The Methodist denomination holds to the teachings of John Wesley and the grace of Sanctification. As followers of Christ, we should be growing, improving, and maturing in our faith, example, and reflection of Jesus.
The Free Methodist Church says, on Sanctification, in the Book of Discipline (Paragraph 119), “As believers surrender to God in faith and die to self through full consecration, the Holy Spirit fills them with love and purifies them from sin. This sanctifying relationship with God remedies the divided mind, redirects the heart to God, and empowers believers to please and serve God in their daily lives.”
That speaks of an ongoing battle between our natural tendencies to “please self” or to become more holy to “please God.” Galatians 5:24, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.” By “the flesh,” the Bible refers to our fallen human nature.
When battling the “flesh” it must be remembered that both heart and mind need to be engaged in the battle. Left to the mind, alone, we will rationalize and excuse many behaviors and circumstances in which to justify satisfying our human nature. We must make the conscious decision to choose to please God. Romans 8:6, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
The Bible even gives us a few strong examples of what a mind “governed by the flesh” looks like and pursues after. Galatians 5:19-21, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
The lesson is for all Believers to revisit their understanding of the Holy Spirit. He is God and works in unity with the God the Father and God, The Son. We must welcome the Holy Spirit and not only listen to His voice, but heed His instructions, guidance and corrective measures to see that we are moving towards sanctification.
We must make the intentional decision to listen and hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us. We have a choice to obey and make the necessary sacrifices and engage the proper amount of self-control to do as He instructs us. We can refuse, but it will come at a cost.
Romans 8:12-13, “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” Refusing the Spirit’s guidance to go with our own thoughts and plans can be costly, disastrous, and yes, deadly.
It is truly amazing how many Christians live in utter regret of bad decisions and past actions from ignoring the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to go with the rash, quick, and ill-timed decisions and desires of the flesh.
It is a fight. That is why it is called a “battle” with the flesh. We must not allow our emotions or “feelings” to sway us towards fulfilling any lustful passions that do nothing more than trick us into “fulfilling the immediate” as quickly as possible.
Sometimes, we may actually get what we were after and feel somewhat victorious, but sadly, after the “feelings” wear off, we soon find that it wasn’t what we were really wanting or that we simply weren’t ready to handle that kind of a blessing.
Nothing is worth getting ahead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Having to clean up any amount of carnage after a hasty, selfish, decision is not worth it to you or anyone else who may get caught up in these decisions.
Every single day, may we live in the Spirit and with the Spirit in us. It is a choice. Daily! You must allow the Holy Spirit to work within you in all areas of your life. Nothing should be “off limits” in your life. May we be so Spirit-filled that there is no room for the flesh!