How to Get Free

There is only one way to get free of our flesh: to fail and repent. 

Psalm 51 shares the painful truth of David's moral failure and his turning to God for mercy.  It is never pleasant to focus on our moral failures; we would rather share our triumphs.  However, God is always able to turn things around, and amazingly, in this case, we see a fresh awareness and desire for truth in our innermost being, having a clean heart, knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit, and experiencing the joy of our salvation.  God always works things for good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose. 

This principle is also shown in 2 Corinthians 4:11, "For we who live are always being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."  Likewise, Romans 8:13 declares that "if by the Holy Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."  The result of coming to the end of ourselves is the release of Jesus' life and power in us. 

To be sanctified, or being made like Jesus, is really just being set free from the flesh.  

The Lord desires a broken and contrite heart rather than sacrifices.  He shares that "on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite heart" in Isaiah 66:2.  Obviously, God knows we are made of dust and have a fallen nature.  He doesn't condemn us even though we fail.  What He desires is for us to humble ourselves and honestly acknowledge our failures.  Then, almost beyond our greatest imaginations, rather than condemn us, He delights in showing mercy to the one who seeks His forgiveness. 

Only a loving God can turn our failures into life-giving events.  The worst thing man could ever do is for human beings to crucify the Son of God, yet this very event because of God's beyond-description love and mercy, opens the door for all men to be saved and become children of God forever.  After we fail and turn to God for forgiveness, we grow in greater appreciation for all He has done for us, and hopefully, greater knowledge of what an awesome and merciful God He is.  

Stand fast, therefore, in the freedom which Christ has set you free.  

Root Up All the Wicked in the Land

"Morning by morning I will root up all the wicked in the land, that I may eliminate all the evildoers from the city of the Lord." (Psalm 101, AMP)  This may sound like a necessary prayer to deal with the evils of our society today, but that is not its primary application.  We know that the Old Testament presents things externally, while the New Testament calls us to adapt these truths internally.  The wicked in the land are the things in our hearts that defile the city of God that we are. 

God has made provision through the blood of Jesus to not only forgive sin, but also to cleanse all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9)  Notice He covers our sins, not our excuses.  The key is that we acknowledge sin to be sin, a deliberate wrong choice of flesh over God's way.  Paul made a bold statement that he wasn't subject to be judged by others, but then he acknowledged that he couldn't judge himself. Only God knows the heart.  Search me, O God, and see if there be any wicked way in me. (Ps 139) 

Yet God delights in showing mercy.  The Word overwhelmingly declares He is merciful, gracious, and slow to anger.  There is no condemnation in Jesus Christ.  Just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem, God comes to our hearts longing to set us free and make us whole.  Ephesians 5:13 points out that in His mercy He exposes darkness to light so He can make it light.  As he exposes our hearts, we humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to change us.  Paul encourages us in showing that godly sorrow produces repentance, zeal, and a fresh eagerness to please God. 

The Holy Spirit is our sanctifier.  To sanctify means to set apart for God's use.  Since our body is meant to be the very dwelling place of God, the temple of God, it follows that our reasonable service is to present our bodies to Him for His purpose.  God calls us in 2 Corinthians 6:17 to "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters."  

Scripture tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy that was set before Him.  We likewise can let the Spirit search our hearts, even if it hurts to admit our failures, so that we can experience the joy of His presence and the peace of being right with Him.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit is here to help us, and according to Romans 8, by His Spirit we can put to death the flesh.  Our flesh is not boss, and He helps us pick up our cross and die to ourselves. Perhaps 2 Corinthians 4:10 says it best, "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body."