Mortify The Flesh

HERE is a great lesson in the adventure of faith. When we have received Christ we are no longer a part of this world, but the flesh is still with us and must be dealt with. This was not the only lesson concerning separation in Abram’s life, to be sure. Later on he must separate himself from Lot, then he must sacrifice his own son, Isaac, and finally even Sarah must be buried. Sanctification is not one single spiritual experience, but a series of burials, a succession of funerals, of judgments upon the flesh, or, as Paul puts it, of daily deaths, daily mortifications of the old man and of the flesh and of the world.

Many believers stand in desperate need of just such an experience today. Those whom God has greatly used in the past will testify that, after they were saved, there came a time, when God called for a definite surrender of their lives before they could be fully used of Him. Call it whatever you will, but when we specifically obey God in putting away that of which we have been convicted by the Word, there comes a definite blessing and a going forward spiritually. Such an experience, however, doesn’t just happen once in the Christian’s life, but often.

As Abram walked with God he received new light all along the way, which called for new yielding and new obedience as he grew in faith. New obedience came when he separated from Lot, when he refused the spoils of Sodom, when he was obedient to God concerning his own son, Isaac. There were blessings all along the way, second, third, fourth and fifth blessings. As often as we follow new light and yield ourselves to His will, we too may experience the fresh blessing of the Almighty.

The rest of the record of Abram in the following scriptures is precious. He comes to Sichem, the place of strength; then to Moreh, the place of instruction; then to Bethel, the house of God, where God appears again to him, communes with him and renews the covenant. Here Abram builds an altar and calls upon the Name of the Lord. He is now back in full fellowship again, because he has been obedient.

In closing, I would apply this lesson personally to you who are believers. You, too, are saved, but let me ask you, are you making any progress? Do you enjoy your salvation? Is God answering your prayers? Does His Word become more precious to you as you go along? Or, are you unhappy, doubting, fruitless, cold and still desiring fleshly things? Then listen my friend, you need a funeral in your life. There is something that must go, something to be buried before you can go on. Abraham was stopped at Haran until Terah died. He had to dig a grave first.

What is it in your own life which hinders you and keeps you from the joy of the Christian life? From what do you need to be separated? You know what it is. Is it some secret sin, some habit, some lust, some fleshly thing you are pampering and condoning and excusing? Is it some worldly practice, pride, dishonesty, gossip, an unforgiving spirit, bitterness, a sharp tongue, an uncontrolled and unyielded temper, stubbornness or hatred? Remember, before you can go on, it has to go. Your personal Terah, the old man, must be buried. Why not stop now, confess your sin to the Lord Jesus, trust Him to give you the victory, and go on to the place of joy and fruit bearing? Be honest and put your sin away, turn your life over to Him once for all and experience the new joy of His presence and fellowship. Dig that grave in Haran now, and go on to the life of victory in Canaan.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.