In the conclusion of this series, the focus is not on identifying the false fruit of carnal Christendom, but rather the method of mortifying its fleshly limbs.

It is not enough to try and resist the arm of the flesh in all its facets. We also need to choose the arm of the Lord, relying on His strength in word and in deed. The arm or strength of the Lord is His resurrection power to (and now in and through) Christ, as the prophet Isaiah made known:

“To whom is the arm [zerowa] of the lord revealed?” (Is 53:1)

He proceeded with the answer (Jesus) over the next eleven verses. It is Christ who the Lord revealed His strong arm to and now it is those who are in Christ who He continues to reveal it to. This is generally true, but there must be a continuation on our behalf in order to abide in the resurrection power of Christ. He doesn’t move away, but we do if we choose to gird ourselves up with human strength and devices.

So, how do we choose the strong arm of the Lord and therefore resist the arm of the flesh?

If we have become dead to ourselves then we can become resurrected into life in Christ. If we have truly been born again of the incorruptible word then we have been translated from our carnal restraints into the heavenly Kingdom of Christ. So all we need to do is continue to live in the celestial Kingdom which Christ is progressively ruling the planet with (see Heb 12:18-25 [1]).

Paul gave the Roman Christians the key to living this life:

For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons [huios] of God. (Rom 8:13-14)

It is through the Spirit that we “mortify the deeds of the body”. This is true for both our body and the body of Christ. The way this is accomplished is to become mature “sons of God” by being “led by the Spirit of God”.

Again, this must be done personally. However, church at large also needs to corporately choose to function by the way of the Spirit instead of human programmes, constructs and the like. Spirit-led life should be taught, promoted and given ground to throughout the church. It’s not enough just to teach it, we must make the space for it to be practiced by every believer, in every way, every where and all the time. Church as we’ve known it has choked life which is Spirit of Christ focused and practiced.

The human ingenuities mentioned in the previous articles are both the fruit of the church choosing the arm of the flesh, as well as the cause for ongoing spiritual immaturity in a majority of believers.

They need to be removed by His Spirit as we choose to walk with His Spirit. Then, also, we need to continue to “walk in” and be “led by” the Spirit so we don’t fall back into the flesh and “shrink back to destruction” (Heb 10:39 NASB)

The church that walks in the Spirit

We will conclude with a brief reminder of the simple biblical way we walk in the Spirit both personally and then also corporately as the called ones (the church).

Sadly, many Bible teachers have fabricated their complicated Twenty Steps to Walking in the Spirit sermons which miss the simple yet weighty Biblical version. The following three scriptures are imperative in a true study of how to walk in the Spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Gal 5:16)

Firstly, it is not fighting against the flesh that frees us from the flesh, that only causes us to focus more intently on the flesh. If we choose to focus on, pursue and walk towards and in the Spirit we will leave behind the flesh. Of course we should still identify error, sin and carnality so we know what isn’t biblically sound, but it is walking in the Spirit which frees us from the flesh both personally and corporately as the worldwide church.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom 8:5-6)

Now, the plain yet profound way for both personal and church Spirit-led existence has been revealed by Paul in the above verse. If you “mind the things of the flesh” you will be “after the flesh” and if you mind “the things of the Spirit” you will be “after the Spirit”. It’s that simple, and yes it is something that we daily choose to, or not to, continue in.

Again, this is not just for personal Christian life, but also is the answer for the church at large which has been suffering the repercussions of choosing carnal reliance. We the church need to choose to live as community and outwork the Kingdom of Christ in a way which causes ALL of us to live in a Spirit-led manner every day in every way. As we do this the carnal props of our Dark Age legacy will fall away. Church buildings and man driven organisations will become virtually obsolete and the other faltering fruits will appear as the tasteless morsels they really are.

I will leave off with this final verse from Colossians which again reiterates the need for us to remain dead to self and have our mind SET on things above- i.e. things of His Spirit/Heavenly Kingdom things:

If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection [phroneo- mind, sentiment, interest] on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Co 3:1-3)