Romans 8:5 AMP-For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].

We’re either controlled by our own fleshly desires and the things, philosophies, and people of this world, or we’re controlled by The Holy Spirit who lives inside of those of us who are true followers, believers, and disciples of Christ Jesus.  There’s no other option according to God’s Word!

We’re told by Paul in Ephesians 5:18 that we’re not to get drink with wine but instead to be filled with The Holy Spirit in such a way that we are constantly guided by Him.  This is not just a warning about not getting drunk on alcohol, but a warning to not allow anything into our bodies that can control and guide our minds which in turn controls our lives.  The two parts of this passage are tied together, we’re to choose one or the other.  Paul’s clear here, nothing is to fill us except The Holy Spirit and we’re to be constantly guided by him.  This would include any drug, prescribed, legal, or not, that alters in any way our thinking and/or our mind!  You CANNOT be filled and guided by The Holy Spirit if your mind is clouded in any way. 

Paul also tells us that the battle is spiritual, that it is NOT against flesh and blood.  It is against satan and his demons and is fought in the heavenly realm, in the spirit, in our minds and hearts!  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:12)  James tells us that when we are tempted we are being dragged away, enticed and baited to sin (not following God is ALWAYS sin) by his own worldly desire and this is all begins in our minds as sin before it turns into sins that we physically commit.  (James 1:13-15) 

We cannot think like the world and expect to live for Christ.  Instead of agreeing with and going along with the ideas and philosophies of our world and culture, we are to destroy every argument, every proud and exalted thing, anything that sets itself up against what God has told us in His Word!  Instead of just going along with these types of things, we’re to take those thoughts and purposes captive, in other words, we're to quit thinking about them and quit doing anything that leads to us thinking about them.  Instead, we need to be purposeful in setting our minds on Christ and those things in God’s Word, Spiritual things from The LORD!  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)  Thinking that we can accidentally just end up knowing and doing the right thing is foolishness and we know it, yet so often we follow our flesh and it’s desires instead of dying to our desires, taking up our crosses and following Christ!  (Matthew 16:24-26)

Not only is it foolish as a Christian to chase after the world and not Christ, it’s also dangerous.  We’re to be sober, which again is NOT just talking about alcohol, but also any drug, legal or not, prescribed or not, that would make us not be alert and in control of our thoughts, minds, actions, etc, so that we can allow The Holy Spirit to work and move in our lives making us more like Christ and less like the world!  Anything that goes against anything is Scripture is 100% from our enemy satan.  He is seeking anyone that he can devour and uses any tactics he can including the things of this world, psychology, drugs, alcohol, etc.  We’re told to resist the devil, that means to resist his tactics, which means to NOT fall into the things of this world, no matter what anyone else tells us!  How do we accomplish this, by being rooted and established in our faith, we don’t move but stand firm!  We don’t believe what satan and the world wants us to think, that it’s just us, we’re the only ones that “feel” this way and the only way to not “feel” this way is to take the drugs, get drunk, or whatever else the world throws at you.  (1 Peter 5:8-9) 

I don’t know anyone who is honest that has a perfect life where everything they do and touch is great, not in this world.  God uses these things to draw us to Him and then once we have a relationship with Him, He uses our circumstances to mold and make us more like Christ!  (James 1:2-4)  We aren’t alone in our temptations, even Christ was tempted as we are!  (Hebrews 4:15). 

We also need to remember that the phrase “The LORD will never give you more than you can handle” is absolutely, 100% false and NOT in The Bible.  But the opposite is 100% true!  We can do ALL things through Christ (His strength, not ours) and He has promised is that He won’t allow us to be tempted to sin in such a way that we would have to sin, but rather ALWAYS gives us a way out.  (Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13).  I love the AMP version of Phil 4:13-I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]  And also 1 Cor 10:13-No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].  Read them again.  What great promises from our Heavenly Father!

I can’t begin to count how many Christians I’ve known and met who have walked away from their faith, have compromised their lives for Christ and are useless to God’s Kingdom.  Maybe they’re saved and on their way to heaven, but their lives don’t reflect anything from Scripture and some are even living their lives so much against The LORD that they are influencing others in the worldly things instead of for Christ!  So many have decided that God’s Word is wrong, at least in the areas that they no longer believe, and they have bought into the world’s cultures, philosophies, and understandings as they slowly drift away from The LORD as we’ve been warned by God to not do.  (Hebrews 2:1) 

We need to be purposeful to follow The LORD and His Word or our lives will never be what He wants them to be!  We need to surround ourselves with a great cloud of witnesses so that those around us can encourage us with what God has to say in His Word about how we’re to live and NOT live our lives as we do the same for them.   Nothing will change on this earth, in our country, our communities, our families, etc, until we decide to allow God to change and mold us each individually into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, NOTHING!  Let’s get busy digging in, pressing on and pressing in before we’ve drifted so far away that not only does our lives reflect nothing of The LORD, but we don’t even hear the Spirits call anymore!  Time is short, every day we’re one day closer to The LORD calling us home.  We will all be judged by The LORD when we get to heaven based on what we did with our time, money, resources, gifts, abilities, etc, and we should all desire to hear, “Well done My good and faithful servant!”  (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, Matthew 25:14-30)

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc.  We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!

Love y’all and LORD Bless,

Curt & Mary Jo