The Betraying Flesh

Do you see Judas holding his bag of silver? Jesus, being the ultimate judge of character He is, knew exactly what Judas was like right from the beginning and that he was only with Him, because he egoistically (self-centeredly) thought, if He was the Messiah, the king of the Jews, that if he stayed with Him, he'd get power, fame, glory and riches, and as soon as he realized that wasn't going to happen, he instinctively & egoistically sold Jesus out for what he could get.

Why then, if Jesus knew all this would happen, did he allow Judas to follow him and stick around? Because Jesus was all about teaching by example, even to the death, and the example Judas gave, is that anyone who's thoughts are spotted, stained, marked and blemished with the characteristic pride, vanity, envy, selfishness, ambition, lust, greed, desire for creature comfort and/or fear for survival of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature of the flesh, will inevitably betray you in order to satisfy the carnal instincts, desires and fears of THE BEAST (character) of the flesh God named Satan and man calls ego.

This goes for you too! If you allow the sinful (unvirtuous) thoughts, that come from the pride, vanity or selfish ambition, etc., of your flesh to lead you and direct your words & actions, you will inevitably and without a doubt, betray even the ones you love and hold most dear in some way, in order to satisfy and soothe the savage beast of your flesh. So don't worry about what others are doing, watch yourself!

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will (want) to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good (virtuous) I do not find. For the good (virtuousness) that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil (unvirtuousness) I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.Romans 7:14-20

What transpired in the garden of Gethsemane that night, is crucial to understanding what the crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection was all about, and let me tell you now, the true salvation wasn't in the crucifixion as many false disciples believe, it's in the resurrection.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "Oh My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."Matthew 26:39-41

Now it's written that Jesus was without sin and what this means is, He was absolutely virtuous and never unvirtuous. Always absolutely honest never dishonest, truthful never untruthful, kind never unkind, considerate never inconsiderate, courteous never discourteous, faithful never unfaithful, loyal never disloyal, etc.

However, that night His survival instinct naturally rose up within him, powerfully! Because He knew He was facing torture and certain death, because thousands had been crucified before Him and it was a known fact, nobody survived crucifixion, and this is what He meant by "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak", and He didn't sweat blood, but as it's written, sweated heavily because He was overcoming the characteristic fear for survival of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature of His flesh, and overcome it He did!

How many times have you done something, out of the sinful (unvirtuous), characteristic pride, vanity, envy, selfishness, ambition, lust, greed, desire for creature comfort or fear for survival of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic (self-centered) nature of your flesh? Knowing deep, deep down it wasn't the right (righteous/virtuous) thing to do? How many times have you chosen to turn a blind eye to someone or something, because it might mean having to make a sacrifice? And don't say never, because we all know that would be a lie and you're only fooling yourself and pulling the wool over your own eyes and ears.

Don't concern yourself with how others are behaving. This carnal, instinctual, egoistic world is a wilderness of egos (in which I'm just one, small voice), who are ALL corrupted, blinded, deceived, governed & ruled by the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature and characteristics of their flesh. Watch yourself! Lest you enter into temptation and act out of your carnal instincts, desires and fears, and in the process, betray the one's you love, God and even yourself. Because I know for a fact, that deep, deep down in your heart of hearts (soul), is a perfect gentleman or gentlewoman of true love, a saint by any other name, trying to get out, but YOU just keep getting in your own way and believe me when I say, you don't want to stand before Him and His penetrating gaze that looks right through you, and have Him find the slightest spot, stain, mark or blemish of the sinful (unvirtuous) characteristics of the nature of the beast, in your character. For if He does, He'll tell you in no uncertain terms, with absolute confidence, assertiveness and conviction, that you can go to hell!

"Assuredly (without a doubt), I say to you, unless your nature is transformed and become as little children (without the slightest spot, stain, mark or blemish of pride, vanity, envy, selfishness, ambition, lust, greed, desire for creature comfort and fear for survival), you will BY NO MEANS enter the kingdom of heaven."Matthew 18:3

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.Matthew 7:3-5

I'm telling you this, because God be praised and thanks be to my role model and mentor (lord), Jesus Christ and though it took many years and more than a few decades, through many trials, tribulations, humiliations, heartaches, visions, revelations and supernatural encounters, He opened my eyes to the absolute truth, way and life (true way of life) in the eternal, egoless, supernatural presence, realm and reality of His divine nature and characteristics of absolute, undying, true love and majestic virtuousness, which I experienced beyond my wildest (carnal, instinctual, egoistic) imagination and shadow of any doubt, when I was sanctified in the holy ghost presence of His divine nature and characteristics, in absolute, supernatural power and glory.

Grace (gracefulness and graciousness) and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God (absolute love) and of Jesus our lord (true love's perfect gentleman and our role model) as His divine power (holy ghost) has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (and other characteristics of the carnal, instinctual, egoistic nature of the flesh).2 Peter 1:2-4

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the (carnal, instinctual, egoistic) things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the (virtuous) things of the Spirit (divine nature and characteristics). For to be carnally (instinctively and egoistically) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal (instinctual and egoistic) mind is enmity against God (love); for it is not subject to the law (virtues) of God (absolute, undying, true love), nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh (corrupted, blinded, deceived, governed and ruled by their instincts and ego) cannot please God.Romans 8:5-8

---