Daily Bread - APR/03/07

Romans 8:13 - For if we live after the flesh we are about to die but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you shall live.

The Greek word 'praxtis' (deeds) may be translated 'function, activities, deeds,' implying sustained activity as in Romans 12:4, "and all these parts have different functions." Now Paul uses this word to describe all the possible activities that can take place in the mortal body. He is dealing with every activity or function of the body whether it is sin, sickness, or disease. It must be remembered in understanding the message of this text that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it belongs to the Lord, it is blameless, it is the place where God is to be glorified, and it is not the residing place of sin (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:13, 18, 19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 2:26).

Sin and the consequence of sin - which are sin, sickness, and disease - have no right to have any control over the mortal body (Romans 6:12). In fact, we are instructed to put all of these things to death by the Spirit (Colossians 3:5). There is a war that is being waged against the saints by all of the demonic powers and their influences (2 Corinthians 10:3-4; 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Peter 2:11; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 12:4). There is a spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). It is the power of darkness that rules in the realm of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). These fleshly lusts are at war against the saints in an attempt to subjugate us to its demonic realm, whom we are to resist steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 2:11). As much as Israel was commanded to put to death anyone who committed high treason against God even so the New Testament saint is commanded to put to death sin, sickness, and disease.

We may view ourselves in some respects as both the temple and the temple guards. It was the responsibility of the temple guards to insure that no one brought anything into the temple that would defile or profane the temple. It is essential to remember that we can only effectively deal with these things by the Spirit. God has given to us strength and His power and has insured that we will triumph in every temptation (2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 6:10; 3:16; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 1:11)

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org