The Spirit and the Flesh
- Romans 8:5 “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.”
It is truly amazing to me how much I grew in the Lord after I left CCM and entertainment Southern Gospel music completely. For years, I clung to that music really thinking that it wouldn’t affect me. And yet, my spiritual life barely changed. I still had my easily besetting sins like anger. Actually, I grew worse spiritually, not better. Why was that?
Romans 8:5 answers the question clearly. If you are after the flesh, you mind the things of the flesh. Lot eventually was found in Sodom and Gomorrah because he first set his tent towards Sodom in Genesis 13:12. Lot was a just man (II Pt. 2:7), but he was definitely not spiritual. Lot lost his whole family to wretched sin all because he was “after the flesh.”
There is a story about an Indian chief who was led to the Lord. After awhile the preacher who led him to the Lord visited the old chief to see how he was faring. The old chief explained that it seemed like two dogs were warring inside him: the Holy Spirit and the flesh. The wise chief stated that the dog he fed the most always won. The Holy Spirit is eternally superior to the flesh in every way, but it still comes down to what you feed on.
- Rom. 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
You cannot feed on the music style of the world and expect to grow spiritually. The world’s methods will only make you worldly. The only way to mind the things of the Spirit is to follow after the Spirit.
- Gal. 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Your music must be the best there is, and we’re talking morality, not skill. Many believers these days don’t like hymns, but those are some of the best music of today. The hymns were written during times of revival. They were written by men and women whose lives were completely sold out and holy for God. It is said of the blind hymnist Fanny Crosby, for example, that she would kneel and pray with her Bible trying to discern what words God would have her write. Even in the Old Testament, the musicians in the Temple had to live and abide by the highest of standards and were given detailed criteria God commanded them to follow. God is no different with His New Testament temple, the saved.
- I Cor. 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
I Cor. 3:17 “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
II Cor. 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
It is a huge deal what you do with your body, God’s temple, and what music you listen to. So, make sure to flee music of the flesh even if it titles itself “Christian” (syncopation, unresolved chords, etc…), and choose only Spirit-filled music performed and written by Spirit-filled believers.