[KK] [PREACHING LESSON 19:] WE ARE LIVING IN OUR UGLY FLESH

 

WE ARE LIVING IN OUR UGLY FLESH

 

ROMANS 7:18-20 (V.18) "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (V.19) "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (V.20) "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

 

Introduction:

Paul gave a clear testimony regarding his life in the flesh and testified that even though we are already Christians, we still live in a very ugly flesh.

 

His testimony explains that our flesh is ugly in the sight of God because nothing good dwells within it.

 

(ROMANS 7:18) "For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for the desire is present with me, but the doing of the good is not."

 

This is why any Christian—whether a pastor, worker, bible student, or long-time or new believer—will display behaviors like those of unsaved people or non-Christians if they do not strengthen themselves spiritually.

 

(I CORINTHIANS 6:9-11) (V.9) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind," (V.10) "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (V.11) "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

 

5 Proofs That We Are Living in Ugly Flesh

I. WE ARE LIVING IN A DEPRAVED FLESH

 

Deprave — means corrupt, degrade (evil/bad).

 

ROMANS 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."

 

Paul testifies that in our flesh, where we move and live, there is no good thing.

 

Paul says that even if we think of the good we want to do, the doing of evil still prevails because sin is what dwells in the flesh.

 

ROMANS 7:19-20 (V.19) "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (V.20) "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

 

II. WE ARE LIVING IN A DISOBEDIENT FLESH

 

JAMES 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

 

The ugliness of the flesh is always seen in a Christian's disobedience to the simple commands of God, similar to what Adam and Eve did.

 

Christians truly live in a disobedient flesh; therefore, God calls sinners "children of disobedience."

 

(EPHESIANS 2:2) "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:"

 

III. WE ARE LIVING IN A DISPLEASURE FLESH

 

ROMANS 8:7-8 (V.7) "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (V.8) "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

 

All the desires that our flesh wants to act out in life are always displeasing to the Lord.

 

There are many actions of Christians that truly do not please God, such as lack of faithfulness in worship, our love for the world, and many other deeds.

 

(HEBREWS 10:25) Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

(I JOHN 2:15) 1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

IV. WE ARE LIVING IN A DISLOYAL FLESH

 

MATTHEW 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

 

Many Christians still live with two masters in their lives.

 

Many Christians are still double-minded about which Lord they will follow in their lives.

 

JAMES 1:7-8 (V.7) "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (V.8) "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

 

V. WE ARE LIVING IN A DEFEATED FLESH

 

ROMANS 6:6-8 (V.6) "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (V.7) "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (V.8) "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

 

Our ugly, sinful flesh has been crucified together with Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Amen!

 

Although Christians still live in the flesh, the Lord says we are now free from sin.

 

Conclusion:

We Christians will succeed in living in the spirit.

 

ROMANS 6:12-13 (V.12) "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (V.13) "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."