Friday, 26th May 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: MORTIFY YOUR BODY
THEME SCRIPTURE: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” – Colossians 3:5
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What does it mean to mortify your members?
- How can one mortify his members?
The new life in Christ Jesus is a gift. Yet it must be lived to the glory of God. No one is expected to store this gift from God. Paul, by the Spirit, admonishes us to mortify our bodies to live this new life in Christ Jesus.
What does it mean to mortify the body?
Mortification of the body simply means deadening the lust of the flesh. Thus, kill fleshly desires through the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:13). Take steps to kill the fleshly lusts because no one else will. Put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instinct].
The Apostle Paul used various phrases when discussing the subject of mortification: “Put to death” (Col 3:5), “Put off” (Col 3:8), and “Put on the new man” (Col 3:10). It is important that the believer mortify the evil longings of his earthly body. Progress towards Christian perfection begins with putting off the old man. Don’t forget. Jesus, our Lord, seeks to present to Himself a glorious church [body of believers] having no spot [of sin] or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
God seeks holy and blemish-free believers in Christ.
Mortification [deadening the lust of the flesh] starts with acknowledging this truth: “I have died to all that Jesus has died to, including all forms of sin and iniquity.” Therefore, sin can no longer have dominion over you (Rom 6:6). Further, put on the new man. Awaken to your newness in Christ through your resurrection with him. You're God's righteousness, so you can do the right thing God’s way. With this new life, now yield your members as instruments of righteousness unto God (Rom 6:13). See, an uncultivated field will definitely grow weeds.
Acknowledging what you have become in Christ, the communion of the Holy Spirit, you must intentionally direct your desires in the way of righteousness.
For instance, some mornings your body would say, "I don't want to pray." Will you yield to the body’s feelings? Of course not, because our body does not dictate our course of action. If we pray despite our body's objections, our spirit will eventually overcome the body. This is how a man who is immune to his body’s lust acts.
Precious One, as a new man, deaden your body to sexual immorality, dirty-mindedness, uncontrolled passion, evil desires, lust for other people’s goods, etc. Don’t yield yourself to pornography, betting, and the like. From hereafter, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING – Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 5:3-6
Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Have you mortified the desires of your flesh?
- Are there still some habits, or desires that are controlling you?
CONFESSION
Precious Father, thank you for the life I have in you. I acknowledge that I have dominion over all forms of fleshly desires. Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, I yield my members unto all righteousness. I am doing the right thing at all times God’s way. Glory to Jesus.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Joshua 12; Isaiah 16; 2 Timothy 2
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