Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
This passage of scripture teaches us that if we are truly born again in Christ, we are not to be holden to the carnal desires of the flesh, but should rather mortify the ungodly deeds of the body, for this is the purpose of God in saving us from, not in our sins. Before accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were all in a situation where the cravings of our unrenewed hearts would be consulted, regardless of whether or not our desires were in line with, or approved of God. And many of our previous indulgences were based solely on feelings and desires, which with the carnal man, are almost always contrary to the mind and will of God.
But when Christ takes control of our hearts, He puts within us a new desire, to mortify the deeds of the flesh, so that the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts can be facilitated. Thus, even though there may be severe internal struggles against foes within and without, with the former lusts and cravings striving to place us in spiritual chains once again, yet the power of God is promised to every believing Christian, so that we can now wage war against inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil. The word "Mortify" means to kill all ungodly desires, and it must not be watered down to mean anything else. Let's read:
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
However, we must be very careful as to the methods implemented in the mortification process, for many of us have been driven to extremes in trying to avoid sin, using might and power that is not born of God, but is rather centered in our own will power, or frenzied determination to bring about righteousness in our daily experiences. This is not what The Lord means when He says through Paul, that we should mortify our members. The correct and only time proven way for us to successfully mortify the lusts and cravings of the flesh, is to spend much quality time beholding the perfection and character of Christ, and as we do so, our own vile thoughts and desires, and affections will be changed imperceptibly, even as by The Spirit of The Lord. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Many Christians have embarked upon a sort of penance in trying to overcome sin, by which we may have waged war in our own strength, using self-help methods and motivational speeches, to try to uproot deeply entrenched desires that are not in harmony with God's revealed will. Some have gone the way of "Promise keepers" by which many seek in vain to keep themselves pure, from the lusts that wage war against the soul. But sooner or later, if Christ is not front and center of these efforts, the temptations we once struggled to resist, come down upon us like a sudden torrent of rain, and many of us are thus swept away by what we tried so hard to resist in our own strength.
Let us therefore be very careful to mortify the deeds of the flesh according to the scriptural guidelines laid down, for if we believe and trust in Christ and His righteousness, we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that we fight the good fight of faith, never losing sight of Jesus Christ, who is the source of our strength. Let's read:
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!