnt their chest.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When people choose not to obey, it can result in very harmful consequences. It is clear from scripture that God wants each of us to turn away from sinful desires in our lives. This is because unrepented of, it will result in pain, suffering, and eternal agony. Getting involved with the sensual deeds of the flesh, is to only find oneself playing with fire.
Jude ¹⁷ But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸ How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
A lot of the book of Jude speaks about sensualism, especially of a sexual nature. Sensualism is defined as pursuing physical pleasures, which are aroused by the senses, such as sight, smell, sound, taste, or touch. It is to want what is worldly and materialistic. It is like a bride who isn’t content with a modest ring, but wants a rock instead. In the flesh, sensual people are completely devoted to gratifying their carnal nature. They seek to satisfy the desires and appetites of their flesh. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. When we were in our carnal state, each of us fulfilled the desires of our flesh, but now we must put the past behind us, and subdue the bodily appetites for Spiritual ones.
Ephesians 2 ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: ³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Sensualism is to gratify the desires of the sinful nature, whereas a Christian must learn to walk in the Holy Spirit and to serve the desires of God. If we want eternal life, we must begin the process of mortifying the sinful appetites of the flesh.
Romans 8 ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Galatians 6 ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Colossians 3 ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
I have met so many people who have told me that they greatly regret all of the stupid things that they did in their past.
“What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” Romans 6:21
Sin is so deceitful because at one time they were trying to fill a hole in their heart that would never be satisfied no matter how many worldly things that they put inside of it. Their quest to attain these things is like taking steps down a spiral staircase that only goes further down into the depths of immorality. Pride doesn’t want you to believe that, and will even convince yourself that things will be better, but it is only a lie. The worst thing is that you are deceiving yourself.
James 1 ²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Sometimes people must hit rock bottom and become completely snagged on the seabed of sin before they finally recognize the error of their way. The path of sensual gratification will only lead to death. It begins inside of your heart as sin starts slowly eating you up, and unless one turns away from it, eventually it will result in eternal death, being cast into the Lake of Fire. Sensualism can really make you feel like you are doing the right thing, while the entire time it is destroying your life, taking you further down the wide road of destruction, and ruining your chances of eternal salvation.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
The desires for sin must be replaced with new desires, good ones. Instead of wanting what is wrong we must desire what is right. There are innumerable amounts of good things that we can focus on in this life, it just requires requires a change of your attitude by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
The Apostle John also warns about sensualism in this Holy Spirit filled passage.
1 John 2 ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
The Apostle Peter teaches the same.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” 1 Peter 2:11
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4
Jesus taught that whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. To overcome the carnal nature, we must seek the divine nature, and become reborn of God’s Holy Spirit.
John 3 ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
This is why fasting is such a great thing, because it is a practice of self-denial. It is the denial of one’s physical appetite, which teaches us the process of mortification of our sinful flesh.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
To obtain eternal life, one must deny the flesh, and walk in the Spirit. Those who impenitently choose to fulfill the sensual desires of the carnal nature, will only get burnt. This is because they are…..
…. Playing with Fire
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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