Are You Resting or Wrestling

The word rest is defined as, to cease from work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength; relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity. The word wrestle is defined as, to take part in a fight, that involves grappling with one's opponent; to struggle with a difficulty or problem. As we can see by definition, these two words are in complete opposition to one another. The Apostle Paul tells us, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh." (2 Corinthians 10:3) Since Paul still has a body and soul, he walks in the flesh and yet, though the nature of the flesh is so corrupt, he does not war according to the flesh. In other words, he walks in the flesh, but he does not walk by the flesh. Why is that or how does he not permit his flesh to dominate him? 

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) Paul tells us that the weapons available to believers are not carnal or fleshly, but his weaponry derives from God alone. In the natural realm, warriors go into battle depending on their own might and on the wisdom and skill which plans the battle. However, the believers warfare is not from his abilities, plans or wisdom, but his total dependency upon God. He has no hope of victory except in God. Without his dependency upon God, he is sure of inevitable defeat.

The purpose of these weapons is to strike down strongholds, fortresses, or strong fortification which are designed to oppose the believer and God's Word. All these strongholds deal with sins or works of the flesh and the wickedness of the world, both having their roots in the kingdom of darkness. Believers are to use God's weapons to cast down arguments, reasonings of the mind, that is, the various systems of false philosophy and vain imaginations. Believers are also to crush every exalted opinion; all the pride of the human heart and of the intellectual understanding; as well as everything else that is opposed to the knowledge of God, that is, the Word of God. Believers are to bring into captivity, subdue, all these things, all the plans and purposes of the flesh, the reasonings, the imagination, and all the powers of the mind, and to bring them all under the authority and triumph of Christ. All the plans of life should be controlled by the will of Christ, formed and executed under his control, as captives are led by a conqueror. The sense is, that it was the aim and purpose of Paul for the church to accomplish this through the weapons that are mighty in God. The strongholds of philosophy, paganism, and sin should be destroyed and all the opinions, plans, and purposes of the world become subject to Jesus Christ. 

This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. However, to the degree that a believer receives and acts upon revelation of God's Word by the Holy Spirit and the direct work of the Holy Spirit in the believer revealing the corrupt condition of the flesh, is the extent of how he uses God's weaponry.  Although the believer may agree mentally with God's Word concerning the corruption of the flesh, he nevertheless may lack the clear spiritual insight which in turn may lead him to oppose the flesh with his own strength. During such a time as this, the believer wages war by trying to improve or discipline his flesh. He prays, he searches the scriptures, and even sets up many rules. The Apostle Paul revealed this to us and asks why we would do such a thing, if we had died with Christ. (Colossians 2:20-23) Believers who engage in such practices, do  not comprehend that such treatment is useless. In actuality, this will assure the believer to experience more defeats than victories until finally it seems to him that complete victory over the flesh is impossible. 

However, if a child of God faithfully and honestly believes God's Word and sincerely yields to the Holy Spirit to reveal God's holiness to him so that he may know his flesh in light of God's holiness, he will no longer strive against the lust of the flesh. He will also be spared from the many sufferings that living by the flesh presents. He will come to live out the fact that, "For he who has died has been freed from sin (the works of the flesh)." (Romans 6:7) He will then come to appreciate true freedom that Christ has provided for all who truly believe. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) So, let us stop wrestling with the flesh, but instead, cease from trying to fix the lust of the flesh on our strength, and rest by faith in Jesus Christ. Let us completely yield to the working of the Holy Spirit and live in the victorious life that we have in Christ. Amen?...