Lesson 22: Warring Against the Flesh - Practical Battle Plans
Questions 1 and 2
Hello again, friend, glad to study with you today. For the next few lessons, we are going to look at practical ways of warring against our flesh, for this is a battle we are in for life.
The lessons will be in the following order: asking for help, abiding in Christ, believing God’s Word, overcoming bitterness, God’s provision in marriage.
Humility: A Prerequisite to Freedom
I’ve mentioned a few times in this course that I went to a biblical counselor, who subsequently became my pastor, and asked him for help in overcoming pornography and sexual impurity. I was, at that time, hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13), prideful and would not take correction easily. For example, when my pastor would correct me, I would want to argue, defend myself, make accusations, or if those tactics didn’t work, I would just try to avoid him.
Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.
Proverbs 15:12 (NIV)
My sin persisted until I eventually realized that by arguing with my pastor, I was actually arguing against my own freedom. I still remember the day I said to him, “Pastor Will, I’m done arguing against your counsel, done defending myself, and done making accusations. I’m sorry for being difficult; I’m ready to listen and follow your biblical counsel now.” This was hard and humbling to do, but humility is a prerequisite to freedom.
Question 1. Have you humbled yourself to ask for help from a pastor, elder, teacher, Christian friend or family member? Please share your experience here.
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God Uses People
While it’s true that, in this battle, only Jesus can set us free because no man can change the heart of another, or open blind eyes; yet it is also true that God uses people in the process of restoring. Only Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead, but Jesus called others to take off Lazarus' grave clothes (John 11:44), assisting him in walking out his resurrected life.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1 (NIV)
Question 2. Please fill in the blank: "you who live by the Spirit should that person gently."
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