"Talk To It"

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  Matthew 4:4

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, His fight was not against the devil only.  It was also against His own flesh.  He was tempted in the lust of His flesh, the pride of life and the lust of His eyes.  He was battling more than just the devil. 

Our biggest enemy isn't the devil-- Jesus already defeated him.  Our biggest enemy is our own flesh.  It is weak and wants what it wants, when it wants it, how it wants it and will go to great lengths to get it. 

So, how do we overcome our flesh-- its desires, cravings, wishes, wants, addictions and bondages.  We overcome it the same way Jesus did in the wilderness.  When He spoke the Word-- "it is written"-- He wasn't just speaking it to the devil.  He was speaking it to His own flesh.  His flesh was hungry.  He wanted food.  But He did not give in to His desire and turn the stones to bread.   

Our flesh has to be dealt with or it will destroy us.  When Paul said, "I die daily", he didn't mean his body was dying.  He meant he was putting his own flesh-- desires, cravings, wants, etc. -- it death.  Our flesh has to be denied, crucified, mortified, refused, brought into subjection and submission.  That is done by "speaking to it".  When Jesus spoke those words in the wilderness to each temptation, He was denying His flesh.  He was crucifying it.  He was putting its desires that are harmful, against God, and that give place to the devil, to death.

When you are battling with something, chances are it is more your own flesh than anything else.  The way to overcome and be victorious over its desires is by speaking to it.  Speak the Word of God to it.  Use this sword-- the Word-- you have been given.  "Tell" it to "mind and get in line".  This is the way to victory.  It was for Jesus and it is for us.

Have a great day.  You have to talk to your flesh and make it line up.