Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE MORTIFIER

This entry was posted on 11-11-2009 and is filed under HOLY SPIRIT.

When I was attending Bible College back in the 60s, I worked for a time in a funeral home, sometimes called a "mortuary." I could tell you many stories - some scary, some sad, some funny - about that, but not today. The reason I share this illustration is because the Bible portrays the Holy Spirit as a mortician. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom. 8:13 KJV). Other translations have "put to death" in place of "mortify" (which comes from the Greek word thanatos meaning "death"). Notice that the Christian is to put to death the deeds of the body, but he/she is to do so "through the Spirit." We cannot do this by ourselves; we need divine help to mortify, or put to death, the desires and deeds of the flesh. The NIV calls these deeds "misdeeds" and that is true.Through the Spirit we must mortify our misdeeds.

Just how this is accomplished is expanded upon in Galatians 5:24 & 25 (NKJV). "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The NIV reads "let us keep in step with the Spirit." Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us we must be sensitive to the promptings and cautions of the Spirit. We may sometimes call this "conscience" but in reality it is God's Spirit who is giving those promptings and cautions. When we put our flesh on the cross ("crucifying the flesh") it may hurt, but it is good for us. This is a part of taking up our cross and following Jesus. Living in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, keeping step with the Spirit is all a part of this process. Yes, the Holy Spirit helps us mortify (put to death) everything in us that is not good for us. Remember, He is the promised Helper; do not hesitate to ask for His help today in mortifying the misdeeds of the body.

Prayer: Holy God, thank You for the promised help we need (and have) in putting to death the misdeeds of our bodies. Through Christ we pray.