Thorns and Weeds of the Flesh
Introduction. When trying to remove a weed from a flower bed or lawn, sometimes the only way to completely eradicate it is to dig it out by the roots. While it is much easier to just pull it out, the moment we feel a snap we know the root is still there and the weed will soon return. Sin is like that. If we look at sin as a plant, then the roots are the lusts of the flesh. Unless we remove the lusts, that sin will continue to return again and again just like a weed. When Jesus revealed that the root of murder is anger and the root of adultery is sexual lust (Mt. 5:21-27), He was revealing the exact source of all sin. As long as we allow such lusts to remain in our heart, the possibility of enticement and a return to that sin will always remain. “Each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin.” (Jas. 1:14-15).
It is not easy to remove a lust. They reside in our memories of the past - memories that can’t be erased, but must be modified. Each lust we activated in our youth created a memory. Some of these events left us disgusted and sickened and we never returned. Others created a pleasure we never forgot. Those are the memories that must be modified. If we are ever to get the roots out of our mind, we must change these memories from pleasure to disgust. We can only do that by changing our perspective. When we committed that sin, we didn’t know enough to flee it and found the pleasure enticing. Yet as we learn the Scriptures that were violated, we can use that knowledge to change that pleasure into fear, remorse and repentance. These are the most dangerous weeds in our mind and must be carefully pulled up by the roots.
Paul described the effects of these roots we created before we became a Christian: “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.” (Rom. 7:15-16) This is the battle we all fight. Slowly, in one way or another, the fleshly desires took control. Often, we did not really want to do it, and regretted it after we did, but still we did it. We grew to hate some of these things, but though we agreed with God that He was right, still we practiced what we hated. After we become a Christian, we learned more about them and created the potential to remove them. When we read about the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21) or “your members on the earth” (Col. 3:1-15), we agree with God and want to do exactly what He revealed. But a war has now begun: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Rom. 7:7-25).
If we want to be fully protected, this is where the battle is fought. We must identify which lusts are residing in our heart and then analyze the tactics of our flesh to “war against the law of our mind.” Then we must find the Scriptures and make the applications we will use when the next battle commences. With each victory or failure we learn more about the nature of this battle and how to win. We absolutely must learn how to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1Pet. 2:11). These evil thoughts still lurking in our flesh simply wait for the next enticement to blaze forth into powerful cravings and another battle that could lead to defilement. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man,” (Mt. 15:19-20).
Using a different example, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they portrayed themselves as righteous and holy on the outside, but made no real attempt to remove the lusts that were defiling them. He saw those who only battle the outside, but make no effort to remove the lusts within as hypocrites: “you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” Although this rebuke was directed at the Pharisees, any disciple following their example will also be condemned. It is the battle within that truly matters: “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Mt. 23:25-26). Sinful defilement always begins in the heart as a lust or evil thought.
Seeking to be holy as God is holy is no easy task. Paul had been a Christian for about 20 years when he wrote: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” More literally, I beat myself under the eye (give myself a black eye) and bring my body into slavery. Jesus said much the same thing: “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.” (1Cor. 9:27 Mt. 18:9). This encompasses both the pain it will bring, and the urgency with which it must be met. In a more general way, this requires that we: “Flee also youthful lusts” and “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (2Tim. 2:22; Rom. 13:14).
Each of us must identify the youthful lusts we created growing up. It might be a quick temper, envy or jealousy toward others or sexual desire. It may also be greed, drugs, alcohol or gambling. We created our own unique set of lusts by the choices we made in our youth. After we identify them, we must study and observe how our conniving, devious and scheming flesh wars against our soul. Armed with this knowledge we make plans to crucify and destroy them. Paul’s own observations are a guide to our own. Whatever the lust might be, we will “delight in the law of God according to the inward man,” but also witness “another law in our members.” The outcome of each battle is grave and must never be taken lightly. There are some who “after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome.” (2Pet. 2:20-21). Those who think it could never happen to me are in the most danger. Each battle must be approached soberly and with great concern.
Among our gravest threats are the evil companions who can influence our fleshly desires. This threat has been compounded in our day because these people have created many things to do their bidding even when they are not present. Many of the things on the internet and television were created by evil companions to corrupt us. In order to truly “come out from among them and be separate,” “cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2Cor. 6:17; 7:1), we must make carefully assessments regarding our entertainment. If they are leading us to “sow to the flesh,” or to be “conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.” (Gal. 6:6-7; 1Pet. 1:14-16), they must be cut off and thrown from us.
God is deeply concerned with our attitude toward these things: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Jas. 4:4). Anything that is activating our “lust of the flesh,” “lust of the eyes,” or “the pride of life” can do this. This world and its lusts are passing away and once we leave this body, we will never feel them again. Only by doing “the will of God” can we “abide forever.” (1Jn. 2:15-17).
Conclusion. The battle is ongoing and we are sowing daily. Indulging in fleshly lusts is not an innocent action even if it never leads to deeds! By sowing and strengthening the roots, the thorns grow, the word is choked, and we become unfruitful. As long as this battle rages and our soul is the prize, we must understand: “the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God.” As Christians who have renounced this world, we have an obligation and duty to destroy the flesh and strengthen the spirit:
It is not easy to remove a lust. They reside in our memories of the past - memories that can’t be erased, but must be modified. Each lust we activated in our youth created a memory. Some of these events left us disgusted and sickened and we never returned. Others created a pleasure we never forgot. Those are the memories that must be modified. If we are ever to get the roots out of our mind, we must change these memories from pleasure to disgust. We can only do that by changing our perspective. When we committed that sin, we didn’t know enough to flee it and found the pleasure enticing. Yet as we learn the Scriptures that were violated, we can use that knowledge to change that pleasure into fear, remorse and repentance. These are the most dangerous weeds in our mind and must be carefully pulled up by the roots.
Paul described the effects of these roots we created before we became a Christian: “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.” (Rom. 7:15-16) This is the battle we all fight. Slowly, in one way or another, the fleshly desires took control. Often, we did not really want to do it, and regretted it after we did, but still we did it. We grew to hate some of these things, but though we agreed with God that He was right, still we practiced what we hated. After we become a Christian, we learned more about them and created the potential to remove them. When we read about the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21) or “your members on the earth” (Col. 3:1-15), we agree with God and want to do exactly what He revealed. But a war has now begun: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Rom. 7:7-25).
If we want to be fully protected, this is where the battle is fought. We must identify which lusts are residing in our heart and then analyze the tactics of our flesh to “war against the law of our mind.” Then we must find the Scriptures and make the applications we will use when the next battle commences. With each victory or failure we learn more about the nature of this battle and how to win. We absolutely must learn how to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1Pet. 2:11). These evil thoughts still lurking in our flesh simply wait for the next enticement to blaze forth into powerful cravings and another battle that could lead to defilement. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man,” (Mt. 15:19-20).
Using a different example, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they portrayed themselves as righteous and holy on the outside, but made no real attempt to remove the lusts that were defiling them. He saw those who only battle the outside, but make no effort to remove the lusts within as hypocrites: “you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” Although this rebuke was directed at the Pharisees, any disciple following their example will also be condemned. It is the battle within that truly matters: “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Mt. 23:25-26). Sinful defilement always begins in the heart as a lust or evil thought.
Seeking to be holy as God is holy is no easy task. Paul had been a Christian for about 20 years when he wrote: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” More literally, I beat myself under the eye (give myself a black eye) and bring my body into slavery. Jesus said much the same thing: “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.” (1Cor. 9:27 Mt. 18:9). This encompasses both the pain it will bring, and the urgency with which it must be met. In a more general way, this requires that we: “Flee also youthful lusts” and “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (2Tim. 2:22; Rom. 13:14).
Each of us must identify the youthful lusts we created growing up. It might be a quick temper, envy or jealousy toward others or sexual desire. It may also be greed, drugs, alcohol or gambling. We created our own unique set of lusts by the choices we made in our youth. After we identify them, we must study and observe how our conniving, devious and scheming flesh wars against our soul. Armed with this knowledge we make plans to crucify and destroy them. Paul’s own observations are a guide to our own. Whatever the lust might be, we will “delight in the law of God according to the inward man,” but also witness “another law in our members.” The outcome of each battle is grave and must never be taken lightly. There are some who “after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome.” (2Pet. 2:20-21). Those who think it could never happen to me are in the most danger. Each battle must be approached soberly and with great concern.
Among our gravest threats are the evil companions who can influence our fleshly desires. This threat has been compounded in our day because these people have created many things to do their bidding even when they are not present. Many of the things on the internet and television were created by evil companions to corrupt us. In order to truly “come out from among them and be separate,” “cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” (2Cor. 6:17; 7:1), we must make carefully assessments regarding our entertainment. If they are leading us to “sow to the flesh,” or to be “conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.” (Gal. 6:6-7; 1Pet. 1:14-16), they must be cut off and thrown from us.
God is deeply concerned with our attitude toward these things: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Jas. 4:4). Anything that is activating our “lust of the flesh,” “lust of the eyes,” or “the pride of life” can do this. This world and its lusts are passing away and once we leave this body, we will never feel them again. Only by doing “the will of God” can we “abide forever.” (1Jn. 2:15-17).
- “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Gal. 6:8-9).
Conclusion. The battle is ongoing and we are sowing daily. Indulging in fleshly lusts is not an innocent action even if it never leads to deeds! By sowing and strengthening the roots, the thorns grow, the word is choked, and we become unfruitful. As long as this battle rages and our soul is the prize, we must understand: “the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God.” As Christians who have renounced this world, we have an obligation and duty to destroy the flesh and strengthen the spirit:
- “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”