Jesus: Removing The Flesh
Listening to Brother Clendennen pray prior to his preaching on CD, he asked God to bless the hearing and the receiving: aren’t those the same thing? God lead me to consider the following two scriptures;
Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
While it is a blessing that we are hearing the word of God as never before, are we as the Athenians, and moving on to the next new thing?
Ezekiel 33: 31, 32 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Let us now understand the need for the receiving into our hearts and lives. When our heart goes after covetousness, it is walking in the lust of our flesh, and cannot receive. May we reach beyond our flesh from the hearing, to the receiving and doing. God has now brought us out, and we need to allow Him to bring us in.
Going through battles at work that never seemed to resolve, and not getting the desired answers in prayer or studying the word, frustration led to a desire to just quit. Barbara was asked to pray with me, but then advised to not pray for the physical problem or attack, but for me, that “I” would get out of the way and let God resolve them. On Wednesday morning the week of camp, God led to fast several days and see what He would do. Immediately thoughts of Monica’s miracle, or receiving more from God at camp were expected. Everything that was needed at work to be able to go to camp on Friday fell into place, and there was an expectation. Then on Thursday evening camp was cancelled; what did God mean? On Friday morning, while reading Jesus: the Way Truth Life Light Word again, God gave a different emphasis in the following scripture;
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Jesus gave His flesh spiritually to live a sinless life, and then gave Himself physically to reconcile us to the Father. Jesus gave His flesh for our lives, and if we will serve Him, we must begin giving our flesh as well; Paul said, I die daily (I Corinthians 15:31). It is in dying to the flesh that Jesus can live within us. As Brother Clendennen said, He’s not going to share your vessel with your sin or flesh.
I John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 3:19 – 21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Immediately after that hearing, during reading a draft of Jericho March, God gave a closer look at the first verse;
Joshua 6:1 NOW Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out and none came in.
This is spiritually similar with us today; the enemy has blinded the hearts of the lost, so they will not hear the children. There are walls around the lost, as it was with us; there is no receiving. But it is by our continual obedient marching, walking in the truth and Spirit, and not in the flesh, that we are a silent witness of God. They will begin to see the difference in your life. As you walk (or march) around the lost, living for God, you are weakening the walls they have built up, that the walls can come down when God leads you to spiritually shout! Consider this further; the walls you have left in your life are preventing you from being that triumphant witness for your spouse, your parents, your children, friends, enemies, or acquaintances. We must give our flesh to walk in His light. It is only in full obedience that the walls are sure to come down.
Why weren’t these truths seen before? because of the fleshly nature. The fast that God had led me to began breaking the bonds of the flesh, and giving greater spiritual vision. God then had me again consider the Isaiah 58:6 fast;
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
My perception had become over the years that this fast was not of food, but to do things for others, removing their affliction or bondage, and not considering ourselves. Now God showed it is a true fast, and that the fast it is not to afflict your self, but to give internal victory over the flesh. As the flesh is removed, the spirit can increase, and humbleness and obedience can abound. Our bands of wickedness can be loosed, our heavy burdens taken, our oppression removed, our yoke of sin broken. We must defeat the internal hindrances to be able to receive spiritually, and then truly help others.
These new truths were a tremendous blessing, and more than worth the price. The anticipation of what God would do after the fast lead me to endeavor to receive it. Consider Moses in Hebrews 11:24 – 26. It says Moses chose affliction with the people of God rather than the pleasures of sin, because he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
Can you have respect unto the recompense of the reward? Or will you just continue to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh? Our spiritual deafness runs as deep as our flesh; we are so under the flesh we do not even perceive the lust when it comes. Learn to listen for your flesh and instantly say NO! It is this fast that has great recompense of reward!
Listening to this message from Brother Clendennen most morning and evenings while commuting has probably been 50 times; but yesterday another nugget was heard; give up our thinking and thoughts. Giving up our flesh will achieve this also; humbleness and obedience will begin to abound. Ask God to help with your respect of the reward, and your receiving. Hear and receive the following truth;
I Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
As your faith is tried with fire, rejoice with the promises ahead if you overcome! Pay the price that is without money:
Isaiah 55:1 – 3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
There is no monetary compensation that will remove your fleshly, carnal nature; but removing the flesh will allow you to buy spiritual food and drink that is without price! Jesus has given His flesh for you, and it is only in removing the flesh that we can find a greater depth of the promises in these scriptures. The living bread and living waters are only ours through the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the only true and spiritual “soul food”, as noted in these verses. The carnal nature leaves us spending money and labour for that which will not satisfy you. Hear Him, and diligently, earnestly seek to remove your flesh and come to Him, and you will begin receiving these promises, blessings, and multiplying.