Mastering Your Flesh Part 1

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

(Galatians 5:17 NLT)

You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.

(Genesis 4:7 NLT)

Why do we fast? The first reason is simple. Obedience. Jesus told us to, so we do. Many are looking to complicate the word of God yet the apostles and the early church took the instructions of Jesus literally. “The groom will be taken away and then they WILL fast.” Other than obedience, what is it we aim to accomplish by fasting? One of the main reasons we fast is to master the flesh. The Bible teaches that every person has two forces at work in their lives. The Spirit man and the flesh nature. Until we receive a glorified body we will always be forced to engage in this conflict. Are we doomed in this never-ending struggle? No! The Bible tells us that Jesus gave us victory over the power of the flesh and now “by the power of the spirit, we can put to death the deeds of the flesh.” We are not called to lose battles to our flesh nature, we are called to subdue our flesh nature and become its master. What did God give us in order to accomplish this? Prayer and fasting. Through the disciplines of prayer and fasting, you become the master of your flesh nature. When you become a master of your flesh nature, you can operate more proficiently in the anointing of the Holy Ghost.