The Holy Spirit works in the flesh!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, KJV)
You might be puzzled by the title, “The Holy Spirit works in the flesh.” Isn’t the flesh inherently evil and in opposition to the Spirit, requiring its mortification? In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, “the life which I now live in the flesh,” similarly, in 2 Corinthians 10:3, he states, “though we walk in the flesh.” Thus, we live our spiritual lives in the flesh, the very medium through which the Holy Spirit operates. Let’s explore this profound truth.
When connected with the Holy Spirit, the term’ flesh’ does not refer merely to the body but to human nature without the Spirit’s influence. Man consists of spirit and flesh, each viewed from a spiritual or earthly perspective. The flesh itself is not inherently evil or sinful. The Word became flesh according to John 1:14, and He was sinless. Problems arise when the flesh is corrupted and dominated by sin. Galatians 2:20 reveals that Christ lives in us and thus in the flesh—Christ lives in you in the flesh. Remember, this indwelling Christ is the Holy Spirit!
A fundamental truth in Scripture concerning our Christian lives is this: the Holy Spirit (Christ) dwells in your spirit and lives through you as you. Your flesh—your human nature, including emotions, thoughts, will, and body—serves as the vessel of expression of the Holy Spirit. He thinks as you think, loves people as you love them, and exercises authority over demons as you do. He is in you and lives as you do.
The extent to which we yield our flesh to Him determines how prominently He manifests Himself. Surrendering to Him fosters greater expression of His character, wisdom, and power through our being.
Jesus summarizes this astonishing truth as follows:
“For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matthew 10:20, KJV)
This means that when you speak, it’s not solely you speaking, but the Holy Spirit speaking through you. Jesus did not imply that we would hear voices in our heads as if the Holy Spirit were dictating our words, nor did He suggest we would experience physical tremors as signals of what to say. Rather, He meant that our normal process of thinking and speaking would be seamlessly guided by the Holy Spirit’s powerful influence on our minds, words, and actions.
Be mindful of who you are as a Child of God. Christ dwells in you and seeks to express Himself through you. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, surrender increasingly to Him, and be attentive to your thoughts, feelings, desires, words, and actions.
Meditate
I have shared a complex truth above. Please reread as necessary and reach out with questions!
Apply the Word
Flesh under our control leads to disaster. Flesh under the control of Satan leads to a nightmare. But flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit heralds the release of God’s glory. Let the Spirit take over your life, and become conscious of His indwelling presence.
Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand and implement this truth.
Recommended reading
- What is the Flesh?
- Is It The Holy Spirit Or The Flesh?
- How To Kill The Flesh
- The Spirit And The Flesh
- How to Yield to the Holy Spirit
- View All Deshen Daily Devotionals
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