Day Twenty-Two
Are You — Sowing to the Flesh?
“For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Gal 6:8
This is an area of foundational teaching that often gets left in the pursuit of what seems to be more “cutting edge” Biblical teaching. For that reason, much of the Body of Christ does not comprehend what it means to sow to the flesh or the spirit, and its great importance. Tied closely to the doctrines of walking in the Spirit (or conversely walking in the flesh), it is an enigma to many believers.
In Day Twenty-One of this devotional, we looked at the dangers of flattery because of the component in us which flattery feeds – the flesh. So this notion of sowing to the flesh is closely linked with the topic of Day Twenty-One.
Once a believer is born again he carries within him two natures. He retains his old nature – his soul (comprised of his will, intellect, and emotions), and his physical body. His soul and his body are something he received because of a natural birth. They are his flesh. While they are not “evil” (unless they are engaged in sin) – the soul and the body together are always flesh! They can do good, but they can also easily sin. Satan counts on you continuing to operate in the flesh even for good – for then it is a small leap to bring you to sin in the flesh.
The believer also now carries within him the life of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Holy Spirit) within his own regenerated spirit. You received this supernatural life when you were born again. This new life in Christ gives the believer the mind and will and intentions of Christ, and the ability to be led by the Spirit. But remember, these two natures are completely adversarial in what they want and their posture. Hence, a struggle is introduced into our lives that we have never known before we became a believer: the struggle between the flesh life, and the spirit life; the natural life and the supernatural life.
To sow to the flesh simply means that the believer is drawing upon his old flesh nature to live his life, instead of drawing upon his new nature in Christ. The word sow in Strong’s is #4687 speiro. Speiro means to scatter, i.e. sow (lit or fig):- sow(-er), receive seed. It also says that is it probably strengthened by #4685 spao, which means to draw out.
Now think of your flesh life and your spirit life like two different bank accounts. When you live your life drawing on the assets of your flesh (your will, intellect, or emotions, or the demands of your body) – you are sowing to the flesh. Not only do you live a flesh-centered existence, you are continually preferring the flesh and gratifying it, but that flesh-based currency can only extend the flesh. So as you try and minister or witness to the Lord, if you are relying on flesh currency – you will only extend and draw out the boundaries of flesh. That is what happens both within you, but also within those you minister to or teach. You strengthen the flesh life in yourself and them, and therefore you reap only flesh and from it decay, ruin, and destruction.
That may seem harsh. After all, as a believer, your desire is most likely to serve the King! The truth is, however, we can only serve Him on His terms and those terms are to serve Him through the nature of Christ in the Spirit of Christ. Only in that way is there spiritual success! Only in that way do we work in righteousness! When we work through our spirit and the Holy Spirit we are drawing our “currency” out of the Spirit of the Kingdom of God. What is extended then is of the spirit – it is extending and drawing out the spirit life. It is both bringing life in the spirit, and also strengthening that life. Only currency in the spirit can do that – not currency of the flesh life. But sowing to the spirit reaps eternal life for ourselves and others who receive it!
Now the enemy counts on us spending our lives drawing on the flesh to try and build the Kingdom of God. He counts on us remaining ignorant of the concept of sowing to the flesh or the spirit. Why? As said before – when we live our lives drawing upon and out of our flesh – it is easier for the enemy to move us into sin which brings us under condemnation. Also drawing out of our flesh currency is a futile exercise. All that we strengthen, all that we extend remains of the flesh nature – and only flesh. This brings no profit in the spirit. This effort will ultimately reap ruin and destruction for the lives involved.
So what are we to do? Live as Jesus has provided – by His Spirit Life! We live and move and have our being in Him – in His life, no longer in our old life! Learn how to discern if you are walking in the Spirit, or are you walking in the flesh. But learn to draw everything that you work with, live by, build with, and share — from the assets of your spirit “currency.” The first part is to understand that this issue exists. The second part is to pursue knowledge from the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God for living righteously according to the Spirit of Life in Christ. May you be blessed to have your eyes fully opened and walk according to this provision!
Be-loved.
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