1. Having a mind to suffer in the flesh
There is a pleasure in sin - but it is deceptive and short lived (Heb 3:13; 11:25). The opposite of pleasure is suffering. To suffer is to deny our flesh the pleasure of sin. Jesus suffered in the flesh; and we are told that if we arm ourselves with the same attitude, we too can cease from sin and do the will of God (1 Peter 4:1, 2). To suffer in the flesh does not mean physical, bodily sufferings, for no one ever stopped sinning that way. It refers to the pain caused to the flesh by the denial of its desires. We refuse to please ourselves, even as Jesus never pleased Himself (Romans 15:13) Thus we share the fellowship of His sufferings.
A determined attitude to suffer in the flesh, Peter says, is our armour in the day of battle. But we must have that armour BEFORE the battle begins. To look for this armour after the onslaught of temptation has begun is useless, for one cannot usually find it then. No. One must be armed before the conflict begins. When one does not have this armour (the determined mind to suffer in self denial rather than get the least pleasure out of even a sinful thought) then one draws back in the moment of temptation and gives in (Heb. 10:38).
But if we are determined to die, rather than sin - that is, to be 'obedient even unto death' as Jesus was (Phil. 2:8) then this armour will be our strength and our protection in the day of battle.
If we love material things, for example, then we shall easily lose our peace and fall into sin when we face some material loss or when someone else damages or loses some valuable possession of ours. But if we have chosen the way of 'suffering in the flesh' believing that God orders all things for our good (Romans 8:28), then we shall take even the loss of our goods joyfully (Heb. 10:34).
2. Pressing forward
Peter says that if we keep pressing on in our Christian life (adding... adding... adding) we will never fall [2 Peter 1:5-10]. Many Christians fall into sin because they become content with their spiritual progress, instead of pressing on further towards perfection. Paul spent his life doing ONE THING - pressing on towards the goal of becoming like Jesus (Phil. 3:13, 14). This kept him from stagnation and also from sin. He exhorted Timothy not only to flee from temptation, but also to PURSUE AFTER godliness and love and gentleness etc. (1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22) Many have stopped committing sin and are satisfied, even though they keep falling. Thus they never stop falling.
We are to judge ourselves in the light of God continuously, in every situation, if we are to make any headway in discovering the latent evil that resides in our flesh. If we put the flesh to death, we can partake increasingly of the Divine nature.
Thus we can keep adding to our faith, virtue, brotherly kindness, love etc. If we thus, fill our mind with good thoughts at all times (Phil 4:8), sin will not be able to enter our mind easily. It is the empty mind that falls an easy prey to temptation.
Author:-Zac Poonen
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