The Will Of Man

Definition-&nbs= p; Will (noun)=

The power of control the mind has over its actio= ns. The power of choosing one’s own actions. Mental powers manifested as wishin= g, choosing, desiring or intending.

Remember that the soul consists of the mind, will and emotions

We exercise our will every day.

We use our mind to make decisions based on the information we have, influenced by things we have learned or experienced.

From that decision we formulate our will.

This can be easily illustrated by making new years resolutions.<= /span>

We analyze our past behavior and make a me= ntal decision to set a new course of action.

Many times our future actions don’t line w= ith the decision that we made.

Our will gets challenged on several fronts.=

First our will is challenged by our emotio= nal state---I don’t feel like it

Remember that negative emotions are only made wh= ole and completed by God.

Secondly our flesh challenges our will.

Proper Alignment

Spirit

Soul - mind, wi= ll, emotions

Body

Improper Alignment

Body = &nb= sp; =

Soul = &nb= sp; =

Spirit

Since we have had failures in performing our true will, we simply stay where we are.

The first step we make is the submission of our = will to the will of God.

Luke 22:42

saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take t= his cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."(NKJV)=

It’s amazing that Jesus had a will differe= nt from the Father.

The key to victorious Christian living= is in the submission of our will.

We submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.<= /o:p>

Mark 8:34

When He had called the people to Himself, with H= is disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.(NKJV)

First of all a disciple is a disciplined learner.

A disciple is not just a pupil, but also an imit= ator of Jesus Christ.

Discipleship is like exchanging money in a forei= gn land. You take the curr= ency of your life and exchange it for currency in the new life.

1 Peter 2:11

Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers a= nd exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires,= the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.(A= MP)

Since were are not of this world we abstain from these things

The flesh wages war against the soul.-----(Our determinded will)

Every Christian is given the desire to follow God and not the flesh through the newness of life.

Sometimes we find ourselves doing the things we = have determined not to do.

Romans 7:18

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) not= hing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is goo= d I do not find.(NKJV)

Romans 7:19-22

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but= the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, = it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the= law of God according to the inward man.(NKJV)

Romans 7:25

I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So t= hen, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.(NKJV)

If we stop at this chapter and don’t apply= any more of the word we are left in this condition

We can begin to pamper the flesh more and make i= t as comfortable as possible.

We can stop guarding the eyes and ears.

Stop being concerned about hatred, jealousy and un-forgiveness.

What else does the bible say we ar= e to do?

How are we to treat the flesh?=

1 Corinthians 9:27

But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself shou= ld become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].(AMP)

I buffet my body----the KJV say discipline my body-----the Greek word here actually means to make black and blue

We actually lead our flesh from slavery by this discipline.

That’s why fasting is so effective.

I don’t feed my flesh everything it wants. <= u>It doesn’t get everything it wants

The flesh is like a screaming baby to our minds------(((feed me)

Learn to discipline the flesh-----If you do this= in the small areas you will gain spiritual strength.

Remembering that you can do nothing without the = help of God.

When our will gets challenged------We don’t give up

One person said being thin feels better to= me than the satisfaction of eating anything I want.

The same thing works in the spiritual realm.

If we are going to see different results----we w= ill have to do something different.

Maybe you are having trouble controlling t= he flesh—but what can you do that is different.

Are we spending as much time feeding the spirit = as we are feeding the flesh?

There are several different mindsets

I don’t do a lot of things wrong but there= are certain areas I don’t even try in because I enjoy the sin. I’m not ready to let them go= .

I do some things wrong habitually. I know they are wrong and don̵= 7;t want to do them, but I just cant seem to stop.

I don’t always line up with the word of God but I am making a determination to something different to be more God pleas= ing and to be more victorious.

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upw= ard call of God in Christ Jesus.(NKJV)

We press toward the goal-----meaning we run swif= tly after it

There is never room for complacency.<= /span>

As Christians we persevere------We continue in f= aith

God will help you in your area of weakness----Bu= t we have to add something to the equation.

It’s God who takes us through the process = of sanctification

John 5:6

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"(NKJV)

Sometimes there is a lot of complaining about wh= ere we are but no real desire to leave where we are.

Jesus said to him rise, take up your bed and wal= k

In other words rise from the situation and posit= ion you are in.

Secondly destroy the place you were so you can’t go back there.

Can or do we really make provision for the flesh.   YES

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.(NKJV)

This verse is saying stop thinking about how you= can indulge the flesh.

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A Statement We Can Make

We are tired of being subject to the flesh and we are going to something different.

I want to challenge this church to do something different for the next 90 days

I have a reading plan that will instruct you to = read the whole Bible in the next 90 days. = In 25 to 30 minutes per day

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Your flesh will challenge your wil= l if you decide to do this.

I challenge you to fast during the next 90 days

I challenge you to have more prayer time---more worship time

Don’t just hurry through the reading but <= b>read intently

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If we want to see something different we will ha= ve to do something different.

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With the submission of our will we make a press toward Him.

We don’t worry about the hardship placed on the flesh.   <= /span>

Our flesh is what has been holding us back.=

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall k= now the truth, and the truth shall make you free."(NKJV)=

We hold fast to the teachings of Christ and hold fast to them.

Discipleship is a perpetual process   ----A proactive mindset=