If you have entered the prophetic ministry, you have probably understood from practical experience that you are in a spiritual war against the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies that want to destroy you. But have you ever considered that in your passion for holiness, it is not enough to flee from the lusts of youth?

You must also wage spiritual warfare against the fleshly lusts within you. Fleshly desires are not limited to sexual sin. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines this type of desire as a “strong desire” of any kind. Although the Bible uses the term “desire” in a positive context three times, God’s Word most often describes it as a root of sin.

Fleshly desire is associated with pride, greed, and other strong behaviors that lead us away from the will of God.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God.’ For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then lust, when it is fertile, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.” James 1:13–15

When Paul says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (see Ephesians 6:12), he does not mean that we do not wrestle against fleshly temptations. Indeed, we know that fleshly lusts wage war against our souls (see 1 Peter 2:11). You must engage in this battle to win the victory we already have in Christ. You must declare war on fleshly lusts, or you may find yourself stirring the air in the name of Jesus while the enemy reigns his wickedness in your life.

We must wage war on fleshly lusts, for these powerful desires ultimately lead to death. Paul understood this very well. Paul not only fought against the “beasts of Ephesus” (1 Corinthians 15:32), he also fought against his own fleshly desires. He shared his heart in Romans. He knew what to do, but the power of sin kept sabotaging his best intentions. He had the desire to do what was right, but he was unable to do it. He would decide not to do wrong, and then he would do wrong anyway. Sound familiar? Listen to Paul’s confession:

“There is something deep inside me that is wrong, and it keeps failing me. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commandments, but it’s pretty obvious that I don’t share in that delight entirely. Parts of me secretly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing works. I’m at the end of my rope. Isn’t there anyone who can do something for me? Isn’t that the real question?” Romans 7:20–24

That’s the real question. But thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus Christ stepped in to set things right in a life of contradictions in which Paul wanted to serve God with all his heart and mind but was tempted by his fleshly nature.

Christ is also our secret weapon in the war against fleshly lusts. Paul exhorts us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:12-14).

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Making of a Prophet” written by Jennifer LeClaire.

We invite you to read the following article “IN PURSUIT OF THE HOLY PASSION“.