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.
When I first started learning how to play the piano, there were a few things that I struggled greatly with every time that I practiced. I think one of the hardest things for me to learn was doing crossovers with my fingers whenever I did scales. For those of you who have never played before, when your right hand moves up the scale, your thumb must go underneath your third finger, and then on the way back down the third finger must go over the top of the thumb. If this wasn’t hard enough to learn, the motion was different with your left hand. When you went up the scale your third finger had to go over the top of your thumb while on the way down your thumb had to go underneath your third finger. When I had to do them together at the same time, it drove me absolutely crazy, and there were many times that I got so upset that I had to get up and walk away for a few minutes. I was not very ambidextrous back then, but I eventually learned to play independent parts with both hands together, overcoming the flesh, and conquering my instrumental shortcomings.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Sometimes it can be very hard to train your muscles to do what you want them to do because they resist you. Most of the time my fingers did not want to cooperate with me at all, and fought constantly against my control. But those who attempt the Christian Life are going to have to deal with the same type of thing. This is because each one of us has a sinful nature that will attempt to resist our correction. Each man is tempted by his own lustful desires but to obtain eternal life we must overcome all the desires of the flesh. Because we abide in these wretched bodies, sinful desires are always going to be with us, until we finally receive our new celestial bodies from the Lord Jesus Christ. Until that day we must fight the good fight and overcome all sinful activity, which can be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 7:15-22 (KJB) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
This entire passage is about the struggle Paul experienced between the flesh and the Spirit. It is a battle between good and evil deep down inside your soul. Even when we know that we are supposed to do the right thing, it is the flesh that will tempt you to do evil instead, but to overcome sin, we must walk in the Spirit and submit to its Heavenly guidance.
Galatians 5:16-18 (KJB) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
To defeat sin completely, we need something stronger than just trying to do it on our own. No matter how strong ones personal resolve may be, no matter how hard you strive against sinful activities, you simply cannot fight the flesh with the flesh. Even in the military they understand that you need better weapons, faster planes, and more powerful ships in order to defeat the enemy. Well, in order to defeat the flesh, God grants us the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:49 (KJB) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 2:38 (KJB) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
John 1:12 (KJB) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When we are strengthened with this power, we have the ability to overcome sin, but we must obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We might have a sword in a sheath, but if you are going to win the battle you have to pull it out and use it. We must use God’s strength to eradicate sin in our lives.
Romans 8:13-14 (KJB) 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Philippians 4:13 (KJB) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJB) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
James 1:12 (KJB) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we could have a new opportunity by His grace, to transform from sinners into Saints. This change must take place, because Eternal inheritance will only be given to those people who through faithfulness and obedience to Christ Jesus and His teachings overcame the sins of this world and walked according to the will of God.
Revelation 21:7 (KJB) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Although it was a constant struggle in my flesh I eventually trained my little fingers to do what needed to be done, and as we transform from sinners into Saints, the flesh is going to fight against the Spirit in the same manner. But if we truly want to get to heaven, we must overcome temptation with the power of the Holy Spirit, and no matter how much the flesh might resist you, you must continue to keep up the fight, and always remember to keep….
……..Learning Your Scales
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.
tlkjbc.com♥️
Note: Any copies may be printed and freely distributed among those who have no internet service. There is no AI creative involvement in my writings, and must be left intact because they are very personal to me. These are not to be sold, and are made public only for the free benefit of Spiritual knowledge to those who are genuinely seeking the will of God.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 