The Battle Between Your Spirit And Flesh
 

The Bible has said God is Spirit and so we must worship Him In Spirit And Truth.

Every Christian needs to feed the Spirit with the word of God, prayers, and fasting. But it's unfortunate, many Christians don't fast. This makes them spiritually weak!.

"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire" (Galatians 5:17).

If you only believe then you must submit to the fact that you do not know. You must submit to God as God will never submit to you.

but what about those who do fast? MANY fast, but MANY are still Spiritually weak, how so? some who fast are still fornicators and Adulterers. some still follow the ways of satan's world, which is a big NO-NO ,(John 2:15-17 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you). Jesus said his followers does NOT follow the world ,(John 17:16-19 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world).

fasting does NOT cause one to become Spiritually strong. some have NEVER fast, yet they show the Spirit of God. not only because they don't follow the ways of this world, but they let God's light show. also Jesus gave MANY commands to his Apostles and followers. such as for them to do his Father's WILL if they want to be in Heaven ,(Matt. 7:21 Not every one that said unto me, Lord, Lord, shall. enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth. the will of my Father which is in heaven).

fasting was part of the Mosaic Law. true Jesus fast for 40 days, following the Mosaic Law. Jesus did basically tell them that when they do ,(meaning if they choose to), don't do it as a show off, like MANY false ministers in his day ,(Matt.6:16-18). yet Jesus NEVER commanded them to do fasting, how do I know this? because of this verse (Matt. 9:14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast”?).

again, if Jesus had commanded it, there would have been NO reason for the question. Jesus then answered this way ,(verse 15 "“Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast"). if you NOTICE, Jesus was referring to "fasting" NOT in the sense of "Spiritual" weakness. it was in reference to the Apostles Losing Jesus, the "Bridegroom."

This was not a command to fast, Jesus words simply suggest that at his death his disciples would feel deep sorrow and would lose the desire to eat.
again, it was part of the Mosaic Law, Jesus removed MANY of those Laws once he died ,(Rom.10:4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God). see also (Col. 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross), (stake).

we're NO Longer under the Mosaic Law. ANY who wants to follow the Laws of Old, that's find! but NO ONE should suggest that others must still follow it. whether it be days of worship, part taking of certain food, drinks. and even certain traditions, it would be done away with. it was ONLY until Jesus was to come and do what his Father asked ,(Colossians 2:16,17). peace

I never knew Jesus questioned that of fasting as you mentioned in Matthew 9:14.

I did realized that fasting was no longer 'required because we are no longer under the LAW.

As usual, you presented some really nice points.

The Spirit and the Flesh should work together in harmony...There doesn't have to be a ' Battle ' .

Our physical condition can influence our spiritual health and vice versa, find a balance and if it enhances your life and the life of others, rest there....

That's another reason why the Jews don't accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Jews believe the Messiah will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance.

Depends if one has harmful addictions or not. If one does, there is definitely a battle. What if one is very obese....weighs over 400 pounds? Addicted to smoking and makes their own young children sick with their smoke? Addicted to smoking pot all day as many are doing now days as it was made legal in a lot of places? Get stoned all day so much they can no longer function or work. An alcoholic that becomes mean when drunk or kills others by drunk driving.

It's interesting, but this battle with the body is a given. Why does raw sugar taste amazing and raw cabbage taste horrible? Yet the cabbage is good for us and our heath and sugar is bad for us and our health. Why was the world designed like this? For what purpose? I'd say the battle is a part of the design of reality and thus intended, so we do learn to transcend the body and it's mind. To lord over the body, instead of the body lording over us.

But yes, some are naturally "masters of their body and it's mind." They are fit and healthy, eat lots of vegetables, avoid sugar, exercise everyday. Use intoxicants in moderation or not at all. No battles for them. Others, yea life is a constant battle. A young EDM artist just ended his life few days ago, he was in a battle with depression.

where in reality, Jesus fulfilled the LAW so they are no longer the LAW. The LAW foreshadowed something greater. It served its purpose when it was fulfilled when Jesus died so now we move on to the next 'phase'.

If you look for a ' Battle ' you get a battle..... You become what you perceive.

Well people with various harmful addictions are not looking for a battle, they are looking to beat their addictions. That's the goal, not some battle. No one should like conflict or a battle. They are seeking to end conflict, to end a harmful relationship with alcohol or drugs or harmful negative thoughts. To make their lives better, not worse. More full of peace, less full of conflict. But yes, it's hard. The body is addicted. The body goes into withdrawals when you deny it what it is addicted to. But nobody starts heavy drinking, taking drugs etc, because they are looking for a battle, they are self medicating to feel better, to escape personal pain, then the addiction leads to different kinds of pain.

Psalm 144:1
A Psalm of David.
Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;