The World
​The Flesh

​And The Devil

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - The Lord Showed Him a Tree

Chapter 2 - Murmuring

Chapter 3 - The Smitten Rock

INTRODUCTION

The early church coined a phrase that I think has not been improved upon as it regards our everyday living for God. It is, "the world, the flesh, and the devil." Those are the antagonists to the child of God. 

THE WORLD

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). 

The "world" spoken of here by John pertains to the ordered system of which Satan is the head.

God The Father will not share with the world the love that must go exclusively to Him. This is one of the greatest conflicts as it regards the child of God – the world.

Satan is the god of this present world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is also the "prince of this world" (John 12:31). This means that he is the god or prince of this world, which is not the friend of the child of God. It is something about which we must be careful on a constant basis. We are in the world but not of the world. 

THE FLESH

What is the flesh? 

As Paul used the word, it speaks of that which is indigenous to man. In other words, it is our education, motivation, talent, personal ability, personal strength, willpower, etc.

Paul said: "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5). 

The flesh refers to believers trying to live for The Lord by means other than faith in Christ and The Cross. Those who place their faith in Christ and The Cross must do so exclusively, which means that they are doing what The Holy Spirit desires. This alone can bring victory. 

Paul also bluntly said, "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). Once again, this means that the believer tries to live for God on a daily basis by means other than Christ and what Christ did for us at The Cross.

Paul also said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

When Paul said, "and the life which I now live in the flesh," he meant that we are human beings, and though we are in the flesh, our life and living are not by the flesh. That is why he said, "yet not I." These are probably the three words that Christians need to learn more than anything else. It is "yet not I, but Christ who lives in me."

The flesh is without a doubt the greatest nemesis and the greatest hinderance faced by the child of God. Let us say it again: "We are in the flesh, but we are not of the flesh." 

The believer is to understand that what we are facing in the spirit world, and I speak of the powers of darkness, are far beyond our ability to cope as it regards the flesh. That is what makes humanistic psychology so foolish.

We can live this life if we do it God's way, and His way is The Cross. If our faith is exclusively in Christ and The Cross, The Holy Spirit, Who is God, and can do anything, will then work mightily on our behalf. If we resort to the flesh, this greatly hinders The Holy Spirit, with Him then unable to function as He desires to do so. It is the business of The Holy Spirit to rid our lives of all sin and of all dependence on the flesh. With that being accomplished, The Holy Spirit will work grandly on our behalf, doing for us what only He can do. This is God's way, and His only way. Abiding by that particular "way," we can be victorious in every capacity. But if we try to live this life by the means of the flesh, no matter how sincere we are and no matter the effort put forth, we will fail, and fail miserably. 

THE DEVIL

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Satan heads up the kingdom of darkness, and, of course, is greatly opposed to every believer.

There is one way, and the only way, that we can defeat him and live this life as it should be lived. It is by our faith in Christ and The Cross (Romans 6:1-14; 8:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Galatians 6:14). 

Paul said: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:14-15).​

The reason that Satan hates The Cross as he does is because it was there that he was totally defeated.

How was he defeated?

Sin is that which gives Satan the legal right to hold man captive. However, Jesus atoned for all sin, past, present, and future – at least for all who will believe – by the giving of Himself as a perfect sacrifice on The Cross, which satisfied the demands of the thrice holy God. 

WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD 

Paul said, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12).

This is the reason that all man-devised practices will not work as it regards Satan. If we do this thing God's way, which is the way of The Cross, we will then walk in victory. Otherwise, we will walk in defeat. As we have said, Satan cannot stand The Cross, and for all the obvious reasons.

GOD'S WAY

• Jesus Christ is the source of all things we receive from God (Romans 6:1-14; John 1:1-3, 14, 29).
• The Cross of Christ is the means, and the only means, by which all of these wonderful things are given to us (Colossians 2:1-15).
  
• With Jesus as our source, and The Cross as our means, our faith must then be placed exclusively in Christ and The Cross. In fact, the entirety of the story of the Bible is "Jesus Christ, and him crucified." Our faith must not be in other things but always in Christ and what He has done for us at The Cross (1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 23; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians, Chapter 5; 6:14).
  
• With Christ as our source, The Cross as our means, and our faith firmly planted and maintained in Christ and The Cross, The Holy Spirit (Who works exclusively within the parameters of the finished work of Christ) will then work mightily on our behalf. He is God, and there is nothing impossible for Him (Romans 8:1-11; Ephesians 2:13-18). 
  

In an abbreviated form, what I have given you is the way we have victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

This book will give us Old Testament examples, types, and shadows in picture form that will explain that of which we speak. In other words, it makes it easier to understand.

The Old Testament is written in the form of a television set, while the New Testament is written in the form of a computer. 

EXAMPLES

Paul said, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).

So, I pray that we will make the example so clear and so obvious that these things which are intended by The Holy Spirit will be adequately learned. Considering that it is the single most important material that any believer could grasp and understand, it is imperative that it be taught correctly and that it be learned correctly. Our victory or lack thereof is dependent on the instruction given. 

I have entered the valley of blessing so sweet,

And Jesus abides with me there, 

And His Spirit and blood make my cleansing complete,

And His perfect love cast out fear.

There is peace in the valley of blessing so sweet.

And plenty the land does impart; 

And there's rest for the weary, worn traveler's feet, 

And joy for the sorrowing heart.

There is love in the valley of blessing so sweet.

Such as none but the blood-washed may feel,

When heaven comes down redeemed spirits to greet,

And Christ sets his covenant seal.

There's a song in the valley of blessing so sweet,

And angels would fain join the strain, 

As with rapturous praises we bow at His feet,

Crying, Worthy the Lamb that was slain!